Barack Obama reaches out to Auma Obama after Nairobi protests

Former US President Barack Obama reached out to his sister, Auma Obama after she was affected by teargas during protests in Nairobi.

On Tuesday, thousands of Kenyans gathered in Nairobi to protest against the proposed Finance Bill 2024.

Auma, joining in solidarity with the demonstrators, found herself in the midst of the escalating situation.

During a live interview on CNN with Larry Madowo, Auma expressed her support for the protesters.

"I am here because of what is happening," Auma said during the interview.

"Young Kenyans are protesting for their rights. They are demonstrating with placards and banners," she explained.

However, tensions rose when police used teargas to disperse the crowd, leaving Auma coughing and struggling to see through the smoke.

BREAKING: Auma Obama is tear-gassed by Kenya police live on CNN as she joins peaceful protests against over-taxation pic.twitter.com/XLpsvLlDyz

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) June 25, 2024

Fellow protesters helped her move away from the affected area as she expressed her discomfort, saying, "I can't see anymore."

On social media, one user expressed concern about Auma's well-being, tagging Barack Obama and criticising Kenya's leadership.

 "@BarackObama Me personally, I couldn’t stand around while my sister was called a criminal by President William Ruto," the user wrote.

In response, Auma confirmed her brother's support.

"He cares. He checked in," she replied, accompanied with a love emoji.

Speaking about the protests, Auma said, “The only violence came from the teargas, the rubber bullets, the live bullets & the water tanks! These were not in the hands of the young people - our children! It breaks my heart!”

While many may recognise Auma for her famous brother, she is a prominent figure in her own right.

A sociologist, community activist, and writer based in Kenya, Auma dedicates herself to social causes.

She founded her own non-profit organization to help orphans and young Kenyans struggling with poverty.

Auma was born in 1960 in Nairobi, Kenya, the daughter of Barack Obama Sr. and his first wife, Kezia.

She studied at Germany's Heidelberg University and holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Bayreuth. She also studied at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin.

In 1996, Auma married British man Ian Manners, and they have one daughter, Akinyi, born in 1997. Auma and Ian divorced in 2000. She moved to Kenya with her daughter in 2007 and has lived there since.

Before starting her own charity, the Sauti Kuu Foundation, Auma worked for the international charity organization CARE International.

She was the subject of a German documentary film, "The Education of Auma Obama." In 2017, Auma was honoured with the fourth International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award in Cologne. She is also the author of the book "And Then Life Happens," released in 2012.