By Jake Tapper, ABC News’ Senior White House Correspondent
The White House had no comment Saturday on the arrest in Kenya of President Barack Obama’s half-brother George for possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.
President Obama barely knows George, 26, who lives in a home somewhat more modest than the White House in Huruma, a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya.
George is thought to be the youngest of at least eight half-siblings the President has.
Some of President Obama’s paternal relatives — though not George — came to Washington, D.C., for the inaugural, most notably “Grandma Sarah” Obama, the stepmother of Obama’s Kenyan-born father Barack Obama Sr., who on the Sunday before the inauguration feasted with the soon-to-be first family, their friends, several top Obama aides and Oprah Winfrey.
Kenyan Police Chief Joshua Omokulongolo told the Associated Press that George had one joint on him.
“He is not a drug peddler,” Omokulongolo said. “But it’s illegal, it’s a banned substance.”
George Obama, 26, is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
CNN quoted George saying, from his jail cell, “They took me from my home. I don’t know why they are charging me.”