The government has announced plans to erect a monument in Nairobi in honour of former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo, recognising her outstanding contributions to the nation.
President William Ruto described the late Asiyo as a true national leader and a symbol of progress, stating that her name and image will be immortalised in public spaces both in Nairobi and in her home county of Homa Bay.
“To honour her legacy and the impact she made, we will ensure her name stands in a place of national pride,” said President Ruto. “She was a hero. That is why we accorded her a State funeral. She earned her place as a national leader.”
Asiyo was laid to rest on Friday at her home in Wikondiek Village, Kanyaluo Ward, Homa Bay County.
The burial ceremony was attended by top leaders, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ODM national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, and other dignitaries.
President Ruto also noted that Asiyo’s mentorship paved the way for more women to enter political leadership, adding that her influence brought about significant change in Kenya’s governance.
“Asiyo inspired a generation of women leaders. Her legacy will live on not just in our hearts, but in the institutions and lives she helped shape,” he said.
As part of additional tributes, the President proposed renaming Wikondiek Secondary School to Mama Phoebe Asiyo School in her honour.
Phoebe Asiyo passed away on July 16, 2025, in North Carolina, USA, at the age of 90. She was remembered as a trailblazing stateswoman, a champion for women’s rights, and a maternal figure in national leadership.
The former Karachuonyo MP also served as the president of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO), where she played a central role in advancing the women’s movement in Kenya.
Many hailed her not just as a patron, but as the very backbone of the country’s struggle for gender equality.
