Local leaders, dignitaries, and members of the Luo Council of Elders on Saturday July 19, 2025 gathered at the village home of the late Dr. Phoebe Muga Asiyo in Wikondiek, Homa Bay County, to mourn the revered stateswoman in accordance with Luo cultural traditions.

Dr. Asiyo, a trailblazer in Kenya’s political landscape and former Member of Parliament for Karachuonyo constituency, was remembered not only as a fearless advocate for women’s leadership but also as a custodian of Luo traditions and values.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who led the political class during the ceremony, eulogized the late Asiyo as a “way maker” whose courage and vision continue to inspire the fight for gender equality in politics.

“Dr. Phoebe Asiyo walked so that women like us could run,” Wanga said. “The ongoing struggle for the two-thirds gender rule is deeply rooted in her sacrifice and determination. She braved the male-dominated political scene at a time when women were barely seen or heard in public leadership.” She also added that Asiyo is the only one who new her mother by name, “when I went to visit her, she greeted me, how are you Nyar Grace (the daughter of Grace),” she said.

Current Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome also paid tribute, describing the late Asiyo as a development-minded leader who laid a strong foundation for inclusive growth and peaceful coexistence.

“She was a peace lover, a wise leader and a true servant of the people,” Okuome said. “I have often found myself walking in the path she laid and it is a great honor to serve the same constituency she once led with excellence.”

The Luo Council of Elders, led by chairman Nyandiko Ongadi, emphasized Dr. Asiyo’s deep commitment to preserving Luo culture. Ongadi recalled that the late Asiyo was a frequent advisor to the elders and a strong voice in matters of cultural integrity.

“She never abandoned her roots,” said Ongadi. “Even in her greatness, she was one of us, a true Luo woman who upheld our traditions and provided guidance on cultural matters”.

 Even during her tenure as an MP, she could still get to the kitchen and cook food by herself for her visitors.

 “Her passing is not just a loss to her family or Karachuonyo, but to the entire Luo community,” he said.

Dr. Phoebe Asiyo passed away recently at the age of 89. Her legacy, both as a pioneering legislator and a cultural matriarch, remains etched in the history of Kenya and the hearts of the Luo people.

Written by Brian Odhiambo.