By Julia Hoppock

Aug 20, 2008 12:45pm

Obama’s Youngest Half-Brother Found Living in a Hut in Kenya

The Italian edition of Vanity Fair has found George Hussein Onyango Obama — the youngest half-brother of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois — living in poverty in a hut in Huruma, Kenya, just outside Nairobi.

"Huruma is a tough place, last January during the elections there was rioting and six people were hacked to death," George Obama told the magazine. "The police don’t even arrest you they just shoot you. I have seen two of my friends killed. I have scars from defending myself with my fists. I am good with my fists."

We took a look at Sen. Obama’s branch-y family tree in in July.

- jpt

User Comments

so. and. what.
Hundreds of thousands of McCain’s brother veterans are living in worse conditions.

Posted by: louis | August 20, 2008, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

Funny how Obama wants to help the world with my tax dollars, but did nothing to help his own brother.

Posted by: steve | August 20, 2008, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

Maybe it’s just me, but if I had a family member living in a tiny hut on $1 a month, I think I would find a way to send him/her 20, 50, 100 a month, whatever I had laying around. Says a lot about Obama’s character IMO.

Posted by: samhiguchi | August 20, 2008, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

May I remind you all that Barack did not grow up knowing his father’s side of the family at all; his father abandoned him as a child. Barack was raised by his grandparents/mother along with his half-sister. So Barack does not know his half-brother…

Posted by: elizabeth | August 20, 2008, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm

Did not 0-bama go to Kenya a couple of years ago? He still, like father like son, abandoned his half brother in poverty.
If he had donated a fraction of the money he gave to his soul-washing Trinity Church to his half brother, he would have got some education and got out of poverty.
Posted by: Olbermn3 | Aug 20, 2008 12:57:20 PM

Posted by: Olbermn3 | August 20, 2008, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Obama from
the mount.)

Posted by: Trajan | August 20, 2008, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

how about Maccain who dumped sick wife and children for the young blonde?

Posted by: zen | August 20, 2008, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Ok that’s it! He didn’t even take care of his own flesh and blood but yet he wants us to think he will take care of the whole country. Wishful thinking at best.

Posted by: Cory | August 20, 2008, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

obama supporters have made an issue abut mccain who left his first wife, paid child support, adopted HER children, continues to this day to have an excellent relationship with all. and admitted it was his greatest moral failure.
on the other hand obama abandons his own flesh and blood? his own relatives are destitute, hungry, and desperate? and he and his surrogates smear mccain as immoral for leaving his first wife? talk about double standards.
obamas only salvation as far as i’m concerned is hillary for v.p but as we have been told repeatedly hillary supporters do not matter, and we are not needed.

Posted by: sonia trevino | August 20, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm

The Obama fraud which we got to know against Clinton. See Obama campaign a lot the next week, Obama in a lot of photo opportunities: eating waffles he don’t like, going to Germany and Hawaii and a lot of other places.
Obama is once again meeting opposition he’s not suppose to meet as the presumptous president with tons of lobbyist money in the bank. Expect the campaign fall back with some Obama Golden Oldies: 1) Hey, I win. I intend to win. Don’t I look like a winner. I got all this money from little people for a change. Or Obama fraud 2) I will change the Electoral map, not Bush who for 8 years run the country doing crimes, but I – Obama. Look I buy advertisement in redstates, don’t that prove it?
Well, Barack Obama is loosing the electoral map today. Being president is above his pay grade, vote Clinton instead.

Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | August 20, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm

Any of us can probably find a relative somewhere in our family tree , be it a brother-sister or cousin, that lives a life that we don’t understand, be it drugs, alcohol or simply refuseing to take advantage of educational opportunities we all have. The sad part that many us who earn a decent living are pouring all we have into taking care of our immediate members and funding 35 to 40% of our earnings into taxes. None of us knows what kind of person Obamas brother is not to mention that being in Kenya probaly doesn’t help.

Posted by: david | August 20, 2008, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm

sylvia,
NEWS BREAK
clinton lost
unless we hand out gold medals to peopel who come in 3rd place now

Posted by: bhrandon | August 20, 2008, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm

I think it is pathetic that so many of you are so eager to use what is a tragic situation for your own political ends. As a factual matter, Obama’s youngest half-brother has been estranged from his family. He has not kept contact with any of them. Of course, why let facts and tragedy stand in the way of scoring political points. I guess that is the kind of campaign McCain is running (and, yes, I say McCain’s campaign because a good number of you are I’m sure doing this because of McCain’s “points” system for commenting).

Posted by: Bethany | August 20, 2008, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm

Are you sure that 0-bama does not have another youngest youngest half brother?

Posted by: fact check | August 20, 2008, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

bhrandon
NEWS BREAK
Nobody lost or won anything yet!
Unless you push people out from ballot before election day using technicalities, intimidation and force.
But that’s not America!

Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | August 20, 2008, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

Louis: I totally agree, our veterans have not been taken care of by McCain or Bush. It is an huge reason why I will not vote for McCain ever. Our Veterans deserve the very best care.

Posted by: beck | August 20, 2008, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

And Your Point? So, his Dad had other children….in another country….and they are poor. Once again, your point??? That has nothing to do with Obama, I suppose he’d have to submit to DNA tests to prove it is so, and then what, he’s responsible for this person. I don’t think so, Daddy wasn’t the most responsible person and its not the sons resposibility to take care of his Dad’s prodigy.

Posted by: Brenda | August 20, 2008, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm

Obama’s entire family in Africa isn’t doing well despite, in some instances, Obama’s failed promises to help out. Meanwhile, Obama himself has gained quite a fortune working for questionalble people in Chicago. Seems like he’s willing to abandon his brethren entirely.
But then, what do you expect from Obama?

Posted by: Martin Slueg | August 20, 2008, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

I do support Obama but I must acknowledge that it’s a bit weird that with all his money he couldn’t help his own family

Posted by: Alain | August 20, 2008, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

Louis, Louis, Louis…No one belives that pap….
The poorest american is in the top 1-2% of income when ranked with the entire world population.
That includs my brother veterans
Get Real

Posted by: smith | August 20, 2008, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

But he lives in the motherland Africa. not racist America.

Posted by: geevill | August 20, 2008, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm

It’s absurd to blame Obama for this. I have a half-sister who I did not meet until I was in my 20s. I have no control over how she lives.

Posted by: blip | August 20, 2008, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm

It does kind of beg the question… where is McCain’s first wife?

Posted by: Blip | August 20, 2008, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm

Alain,
It’s a matter of “character” of an individual. It does not help his political ambition, does not gaining him a vote, so your Nothingness simply left his half brother alone, in poverty.
Would you?

Posted by: fact check | August 20, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

So..so..so!!! Nice to see so many people don’t know anything about basic human morality. I would like to think that the maybe next president of the US has at least some morals, alas he appears to have none. If he can’t even help his family…what’s he gonna do for you???????

Posted by: samhiguchi | August 20, 2008, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm

Why is this just now coming out? This story will circulate like wildfire, and it just brings into sharper focus how nobody really knows who this Obama guy IS? Anyone who’s tried to ask, has been labeled a racist and shut down. I mean, seriously, we have some vague idea he was born in Kansas or something, lived in the middle east as a child, and then with his grandparents at some point, but his past and his family are really very mysterious. This hurts him IMO, particularly coming out now. It appears that Obama met this brother a couple of years ago. He should have thought about how this would be perceived for Pete’s sake.
People are still wondering about his moving around so much as a child and where all he lived, his mother and what her deal was, and his father, all this food stamps – to private schools confusion.
He’s tried to keep his story line down to the last 20 yrs. or so, and that’s not now these things work. ANY unseemly things coming out about his background NOW, given his standing in the polls and the support he’s been losing, are like sticks of dynamite.

Posted by: Teri B. | August 20, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

Again, Obama is an empty shell. He’s all hype and offers nothing of substance beyond yelling ‘change’. Change what? The more you hear, the more he’s the same as the other ultra-liberals. This, despite the fact he tries a soft-shoe toward the middle.
But, you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Obama — Mister Shallow!

Posted by: Martin Slueg | August 20, 2008, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm

What about cindy mccain she said she was the only child turns out she has a sister GOOGLE IT SHE LIED!!! LIAR LIAR JUST LIKE HER HUSBAND!!!

Posted by: angie | August 20, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

Come on now…am from Kenya and there are no huts in Huruma. Check your facts!!!
Sending $10 to the “brother” – if it has been proved that he is indeed his brother – will not do much for this brother if he spends it on ‘Changaa’ – illicit beer.

Posted by: Joyce | August 20, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm

I’ve never seen a hut in Huruma and I’ve been there dozens of times; Unless this is another new “discovery” just in time to muddy the waters before the all-important vote in November.

Posted by: Oliver Matawi | August 20, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm

I think maybe the two of you should check your facts, a large number of people live in one room shacks in Huruma, just google it. Geez can’t you come up with anything better than that!

Posted by: samhiguchi | August 20, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm

How sweet. Obama has a brother that lives in poverty and he did nothing to help. Michelle was right, America is indeed a mean country and it starts with her husband.

Posted by: Sarah | August 20, 2008, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm

samhiguchi
How many of those poor have a multi-millionaire relative living in the states who can’t spare a dime for them?

Posted by: Martin Slueg | August 20, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm

Seriously, Joyce, “illicit beer”?
Obama’s reportedly only met his brother twice, so if he’s a useless, uninterested in bettering himself or escaping ABJECT POVERTY then I doubt Barak would know it.
Regardless, I want to hear what Obama has to say about this, and perhaps, just for a crazy change, even see some INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. If he just didn’t want anything to do with these other siblings, enjoying his only child status, then fine. But I don’t want to hear another disingenuous word from him about responsibility to family, helping the poor, his being a Christian, or how lucky he was to be born in the U.S.
So much for being his brother’s keeper is all I can say at this point.

Posted by: Teri B. | August 20, 2008, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm

I’m sure none! If this poor man can live on a single dollar a month, just think what he could do with $10, but I guess big bro can’t afford it.
—————————
samhiguchi
How many of those poor have a multi-millionaire relative living in the states who can’t spare a dime for them?
Posted by: Martin Slueg | Aug 20, 2008 3:54:18 PM

Posted by: samhiguchi | August 20, 2008, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm

I feel bad for his brother and others like him in other countries, but let’s face it folks, there are people suffering in our own country. Oprah did a show on this last week, did you know there are many Americans who live without running water, without electricity, with access to proper health care? These are American Citizens, in the most prosperous country in the world.
We should be ashamed. And I do not trust Obama for one second. Who is his loyalty to? He has belonged to an African-centric church for 20 years. And why does he have to insist at every speech that he is patriotic? Seems awfully suspicious. Remember deeds, not words. What has he accomplished that proves his patriotism? That’s right, nothing. It’s all words; and just because some of you believe his words, doesn’t make it so.
McCain has PROVED his patriotism, and that is enough for me. And not only that, but he has shown compassion and willingness to help other countries, with the charity work that he and his wife have done for years, long before he ran for President.
President McCain…maverick, hero, patriot.

Posted by: decentAmerican | August 20, 2008, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm

Louis is right….we are NOT caring for our veterans like we should. Put McCain in office, and they’ll bring back the draft–because they have to.
God help us if you put this man in office.

Posted by: ask around | August 20, 2008, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm

He can’t even help his brother, sad.

Posted by: tww | August 20, 2008, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm

Is this article factual or a hoax?
Obama went to Kenya to visit his grandmother and family. He should be aware of their conditions. $10/month is a lot of money in Kenya and it’s hard to believe that Obama didn’t do anything to help them out.
Cindy McCain is dedicated to her charity work helping poor children in South East Asia. She rescued two Bangladesh babies with cleft palates from Mother Teresa’s orphanage and adopted one of them (Bridget McCain). The other baby was adopted by friends.
Have Obama’s brother contact Cindy McCain. I’m sure she’ll be happy to help him out or maybe adopt him?

Posted by: Donoke9-10 | August 20, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

ask around: (wrote, Re: McCain):
“God help us if you put this man in office”.
YES, HE WILL!!!!!

Posted by: eyes opening | August 20, 2008, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm

Yeap its true Obama’s daddy was a rolling stone. I wonder what his half siblings really think of him. My older brother has lots of siblings that he is not close with but he wouldnt hesitate to help them if he could because they are family. Who knows what happened I doubt Obama will even address this.

Posted by: rachel | August 20, 2008, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm

I have a half sister who was born after I was already a young adult
she is my father’s child with his third wife
she is a virtual stranger to me
she chooses not to work and is estranged from her full siblings as well as her half siblings
speaking from experience these are strange relationships
I for one reserve judgement based on the very limited information here

Posted by: view from the bridge | August 20, 2008, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm

Ohbama’s handlers are probably ticked
off that George has not contributed
to this “historic” campaign. I mean,
blood is thicker than water.

Posted by: Praxiteles | August 20, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm

Why is Obama’s brother living in a slum in Kenya?
Words, just words:
SEN. OBAMA: Absolutely. But look, you know, when I find myself taking the wrong step, I think a lot of times it’s because I’m trying to protect myself instead of do God’s work.
REV. WARREN: Yeah, fundamental selfishness.
SEN. OBAMA: And so that, I think, is my own failure.
REV. WARREN: How about America?
SEN. OBAMA: I think America’s greatest moral failure in my lifetime has been that we still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers you do for me. (Applause.) And that notion of — that basic principle applies to poverty. It applies to racism and sexism. It applies to, you know, not thinking about providing ladders of opportunity for people to get into the middle class.
I mean, there’s a pervasive sense, I think, that this country, as wealthy and powerful as we are, still don’t spend enough time thinking about “the least of these.”

Posted by: Words, Just Words | August 21, 2008, 12:45 am 12:45 am

Is it help the least of my brothers or help my brother the least? Less than 1% of their income to charity, none to family, as usual Obama never practices what he preaches.

Posted by: pennsylvaniavoter | August 21, 2008, 1:45 am 1:45 am

Hey Obama – charity begins at home! What’s your problem? Help your brother for heaven’s sake. Geeeze.
The more that Americans are reminded that Obama has muslim relatives in Africa, the better.
Yay!

Posted by: Jo | August 21, 2008, 3:07 am 3:07 am

Martin Slueg wrote:
And Your Point? So, his Dad had other children….in another country….and they are poor. Once again, your point??? That has nothing to do with Obama, I suppose he’d have to submit to DNA tests to prove it is so, and then what, he’s responsible for this person. I don’t think so, Daddy wasn’t the most responsible person and its not the sons resposibility to take care of his Dad’s prodigy.
And I — a white American — am responsible for black Americans whose great-great-great grandparents were held as slaves by people that may or may not be related to me?! Can we apply your logic hear as well?

Posted by: Thomas Thunkey | August 21, 2008, 7:20 am 7:20 am

Well it looks like the usual suspects have already lied and smeared this news article to make Obama look bad.

Posted by: anon | August 21, 2008, 8:03 am 8:03 am

Nobody has to do anything to make Obama look bad. He’s doing that pretty well on his own.

Posted by: ArkDem | August 21, 2008, 10:06 am 10:06 am

If this is his half brother, and O”H”B
is elected he won’t have to worry any
longer…the Lincoln bedroom is available.

Posted by: MEW | August 21, 2008, 10:26 am 10:26 am

This is a game by the libs and Obama, see his brother is going to talk at the convention, so that means they knew where he was for a while!!
They are trying for the sympathy vote!!
Do not be fooled!!

Posted by: spock | August 21, 2008, 10:47 am 10:47 am

…GREAT FAMILY YOU COME FROM, BARACK, BABY…….PROBABLY DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD ANOTHER RELATIVE…….COMMUNITY DISORGANIZER SUPREME……LEAVE US ALONE, WILL YOU?

Posted by: justj joe | August 21, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm

IF this man is indeed a child of Barack Obama’s father-Why would Obama owe this person anything ? He has no legal or moral duty to this person .

Posted by: ohnomrjacob | August 21, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm

Oh yes, John is a very loyal man. Dumped the first wife after she was crippled and lost her beauty. I understand he didn’t like the weight she gained after the accident. Better watch out America(since 60% overweight)
John may not know that statistic and may. put all on a diet. As for helping Obama’s brother, he could just as easily help out Cindy’s sisters here at home. We do not have to fly our private jet to othe countries to help people in poverty, children who live in shelters and go without adequate nutrition and yes there are children living under bridges here in America. There are many children living in shelters in their own state and many in Phoenix itself.
Could save jet fuel as well.

Posted by: aw | August 21, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm

Why would Barak owe his brother anything? Well, Obama’s made a special point of preaching to others about family responsibility, used his religion to his beneift, made a mission of helping the poor, and made a big deal of how lucky he was to be born in this country, and how much he loves it for all he’s been able to achieve. I can’t swallow all that, and the fact idea that he had no duty to his brother, UNLESS, he just didn’t know about it, or was told by other relatives something about his brother that made him feel it best not to interfer. I do understand tough love, if that’s what the story really is. However, I suspect this issue will be kept just quite enough so that most Americans know nothing about it.
And selfish “Christians” who don’t extend a helping hand to their brothers living in abject poverty DO NOT EXIST. This is basic Christianity 101: “For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison and you visited me.”

Posted by: Teri B. | August 22, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm

Its very simple if he doesnt care about his poverty stricken brother who lives in a hut how in the h*ll do you think he cares about the poor in this country?

Posted by: don | August 22, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm

Its really sad can the messiah pick anyone for V.P who isnt more qualified than he is? unless he picks mike tyson
or pee wee herman

Posted by: don | August 22, 2008, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm

I think Obama is disgraceful! How dare he preach responsibility to the NAACP on family issues and then could care less about his own brother. I understand he may not have known his brother growing up but what a cold hearted individual. God help us if he wins this Presidency, he is so inept. I really cannot believe that the democrats nominated this person, a man with so little experience AND NO COMPASSION!

Posted by: dkihnley | August 27, 2008, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm

George is fine. What he needs is plenty of love which he is getting. An African does not need plenty of money to survive. He is glad his superstar half brother is running for office and wishes him success. He even has his poster on his wall. Now that Obama is aware of George’s condition he will do something to help him. You people should refrain from passing false judgement of this humble presidential candidate-next President of the USA-

Posted by: PK | September 26, 2008, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm

First let me apologize for any grammatical errors.
I am recently became an American Citizen and I am still learning the English language.
My mother use to say:
“The worse blind is the one which does not want to see”.
The sad thing about all this situation (Presidential Elections 2008) is that…after all is done… (Obama wins)…people are gone say: What happened? I was so sure!
He sounded so good!
To good to be true!
This is what I have to say…To much talk…Who is him? Do you really know Obama? Two years in the Senate…campaigning…that’s all!
Promises…He says what people want to hear!
We all gone pay a very high price for this big mistake we (you) are getting yourselves in…
Open your eyes people!
Study the situations…get informed…Don’t believe in promises!
Look at the person! Their precedent…
Don’t you know that “were there’s smoke there’s fire?”
We should be more prudent with our choices…
We leave in a very dangerous world…very dangerous…
Look at the history of this world!
We are all living in a “lalala” world, not taking in consideration that bad people are out there, and they are planning right now, as we speak, to kill us!
Even if it takes 100 years…They will succeed!
And do you want to know why!
JUST BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO BE BLIND…AND DEAF!
BE CAREFUL…AND… GOOD LUCK!
God bless you all!

Posted by: jane schneeman | October 6, 2008, 12:25 am 12:25 am

what a bunch of propoganda..

Posted by: Dcollins | September 21, 2010, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm

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