Former Maendeleo Ya Wanawake chairperson Jane Kiano is dead.
A statement to newsrooms stated that Mrs Kiano, 74, died at the Nairobi Hospital on Thursday night after a long battle with lung cancer.
The statement from Irungu Houghton, the family representative, read: “She died at 10:25 pm…We have lost the matriarch of our family…May her legacy continue to inspire young women and girls from all corners of this country.”
Jane Kiano was recently recognised as a trailblazer by President Uhuru Kenyatta and feted with the First Class Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear Award.
She was honoured among other outstanding women such as Ida Odinga, Phoebe Asiyo, Grace Onyango and Beth Mugo.
Mrs Kiano, who led a largely quiet life, had previously been awarded the Elder of the Burning Spear Award in 1979.
She is also remembered for her outstanding work as the Nairobi City Commission deputy chairperson, Alliance Francaise President and at the Council of the Eminent Persons of Murang’a.
Kiano was the widow of Julius Gikonyo Kiano, former Cabinet minister and was Kenya's first PhD holder.
Born in Tumu Tumu, Nyeri, she trained as a teacher before switching to National women leadership.
She was the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization National Chairperson between 1971–1984.
Later she served as National Council of Women of Kenya Chairperson (1999-2003).
"She also served as Alliance Francaise President (1982-2013) and was Nairobi City Commission Deputy Chairperson (1988–1992)," the family statement added.
She was decorated for her service with Legion d’ Honneur du France in 2014, Freedom of the Nairobi City in 2006, Elder of the Burning Spear for being an outstanding Woman Leader among others.
