President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga on Friday set aside political differences to pay their last respects to the late Dr. Phoebe Asiyo, a pioneering Kenyan politician and champion for women’s rights. The burial ceremony, held at Wikondiek Secondary School grounds in Homa Bay County, drew national and local leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, in a rare display of unity.
Dr. Asiyo, who died on July 16, 2025, in North Carolina, USA, at the age of 90, was celebrated as a stateswoman, diplomat, and tireless advocate for gender equality. Born on September 12, 1932, she made history as one of the first women from Nyanza to be elected to Parliament, serving two terms as MP for Karachuonyo Constituency. She followed in the footsteps of Grace Onyango, Kenya’s first female MP, and went on to break new ground in politics and diplomacy.
Beyond her legislative work, Asiyo dedicated her later years to advancing women’s rights, both locally and internationally. Her leadership and advocacy inspired generations of women to take up leadership roles in public life.
In their tributes, President Ruto and Raila Odinga hailed her courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice. “Dr. Asiyo opened doors for women in leadership at a time when it was unthinkable,” Ruto said. Raila described her as “a mother to the nation” whose legacy would endure for decades.
Asiyo’s burial was not only a farewell to a remarkable leader but also a celebration of a life that helped shape Kenya’s democratic and gender equality journey.
