FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT PHOEBE ASIYO PASSES AWAY IN THE U.S

Kenya has been plunged into mourning after the death of Phoebe Muga Asiyo, the pioneer of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake movement. Asiyo's passing was confirmed by her family in a statement, which revealed that the icon had passed away peacefully in her sleep while in North Carolina, U.S.
“With heavy hearts, the Asiyo family shares the profound loss of our cherished mother, Hon. Dr. Phoebe Muga Asiyo… Her presence and love will be deeply missed by all who knew her,” the family statement read in part.
A bold advocate for women’s rights, Asiyo became a Member of Parliament for Karachuonyo in 1982, becoming one of the few women in Kenyan history to achieve such a feat at the time. She is largely remembered as the original voice behind the push for gender equality laws, more specifically, the two-thirds gender principle, which was eventually incorporated into the 2010 constitution.
Long before women's rights went mainstream, Asiyo was already vocal in championing fair representation and the inclusion of women in leadership positions. Her advocacy journey is intertwined with the oldest and most influential women's organisation, Maendeleo ya Wanawake, where she held key leadership roles in the group, which served as a platform for nurturing women leaders.
Among the leaders to mourn the late Phoebe Asiyo was Ann Waiguru, who paid tribute to her in a statement on 'X' formerly twitter.
"I join the nation in mourning Hon. Dr. Phoebe Asiyo. A trailblazer whose courage and clarity of purpose opened doors for women in leadership. She stood firm in male-dominated spaces and carved a path for us to follow." Read the statement.
"Her legacy lives on in every woman in public service and every girl aspiring to lead. My heartfelt condolences to her family and the people of Karachuonyo. May she rest in eternal peace." She added.