Official: Obama's half-brother falls ill in Kenya

[RamboLiberal]

Source: AP

KISUMU, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan health official says President Barack Obama's older half-brother has been hospitalized with stomach pains and is being tested for cholera.

Local disease surveillance officer James Sande says that Malik Obama, a 51-year-old businessman, was taken to Siaya District Hospital in western Kenya on Tuesday evening. Sande says Obama's condition is improving enough for him to be discharged Thursday or Friday. Results of his cholera test have not come back.

There is an outbreak of cholera in the area and hospital official Frederick Osanya says a domestic employee of Obama's was hospitalized with the disease last week. Cholera is easily treated but can be deadly.

Obama family members in Kenya did not return phone calls seeking comment. Barack Obama has five Kenyan half-brothers and a half-sister.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNGd3FUZNv381Vzh8APzbBf5fOhAD975MC7O0

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Get well Malik!

[Merlot]

1. Has Obama ever spent much time with the Kenyan side of his family?

Since he didn't spend any time with this dad growing up, I'm guessing he didn't meet many of these half siblings until he was an adult.

[No Elephants]

2. Not clear what your point is.

[marshall]

3. They are family, but he is far closer to Maya

I think there's a difference between sharing chromosomes with somebody and actually growing up as part of a family with another person. I suppose the point is that we shouldn't expect President Obama to rush to this man's bedside, which he most certainly would do were it Maya who had fallen gravely ill. This man has other closer family who will care for him in his time of need.

Remember that Bill Clinton also had a half brother and a half sister from his birth father's side of the family. To my knowledge he never even met them even though they lived in Arkansas. But he grew up with half-brother Roger and continues to lend a helping hand through his trials.

[No Elephants]

4. Oh, ok. Could not figure it out. I don't expect the POTUS to rush to this

brother's bedside, either. However, he has met him a few times, but that is about all. At that, he seems much closer with his father's children from his father's first wife (before his father met Obama's mother).