Orie Rogo Manduli to be buried on October 2

Former National Council of Non-Governmental Organisations chairperson and first female rally driver in Kenyan Orie Rogo Manduli (pictured) will be buried at her farm in Tondore Estate, Kitale on Saturday, October 2 in full African attire.

Manduli died on September 8 at her home in Riverside Drive, Nairobi, at the age of 73.

In an exclusive interview with The Standard on Wednesday, September 15, the family’s spokesperson, Gor Semelang’o, said Manduli would be laid to rest in the attire she liked.

”Plans are underway to ensure we give her a befitting sendoff. In terms of dressing, we have not reached the final decision yet, though it must be something she liked,” Semelang’o said.

The spokesman said the burial would take place next month to give the family time to plan for the guests and ensure Covid-19 protocols adhered to on the day of the funeral.

Prior to the burial, the family says it will hold a funeral mass at All Saints’ Cathedral on Tuesday, September 28, from 10am.

Manduli, an outspoken woman of many firsts died after a year-long battle with health complications.

She was born in Maseno, Kisumu County, in 1948 to Gordon Rogo and Zeruiah Adhiambo.

Manduli will be remembered as the first woman of African descent to participate in the East African Safari Rally in 1974 and 1975 when she drove a Colt Lancer.