Plans for the final journey of trailblazing Kenyan politician and women’s rights advocate Phoebe Asiyo have been unveiled, with her body expected to arrive in Nairobi from the United States on Sunday, August 4, 2025.
Asiyo, a revered former Karachuonyo MP and pioneer of gender equality in Kenya, passed away recently while in the US. Her family, led by her son Caesar Asiyo, has released a detailed burial program that includes memorial events in both Nairobi and Homa Bay County.
The body will lie at Lee Funeral Home on Monday, August 5, for public viewing, followed by a fundraising event at Maxwell Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church. A memorial service will be held at the same venue on Wednesday, August 6.
On Thursday, August 7, the body will be flown to Kisumu and transported to her ancestral home in Wikondiek village, Homa Bay County. The final burial and funeral ceremony will take place on Friday, August 8.
Phoebe Asiyo’s legacy has drawn tributes from across Kenya’s political, religious, and civic spectrum.
President William Ruto praised her as a “bold and courageous leader” who championed women’s inclusion in politics. ODM leader Raila Odinga called her a “trailblazer” who made history by not only venturing into male-dominated politics but also winning decisively.
Chief Justice Martha Koome hailed her as an inspiration for generations of women in leadership. “Her mentorship inspired many, including myself, to rise to leadership,” said Koome.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General Akello Misori remembered Asiyo as a transformative figure who dismantled gender stereotypes and encouraged women to lead.
“Phoebe Asiyo was not just a leader—she was a force,” Misori stated in Kisumu on July 21. “She defied the odds and did not wait for change—she became the change.”
Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Chairperson Rahab Muiu celebrated her as a “distinguished stateswoman and matriarch.” She recalled Asiyo’s bold 1961 journey to Kapenguria to meet Mzee Jomo Kenyatta—an act that helped lay the groundwork for affirmative action in Kenya.
“Mama Phoebe believed deeply in women’s leadership. She sacrificed, persisted, and dreamed of a Kenya where women would not sit as guests at the decision-making table, but as equals,” said Muiu.
Asiyo’s political and social contributions, particularly in pushing for constitutional reforms, gender justice, and grassroots empowerment, have left an indelible mark on Kenya’s democracy.
She began her career as a teacher and later joined public service, eventually becoming one of the first women elected to Parliament. Throughout her life, she remained a powerful voice for equality, education, and community-led development.
As Kenyans prepare to bid her farewell, her legacy continues to inspire generations committed to inclusive governance and transformative leadership.
