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| Phoebe Asiyo. |
By Dennis Onyango
Kenya: She made it to Kenya’s first multi-party Parliament and has since remained a force to be reckoned with within the country’s politics and women leadership.
Chairperson of the Caucus for Women’s Leadership, Phoebe Asiyo is a ‘rare breed’ that entered the Kenyan political scene and thrived at a time the career was viewed as a preserve of men.
The former Karachuonyo MP is a woman of many firsts. She was the first African Head of Women’s Prisons shortly after independence in 1963 by attaining the rank of a senior superintendent. She later led a team of founders at the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation before plunging into politics in1979.
She has made a major mark locally and internationally by passionately advocating for women’s rights, thus earning numerous awards and global recognition.
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Asiyo spearheaded major reforms in the prison sector that was male dominated to create space for women too, something that boosted her becoming the first African chairperson of ‘Maendeleo ya Wanawake’, a movement that champions women’s rights.
When she made her debut in politics in 1979, she shocked many who could not understand why a woman would seek political leadership.
The 83-year old recalls how she faced a lot of opposition due to her “perceived defiance to the norm” that confined women to the kitchen.
But despite these odds, Asiyo sailed through. She was active in the struggle for independence and at one time led a delegation of women to visit the founding President Jomo Kenyatta while in detention.
She made history at that time as the longest serving woman MP by retaining the Karachuonyo seat for two five-year terms (1979-1983 and 1993-1997).
During her stint as an MP, she launched poverty eradication projects in her area and remained vocal in her quest for female political emancipation.
Her zeal in women empowermentcaused her sponsor the Affirmative Action motion, (also called the Asiyo motion 1997)to Parliament in April 1997 to accommodate women in the country’s positions of leadership. Although the motion was defeated, it was later passed in 2000 when it found its way back to the House.
After quitting active politics in 1997, her advocacy for women rights paid off as she became chairperson of the Caucus for Women’s Leadership, which works to empower and train potential women candidates for political office and secure affirmative action for women and marginalised groups.
First woman elder
Her popularity kept rising after relinquishing her Karachuonyo seat. In fact, even children in her community know her so well that they refer to her as ‘mama’.
‘Mama’ is a sign of respect and a demonstration that she is held in high esteem following her massive contributions to the society.
Asiyo is pleased that she united women to fight for their freedom at a time when there were no proper laws protecting such rights.
In 2009, the mother of five was crowned the first woman elder for her distinguished contributions to the society. The fete was organised by women leaders in the country led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife Iddah Odinga.
This made her the first woman ever to be elevated to this position.
Prior to this, she was appointed a commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) in 2001 and also served as a delegate to the UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Among the women leaders she mentored include the likes of Executive Director of Kenya Literature Bureau Eva Obara and renowned author Asenath Odaga, who describe her as a bold leader whose star kept rising.
Asiyo has definitely joined the league of fame of Kenyan women leaders who have earned recognition internationally. Among the powerful positions she has served in include being a member of Parliamentarians of Global Action and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for Africa.
She has also worked as Consultant for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and has been chairperson of the Kenya National Council of Women.
She attended Gendia Primary and later joined Embu Teachers Training College.
Her relentless efforts for women’s rights have earned her numerous awards, key among them include the Order of the Golden Warrior (2004) given to her by former president Mwai Kibaki.
The trained teacher has a Doctor of Humane Letters from Lehigh University and an Honorary Doctorate Law Degree from the University of York (2002).
Asiyo who has left a rich legacy throughout more than fifty years in public service maintains her mission of empowering women is still firmly on course.
