Kenya's First Female MP Grace Onyango Dies Aged 99

Kenya's first post-independence female Member of Parliament (MP) Grace Onyango died on Wednesday, March 8.

Her daughter Pauline Akwacha confirmed that the late Mama Onyango died aged 99 at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu.

The former MP was receiving treatment at the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after a prolonged illness.

A photo of the late Mama Grace Onyango, former President Jomo Kenyatta and other former Members of Parliament.

Kenyans.co.ke

Mama Grace was a woman of many firsts as she was also the country's first-ever female mayor, replacing Mathias Ondiek in Kisumu in 1965.

She was elected MP for Kisumu Town Constituency in 1969 after flooring Rehmat Khan to earn a seat in the National Assembly.

In the August House, she agitated for the inclusion of women in leadership and politics and successfully contested for Deputy Speaker in 1979.

Mama Onyango served in the position until 1984 when she lost her seat to the late Robert Ouko. In parliament, she sat on the committee charged with probing the assassination of  Nyandarua lawmaker Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (JM Kariuki).

After retiring from politics, she maintained a low profile but she was immortalised in 2022 when a social hall in Kisumu was named after her.

The late MP will be remembered for attending council meetings with Ondiek's widow, to push for her proposal to have spouses of councillors succeed them in office if they died.

Kenyans paid their tribute to the deceased, eulogising her as a champion of gender parity in politics and leadership and a steadfast leader.

Others mourned her death, pointing out that she inspired more women to dive deep into the political murky waters having fought off male competitors who would knew no boundaries in their quest to pull her down.

A photo of the late Mama Grace Onyango during her days as Kisumu Mayor.