Pioneer woman MP Phoebe Asiyo./FILESeveral leaders have sent messages of condolence to the family of pioneer woman MP, gender champion, and diplomat Pheoe Asiyo.
Asiyo died on Thursday night while he was undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital.
The Asiyo family announced that she died peacefully in North Carolina, USA, in a statement released on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
“It is with heavy hearts that the Asiyo family shares the profound loss of our cherished mother,” the statement from Caesar O. Asiyo read.
“Her presence and love will be deeply missed by all who knew her.”
ODM leader Raila Odinga described Asiyo as a true trailblazer, a woman of many firsts earned and deserved.
"The family of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga has learned of the passing of Hon. Dr. Phoebe Muga Asiyo with heavy hearts and deep sorrow; we acknowledge and accept God's timing," Raila said.
Raila further said the nation celebrates Phoebe, the teacher who transformed the lives of many boys and girls who proceeded to make an impact on Kenya as leaders of the Republic.
"We celebrate her as a daring woman who proceeded from teaching to being a leading officer in the Kenya Prison Service system," Raila said in the glowing tribute.
"We acknowledge and celebrate her daring attitude that saw her enter into the then male-dominated electoral politics and not only win but also floored giants."
The ODM leader further said Phoebe cleared the path for many women and continued to show the way while she lived.
"Mama Ida and I celebrate her as a life well lived and wish peace and fortitude to her family at this time of profound loss. Rest in peace, Nya Agoro!"
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, Eliud Owalo, in his tribute celebrated Pheobe as a tireless champion for women's empowerment.
"Hon. Phoebe Asiyo, former Karachuonyo MP, pioneering advocate for women’s empowerment, and former UNIFEM Ambassador, will be remembered as one of the longest-serving women in Kenya’s Parliament and a trailblazer whose voice transformed national and international conversations on gender equality," Owalo said.
"I extend my sincere condolences to her family, friends, and associates—especially my dear friend Ceasar Asiyo, a former schoolmate at Maseno School. Her enduring legacy will continue to inspire current and future generations of leaders. May her soul rest in eternal peace."
Interior PS Raymond Omollo also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the people of Karachuonyo following the passing of Mama Phoebe Asiyo.
"Mama Asiyo broke barriers at a time when few dared to speak, paving the way for generations of women leaders in Kenya and beyond," PS Omollo said.
"Her wisdom, grace and unyielding commitment to equity will forever be etched in our collective memory.
Rest in peace, Nyar Agoro."
Interior PS Raymond Omollo with Hon Phoebe Asiyo in a file photoPrime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also sent his condolences to the family, friends, and the people of Karachuonyo following the passing of Hon. Phoebe Asiyo, whom he described as a remarkable woman who wore many badges of honour through a lifetime of service.
"She championed education for girls, defended women’s rights, and advanced gender equality with unmatched resolve, whether as President of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, as Karachuonyo’s elected Member of Parliament in the 1980s, or as Kenya’s ambassador to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)," Mudavadi said.
"Her legacy is woven into the fabric of our nation’s progress toward equality and dignity for all. May her soul find eternal rest, and may her family and community find comfort in the indelible mark she leaves behind."
Kisumu Governor Anyang'' Nyong'o also extended his condolences to the Asiyo family, celebrating her for her immense contributions to Kenya's politics and development.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to Caesar and all members of the Asiyo family. Please know that we stand in solidarity with you during this incredibly difficult time. May God bring comfort to Mama Phoebe as she rests in eternal peace," Nyong'o said.
In her tribute, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said her heart is heavy as Kenyans mourn the loss of a beacon, a mentor to many, a trailblazer whose light guided so.
"Mama Phoebe Asiyo was not just a leader; she was the steady hand that lifted others, the voice that spoke for the voiceless, and the unwavering spirit that refused to accept injustice. Today, Kenya has lost a matriarch. To her family, my deepest sympathies. To Homa Bay County, the institutions she served, and the countless lives she touched, I share in your grief," Wanga said.
"We have not just lost a leader, we have lost a mother, a teacher, a defender of what is right. Her life was a testament to courage. As the first African chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, as Karachuonyo's MP, as a champion for women's rights at UNIFEM, Mama Phoebe didn't just break barriers – she dismantled them so others could follow. The Order of the Golden Warrior and Chief of the Burning Spear were not mere honours – they were acknowledgements of a life lived in service. Yet beyond titles, she was Nyar nam ma ratego – a woman of the people and a dear daughter of the Lake."
Her wisdom was a gift, her strength an inspiration, and her absence now leaves a silence that echoes. May her family find comfort in knowing her legacy lives on in every woman who stands taller because of her, in every voice that speaks louder because she taught us how. Sleep well, Mama. Your fire burns on in all you've left behind."
