Phoebe Asiyo
Phoebe Asiyo | |
|---|---|
 Asiyo on the cover of her book It is Possible | |
| Born | 12 September 1932 |
| Died | 16 July 2025 (aged 92) North Carolina, U.S. |
Phoebe Muga Asiyo (12 September 1932[1] – 16 July 2025) was a Kenyan politician and an ambassador to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). She was UNIFEM's ambassador from 1988 to 1992.[2] She was the first woman elevated to the position of Luo elder for her efforts to promote education for girls, women's rights, and gender equality in Kenya.[3] Fondly called Mama Asiyo, she dedicated her life to improving the political arena in Kenya, the role of women and girls, and those affected by the HIV epidemic.[4] She was the first woman in Kenya with its 42 communities to become an elder.[5]
Career
[edit]Pre-2000
[edit]Asiyo went to Gendia Primary school and later joined high school at Kamagambo, in South Nyanza District, and then attended Kangaru Teachers College in Embu District.[6]
She joined the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake organisation in 1953 and was elected president of the same in 1958.[7] During her tenure, she advocated for the economic empowerment of the African woman through establishing small-scale businesses and advocating for better farming methods. She further lobbied for the improvement of women's and maternal health care and nutrition and more involvement of women in the three arms of government. She became the first African Woman Senior Superintendent of Women's Prison in 1963 on the eve of independence.[8]
Asiyo was elected to Kenyan parliament from the Karachuonyo Constituency seat in 1980 and held the seat until 1983, when parliament was dissolved.[9] She was reelected to parliament in 1992 after the multi-party system came into being, and she continued to serve until 1997. She held the distinction of being one of the longest-serving women in parliament in Kenya.[9]
She was the UNIFEM ambassador from 1988 to 1992.[4]
Post-2000
[edit]In 2001 Asiyo was selected to be a Commissioner of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC). Asiyo was part of the delegation to Uganda to advocate for the participation of women in the peace talks in Uganda.[10]
She served until her death as chair of the Caucus for Women's Leadership, formerly called the Kenya Women's Political Caucus, where she mentored young women and advocated for women in leadership roles.[9] In 2018 she launched her memoir: It is Possible at a ceremony that was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, and former prime ministers alongside other notable government officials and women leaders.[11]
Death
[edit]Asiyo died in North Carolina, United States on 16 July 2025, at the age of 92.[a][12][1]
Honours and awards
[edit]- Order of the Golden Warrior: 1st class chief of the burning spear.[13]
- Doctor of Humane Letters from Lehigh University[14]
- Honorary Doctorate Law Degree from the University of York (2002).[15]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Some sources mislabel her age as "93".
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Phoebe "Mama Phoebe" Muga Asiyo". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ Meet Luo female Elder, Phoebe Asiyo whose speech caught Barack Obama's attention
- ^ Okello, Rosemary (6 July 2009). "Mama Phoebe Asiyo becomes first woman elder". African Woman & Child Feature Service. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ a b Kairu, M. (1 October 1993). "CEDPA Africa Office honors Kenya M.P. Phoebe Asiyo, WIM 1". CEDPA Netw: 5. PMID 12345285.
- ^ "Mama Phoebe Asiyo becomes first woman elder". Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Phoebe Asiyo, trailblazer of women’s empowerment in Kenya, pens her memoirs
- ^ Onyango, D. "Pioneer of 'Maendeleo ya Wanawake' who broke the glass ceiling". The Standard, [online]. The Standard. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Phoebe Asiyo". State Department for Gender. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "Asiyo not about to quit even at 84". Mediamax Network Limited. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Phoebe Asiyo pushes for women's participation in the Northern Uganda peace talks". 1 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ Odhiambo, Orlale (5 July 2020). "Phoebe Asiyo, trailblazer of women's empowerment in Kenya, pens her memoirs". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ Wanjala, Emmanuel (17 July 2025). "Who was Mama Phoebe Muga Asiyo?". The Star. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "The Order of the Burning Spear, 1st Class, Chief of the Burning Spear". Ministry of Public Service and Gender. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Lenovo's Amelio, Three Others to Receive Honorary Degrees". Lehigh University. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients". York University. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
