Phoebe Muga Asiyo, the trailblazer, former Karachuonyo Member of Parliament, and former Commissioner of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission./HANDOUT
My heart nearly skipped a beat when I received the
heartbreaking news of the passing of Hon. Phoebe Muga Asiyo, the trailblazer,
former Karachuonyo Member of Parliament, and former Commissioner of the
Constitution of Kenya Review Commission.
Fondly known by her Luo nickname Obisa Nyar Agoro, Hon. Asiyo was a symbol of integrity and grace in the turbulent world of Kenyan politics.
Even when provoked by her rivals, she never lowered her standards. She practiced politics with rare humility, dignity, and a deep love for her constituents, her family, and Kenya as a whole.
One of her quotes that remains etched in my memory is “Una moyo wa utu,” meaning one had a heart of humanity.
During the politically charged era of the 1980s and 90s, she spoke these words at a KANU rally in Homa Bay, extending praise to President Moi despite the widespread anti-Nyayo sentiments at the time. It was a gesture of grace, not politics.
This spirit of Ubuntu was rooted deeply in her life from an early age. In the late 1950s, Hon. Asiyo served as the first Kenyan President of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO), a position she held with distinction as the country approached independence.
It was during her time at MYWO that she met my mother, Mary Aoko Orlale, a fellow Seventh-day Adventist and her former classmate at Kamagambo High School in Rongo.
Their friendship grew over the years. When Phoebe decided to marry her sweetheart, Richard Asiyo, she chose my parents, Enos Seth Okongo Orlale and Mary, to be their best couple at a simple ceremony held at the Attorney General’s Chambers. From that moment, they always referred to each other as Best Man and Best Maid.
As a young boy visiting their beautiful home in Nairobi’s Lower Kabete neighbourhood in the mid-60s, I was always mesmerized by the serene surroundings.
I remember the butterflies, dragonflies, birdsong, and the sprawling lawns. She had a soft spot for me as the last born then in my family and affectionately called me Toto, a name she continued to use even after I became a university graduate, a journalist, and a husband and father.
When I returned from studies at the University of Arizona in 1985 and began my career in journalism, our interactions became more formal. She respected my professional space, and I did the same for her as a mother figure and politician.
Our paths crossed again in 2003 when she was appointed by President Mwai Kibaki to serve as one of the 27 Commissioners in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, chaired by Prof. Yash Pal Ghai with PLO Lumumba as secretary.
During the intense and often divisive constitutional review process held at Bomas of Kenya, Mama Phoebe remained a calming and principled presence.
She was always composed and respectful, never raising her voice, never using uncivil language, and never ridiculing anyone even in moments of deep disagreement. She ensured that gender and civil and human rights issues remained central to the agenda.
When Kenya faced its darkest hour following the 2007 post-election violence, which left over 1,300 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, she quietly joined hands with other prominent women leaders in backchannel diplomacy.
They supported the peace initiative led by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, together with former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and former Mozambican First Lady Graca Machel. Their efforts contributed significantly to the peace accord between Kibaki and Raila Odinga.
To us, her influence was not only political. She was family. I will never forget how she graced our 25th wedding anniversary with my wife, Rosemary Okello Orlale, as our chief guest.
To the amusement of our children, Biko and Terry, who served as Best Man and Best Lady, she still called me Toto. Having lost my mother in 2003, Hon. Phoebe gently stepped into that role in our lives.
I also recall a memorable visit to her Nairobi home with Rosemary, where she introduced us to Dr Auma Obama, just few months before Barack Obama was elected as the first black President of the United States.
Later, we travelled to her Karachuonyo home to witness her being crowned by the Luo Council of Elders, making history as the first woman to receive that honour. The event brought together dignitaries from across the region, including Mama Ida Odinga and women MPs from the Kenya Women’s Parliamentary Association.
Though I was the only man among many women guests, I was warmly welcomed by Mama Phoebe, her husband Richard, and their children Aseto, Mary, Lilian, Juni, and Caesar. She even reserved a room for me in Caesar’s house for the night to ensure my safety and comfort.
In 2015, she encouraged us to venture into floriculture, inspiring us to grow and export Moby Dick flowers to Europe. Though we harvested well, the market was flooded, and we did not succeed commercially. Still, her belief in us and her mentorship meant everything.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, we met in a Kisumu hotel where she was enjoying some quiet time with books, away from the village and frequent visitors. She treated us to drinks and snacks on New Year’s Eve 2023, sharing stories and laughter as always.
Even when she traveled to the US for medical care and to visit her children, we kept in touch through WhatsApp.
I was honoured to attend the launch of her memoir, It Is Possible, in 2018, at State House Nairobi graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and I was privileged to write a review of it for the Saturday Nation.
Her message in the book was clear and prophetic: “The future of our country and our legacy depends on the type of foundation we lay for our youth.”
The writer is a seasoned journalist an biographer.
