In a man's world, she raised the headroom for women, lit the way

She was one of a kind. A golden dove that fought through a male chauvinism storm to sow seeds of hope for thousands of women across the country.

And if nature were to be fairer, 10 more replicas of her kind could easily turn the country into a fortress of gender equality and women’s success.

But as the world continues to mourn the demise of former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo, the legacy she has left behind is still fresh and will outlive several generations.

During her heyday in politics, she was the voice that made political male titans tremble. Even in retirement and deep into devolution, her voice never weakened in the push for gender equality.

She pushed for women's empowerment and challenged women to go for seats despite any obstacles that lay in their way.

Outside this strong demeanour that she displayed in public, even in her last months alive, lies a mother and a caring relative whose love for her family was undeniable.

On Saturday, several relatives recounted how Asiyo was the strongest pillar in their lives and how she juggled carefully between her family life and the unforgiving high-octane political field.

She was the mother who opened the doors of her home to everyone, including strangers, as she pushed her goals of changing the perception of people about women's leadership.

Caesar Asiyo, her son, recounted to the Sunday Standard how her mother had a huge welcoming heart and turned their home into a village meet-up point.

“We grew up knowing that our extended family was part of the nuclear family. My mother accommodated the extended family and the community very well,” Caesar says.

Villagers and other visitors would throng their home almost daily to enjoy a moment with the source of inspiration for generations.

Caesar says her mother lived with many children, including the needy, and it was hard to tell between her biological children and the ones she had fostered.

“I remember we grew up in this family with other children who were not my biological siblings. These included foster children and adopted children. What stood out is that my mother treated us equally, and this made most of them bond strongly with our family to date,” Caesar says.

He described Asiyo as a disciplinarian who set high standards of life. Her love for education shaped the future of her children.

Caesar admits that the high standards enhanced their success in life.

“My mother gave us good attention as children, and she raised the bar very high for us. This made us what we are today. My two sisters and my elder brother are working overseas, while I also work in Kenya,” Caesar said.

Even though Asiyo was working in various capacities, she demonstrated a generous heart which accommodated relatives and extended family.

He confirmed that the government is supporting the burial arrangements of his mother. However, it has not been confirmed whether she will be accorded a State burial or not.

“The government is supporting us very well, and we appreciate it. I heard some leaders talk about the State burial, but it has not been confirmed to us as a family,” Caesar says.

Asiyo’s charisma enabled her to be appointed as the first woman elder in the Luo Council of Elders.

“The Luo Council of Elders has informed us that they want to give my mother an elderly burial rite. She was their member until her demise,” Caesar says.

Asiyo is a leader who was committed to moulding politicians, especially in the Luo community.

Former Ndhiwa MP and the leader of the UGM party, Agustino Neto, says Asiyo taught her the dynamics of Luo community politics. This enabled Neto to undertake his political activities, which enhanced his relevance in the region.

“Asiyo realised that I was causing trouble for the ODM party. We developed a friendship and she made me understand Luo politics better than before,” Neto says.

He says her good relations with Asiyo enabled them to undertake a diplomatic mission in South Sudan.

“She is a leader I collaborated with in doing many important things in politics. May her soul rest in peace,” Neto says.

The board chairperson of Geno Community Development Initiative, ve Lawrine Odera, hailed Asiyo as a leader who introduced affirmative action in Kenya.

Odera says the Affirmative Action Bill, which Asiyo introduced in 1997, is what metamorphosed into the post of Women Representatives in Kenya today.

“Asiyo’s contribution to the empowerment of women in this country is enormous. We have our 47 Woman Reps in Kenya because of her efforts,” Odera said.

She describes Asiyo as a selfless leader.

“Asiyo was a selfless leader and many women flourished under her nurture regardless of their religious or ethnic background,” Odera adds.

Even as curtains fall for Asiyo, her legacy lives on and is evident in the lives of women leaders, both from Nyanza and the country at large.

Her wisdom helped shape the political journey of female leaders from the region.

Asiyo’s footprints left Homa Bay County trailblazing in women’s leadership with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wang,a  Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara, Rangwe MP Lillian Gogo and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo all borrowing a leaf from her to clinch seats.

Just like Asio Wanga, who first became Homa Bay Woman Representative in the wake of devolution.

Asiyo’s relentless fight for gender inclusion in leadership later opened doors for women to rise into leadership positions.

With her unforgettable mentorship in the political space, women who were directly or indirectly guided by her have risen against a society steeped in patriarchy to reach the top of their political careers.

The women leaders have achieved their firsts in the political space, thus conquering their male counterparts.

Governor Wanga won a toughly contested Homa Bay Governor seat in 2022, becoming the first female Governor in Nyanza.

Before that, devolution opened a door of opportunity which she did not allow to go to waste by grabbing Homa Bay’s Woman Representative seat.

For her to succeed, she had to seek political guidance, which she found when she visited Asiyo, who received her with an open heart, willing to support her vision.

Her guidance helped shape Governor Wanga’s political destiny.

Strategic communications consultant, Barack Muluka, opines that Asiyo was a phenomenon, an amazing matriarch who brought honour and dignity to leadership, not just by women, but leadership generally.