Former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo Dies at 92

Nairobi, Kenya – July 17, 2025 – Kenya mourns the loss of Hon. Dr. Phoebe Muga Asiyo, a trailblazing politician, women’s rights advocate, and former Member of Parliament for Karachuonyo, who passed away peacefully in her sleep at age 92 in North Carolina, USA, on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Her family confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement, describing her as a “matriarch, leader, and trailblazer whose spirit, resilience, and compassion transformed countless lives in Kenya and beyond.”

Born in 1932 in Kendu Bay, Homa Bay County, to a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor, Asiyo rose from humble beginnings to become a towering figure in Kenyan politics and social reform.

After graduating from Kamagambo High School in Migori County and later Kangaru Teachers College in Embu County, she initially taught briefly at Pumwani School in Nairobi before transitioning to work as a social worker at Nairobi Municipal Council.

Known affectionately as “Mama Phoebe,” she dedicated her life to advancing gender equality, education for girls, and women’s empowerment, leaving an indelible mark on Kenya’s political and cultural landscape.

Political legacy

Asiyo’s political career was marked by groundbreaking achievements. Elected as MP for Karachuonyo in 1979, she served two non-consecutive terms (1979–1983 and 1992–1997), becoming one of Kenya’s longest-serving female parliamentarians at a time when women in elective office were rare.

Her decision to enter politics was endorsed by the influential Luo Council of Elders after two days of deliberation and received tacit backing from then-Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a formidable force in Nyanza politics.

Her 1997 motion for affirmative action, though defeated, laid the groundwork for the two-thirds gender rule later enshrined in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution—a landmark achievement for gender equity in politics.

The comprehensive motion addressed domestic violence against women, widow disinheritance, and violence against female politicians during elections.

It also sought to combat child marriage, widow inheritance, limited access to health services, and female genital mutilation, while proposing reduced admission points for female students in arid and semi-arid areas.

As the first African chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) from 1958 to 1962, Asiyo transformed the organization’s focus from domestic skills to economic empowerment, healthcare, and political representation for women.

Despite initial opposition from four white executive members who questioned her capability due to her youth and inexperience, she successfully redirected MYWO’s mission beyond “baking cakes, embroidery and learning domestic science” toward economic empowerment, improved farming methods, small-scale businesses, and political representation.

She led a historic delegation in 1960 to Lodwar, Turkana County, to urge Jomo Kenyatta to allocate 50% of parliamentary seats to women a bold vision for its time.

Working alongside nominated MP Priscilla Abwao, she mobilized women leaders from all eight provinces to visit Kenyatta and five other freedom fighters who had been detained by the colonial government in Kapenguria, West Pokot County.

Professional achievements

Her contributions extended beyond politics. Asiyo was the first African woman to serve as Senior Superintendent of Kenya Prisons, establishing women’s prisons across the country.

She also served as a UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador from 1988 to 1992 and was a commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, advocating for women’s rights in the drafting of the 2010 Constitution.

In 2009, she made history as the first woman elevated to the position of Luo elder, a rare honor in Kenya’s patriarchal cultural traditions.

Asiyo’s legacy is also captured in her memoir, *It Is Possible: An African Woman Speaks*, launched in 2018 at a ceremony attended by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other dignitaries.

The book chronicles her journey navigating a male-dominated political landscape and her relentless fight for equity.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga paid tribute, calling Asiyo “a fearless mentor and a symbol of hope” who “dismantled barriers so others could follow.”

Social media posts echoed this sentiment, with users describing her as “a true champion of Kenyan women” and noting that “a big tree has fallen.”

Asiyo’s family has requested privacy as they navigate this loss, with details of memorial services and funeral arrangements to be announced later.

She is survived by her five children and a legacy that continues to inspire generations of Kenyan women leaders.

Her life, marked by courage, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to justice, remains a testament to her memoir’s title: it is, indeed, possible.