Veteran journalist, politician and Kenya's first female rally driver Orie Rogo Manduli is dead.
Her family confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke that Manduli died on Wednesday, September 8, at her Riverside home.
The family member stated that Ms Manduli had been in and out of hospital but she was making good progress.
However, on Wednesday afternoon her condition deteriorated and she died at her home in Nairobi.
Manduli, who had been out of the public limelight in recent years, had also suffered a heart attack but recovered, according to sources.
She enjoyed being in the public eye and loved it even more when she was referred to as Ambassador at the International Council of Women’s permanent representative to the United Nations Environment Programme and Habitat.
Most Kenyans know her for her unique and massive head scarfs that more often than not match the Nigerian-style dresses she so much loved.
One of her most recognisable feats was being the first woman of African descent to participate in the East African Safari Rally in 1974 and 1975.
She often described herself as “lioness in her cage” and in 2005 was embroiled in a leadership wrangle over the National Council of Non-Governmental Organisations
The wrangles forced then Culture and Heritage minister Najib Balala to step into the fray and lock the NGO Council gates blocking all from entering or leaving the premises.
Her sense of humour was easily recognizable during interviews especially when she evaded answering which year she was born and when she went to school.
Manduli attended Ng'iya Girls’ High School then called Butere Girls and then Machakos Girls and later joined Machakos Teachers College.
She and her husband left for Canada where she studied and graduated with a diploma in office management.
The former KBC host revealed that she was born Mary Orie Rogo but changed to Mary Orie Rogo Ondieki after her marriage but dropped Mary when the name became a mouthful. She later remarried and acquired the Manduli surname which she used till her death.
