Dr. Phoebe Asiyo to be buried on Friday, August 8

Veteran politician, pioneer woman MP, diplomat, and gender champion, Phoebe Asiyo, will be buried on Friday, August 8, 2025, at her home in Wikondiek Village, Homa Bay County.

Asiyo passed away on July 16, at the age of 90, in North Carolina, USA.

Before the burial, a memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, at Maxwell SDA Central Church from 11 am.

A fundraising event will take place at the same venue on Tuesday, August 5th at 4:30 pm.

“Contributions can be sent via Paybill number 8023848, using the account name “Your Name”.

Dr Asiyo leaves behind a legacy of leadership, love, and service.

She was the wife of the late Richard Genga Asiyo, a respected leader, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Dr. Asiyo, a revered public servant, was a trailblazer in Kenya’s political and civil rights landscape.

Born September 12, 1932, Asiyo was among the pioneer women from Nyanza to be elected to Parliament, the first being Grace Onyango, the foremost female Member of Parliament in post-independence Kenya, who was elected to represent Kisumu Town Constituency in 1969.

Asiyo served as the MP for the Karachuonyo constituency in the 1970s and 1990s.

A lifelong advocate for gender equality, Asiyo played a critical role in advancing women’s representation and leadership in Kenya.

Outside politics, she worked extensively with organisations such as the United Nations and Maendeleo ya Wanawake, dedicating her life to improving the lives of women and children in Kenya.

Phoebe joined Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation in 1953 and was elected President of the same in 1958.

During her tenure, she advocated for the economic empowerment of African women through establishing small-scale businesses and advocating for better farming methods.

She was the first female to be appointed Luo elder and was awarded Chief of the Burning Spear in 2018 for her work in promoting girls' education and gender equality in Kenya.

Phoebe dedicated her life to improving the political arena in Kenya, the role of women and girls, and those affected by HIV and fighting against female genital mutilation in Kenya.