Malik Obama

Malik Obama
Born
Abon'go Malik Obama

March 1958 (age 66)
Nairobi, British Kenya
(present-day Kenya)
Other namesRoy
Citizenship
  • Kenya
  • United States[1]
Alma materUniversity of Nairobi
Occupation(s)Businessperson, former political candidate
Known forFormer President Barack Obama's half-brother
Political partyRepublican (since 2016)
FatherBarack Obama Sr.
Relatives
FamilyObama family

Abon'go Malik "Roy" Obama (born March 1958) is a Kenyan-American businessman and former political candidate known for being the half-brother of 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the eldest son of economist Barack Obama Sr.

Biography

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Abon'go Malik "Roy" Obama was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya.[2][3] His parents are economist Barack Obama Sr. and his first wife, Kezia Obama (née Aoko).[4] Obama earned a degree in accounting from the University of Nairobi.[5] He met his younger half-brother, Barack Obama, for the first time in 1985,[2] when Barack flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to visit Malik.[6] According to him, the two each served as best man at the other's wedding.[2] Barack brought his wife, Michelle Obama, to Kenya three years later, seeing Malik again while meeting many other relatives for the first time.[7] Malik Obama is Muslim.[8]

Malik Obama lives in the Obamas' ancestral home, Nyang'oma Kogelo, a village of several hundred people, preferring its slow pace to that of the city.[2] Until 2004, he ran a small electronics shop a half-hour's drive away in another town.[2] Since 2008, Obama has run the Barack H. Obama Foundation, founded in memory of his father, Barack Obama Sr.[9][10]

Obama is a dual citizen of both Kenya and the United States.[11] He is a frequent visitor to the United States,[7] and works as a consultant in Washington, D.C., for several months each year.[2] He was registered to vote in Maryland as of 2016.[3]

Political candidacy and advocacy

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During his half brother's 2008 presidential campaign, Malik Obama was a spokesman for the extended Obama family in Kenya. He dealt with safety and privacy concerns arising from the increased attention from the press.[12]

In early 2013, Obama ran for governor of the Kenyan county of Siaya.[13] His campaign slogan was "Obama here, Obama there" in reference to his half-brother who was serving his second term as the President of the United States. Obama garnered 2,792 votes, about 140,000 votes behind the eventual winner.[14]

Prior to the 2016 United States presidential election, Obama stated that he supported Donald Trump, the candidate for the Republican Party.[15] He attended the third presidential debate as one of Trump's guests.[16]

On June 12, 2020, Malik Obama reportedly endorsed United States president Donald Trump,[17] and later in the week posted a fake and historically inaccurate birth certificate of Barack Obama in support of the Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories. The birth certificate alleges the US President was born in the Republic of Kenya in 1961, despite the Republic of Kenya not being founded until December 12, 1964.[18][19] The faux Kenyan certificate also contained a seal which read South Australia,[20] further affirming its lack of authenticity. His sister Auma (among others) condemned him for promoting the theory.[21] Since then, he has consistently taken to news sites to express his adverse opinions about his brother, alleging that he made a pact with the Devil.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Bearak, Max (October 19, 2016). "The story behind President Obama's half brother Malik, whom Trump invited to tonight's debate". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. But Malik Obama is a naturalized U.S. citizen, and he's the half brother of the current U.S. president.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Maliti, Tom (October 26, 2004). "Obama's Brother Chooses Life in Slow Lane". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 28, 2006.
  3. ^ a b Lind, Dara (October 19, 2016). "Why Donald Trump is bringing Barack Obama's half-brother to the debate". Vox. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023.
  4. ^ jpt (June 18, 2008). "From the Fact Check Desk: What Did Obama's Half-Brother Say About Obama's Background". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  5. ^ Obama, Barack H. (1995). Dreams from My Father. Times Books. p. 265. ISBN 1-4000-8277-3.
  6. ^ Obama, Barack H. (1995). Dreams from My Father. Times Books. p. 262. ISBN 1-4000-8277-3.
  7. ^ a b Oywa, John (August 15, 2004). "Sleepy Little Village Where Obama Traces His Own Roots". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  8. ^ Bearak, Max (October 19, 2016). "The story behind President Obama's half brother Malik, whom Trump invited to tonight's debate". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016.
  9. ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (May 9, 2013). "Barack H Obama Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Homepage - Welcome to The Barack H. Obama Foundation". www.barackhobamafoundation.org. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Seftel, Briana (October 19, 2016). "Who Is Malik Obama? At Last Debate, Trump Supporter And Half-Brother Of The President To Be Guest Of Republican Nominee". International Business Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  12. ^ Warah, Rasna (June 9, 2008). "We cannot lay claims on Obama; he's not one of us – Obama in this world". Daily Nation.
  13. ^ Gichana, David (January 14, 2013). "Obama's Step-Brother Will Seek Governorship of Kenyan County". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  14. ^ Walker, Hunter (March 7, 2013). "President Obama's Brother Loses Election in Kenya". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on March 9, 2013.
  15. ^ Vincent, Isabel (July 24, 2016). "Why Obama's half-brother says he'll be voting for Donald Trump". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023.
  16. ^ Begley, Sarah (October 18, 2016). "Donald Trump Is Bringing President Obama's Half-Brother to the Third Debate". Time. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023.
  17. ^ Wanjohi, John. "Malik Obama Throws Support Behind Donald Trump, William Ruto". www.mwakilishi.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  18. ^ Mwangi, Nick (June 16, 2020). "Obama's Brother Malik Tweets FAKE Birth Certificate Showing Obama Was Born in Kenya, Calls Him 'Stingy'". Nairobi Wire. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Wanjohi, John. "Malik Obama Tweets Fake Barack Obama's Kenyan Birth Certificate". www.mwakilishi.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  20. ^ "Tweet with the picture".
  21. ^ "Auma Obama calls out brother Malik over fake Barack Obama birth certificate". Citizentv.co.ke. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  22. ^ "'Sold His Soul to the Devil': Barack Obama's Estranged Brother Malik Shares Throwback Photo of the Former President, Calls Him a 'Snake' and a 'Trader' In Twitter Rant". Yahoo News. August 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
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