Mama Grace Onyango. PHOTO | FILE

A woman who excelled when gender equality was an alien idea, Grace Onyango, has died at the prime age of 98, after scoring many firsts and establishing a rich social and political legacy.

Grace will be fondly remembered for sweeping away cultural barriers to become the first woman mayor of a town in Kenya at the height of deeply entrenched male domination. She achieved this feat by defying the odds to become the first female mayor of the lakeside town of Kisumu.

Born on June 26, 1924, Grace swept aside cultural and social obstacles to ably lead the town from 1965 to 1969, at a time when women were often reminded in public and private that their place was in the kitchen.

She would in 1969 grab yet another first in post-independence Kenyan politics by being elected the first woman MP in the then Nyanza Province and the entire country. She became the Kisumu Town MP.

Her husband, Onyango Baridi, who was a teacher and journalist, died the same year, leaving her to singlehandedly bring up their six children. As the final curtain came down on her, ending an illustrious life, she had 17 grandchildren and was proud of her 11 great-grandchildren.

Role model to many

Grace, who died at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral Hospital in Kisumu, on March 8, 2023, has been mourned by many leaders, including President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Coalition party leader Raila Odinga. Both lauded her as a good leader and a role model to many.

Mr Odinga, who is the founding ODM party leader and former Prime Minister, was full of praise for Grace, who worked closely with his late father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, in politics in Luoland and the country.

The Azimio coalition flag bearer said: “I have lost a sister and a leader, who worked tirelessly to promote girl child education.”

He described her as a matriarch, who led not just fellow women, but also Kenyan men and their children in many ways.

She had just hours before her death been celebrated for her contribution to women’s empowerment and for her inspirational political leadership to mark the International Women’s Day. Coincidentally, the day is marked on March 8, which is when she died.

Breaking the glass ceiling

Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’-Nyong’o lauded Grace Onyango for breaking the glass ceiling for women’s leadership and for dedicating her entire life to selfless service to the people.

He said: “Nyabungu (Dholuo for daughter of the forest), as we knew her, was a pillar of women’s leadership and a role model, who blazed the trail, especially for women in political leadership. She broke the (glass) ceiling well before the start of the campaigns for gender parity.

“Her death on the International Women’s Day is as remarkable as it is confounding,”

Grace Onyango’s other remarkable achievements included being the first woman secretary-general of the then highly influential but male-dominated Luo Union (East Africa), a cultural and political organisation.

But her meteoric rise began right at the grassroots when she vied for and became the first woman councillor in Kisumu Town, representing Kaloleni Ward.

This paved the way for her to rise to the mayorship, gaining recognition across the East and Central African region for women’s political leadership.

According to her family, Grace has been ailing since 2015. Last year, the former Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Gender, Prof Margaret Kobia, feted her for her great contribution to the promotion of women leadership.

In her condolence message, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also lauded her as a trailblazer, a role model and pillar of strength for women in politics and leadership.

Grace Onyango, who lived at Tom Mboya Estate in Kisumu Town, has been remembered as a mentor, former teacher, politician and a committed leader, who opened the way for women to vie for different positions and make tangible contributions to improving their families’ welfare.

Her peers in Kisumu have also praised her humility and sober approach to issues.

Kisumu Social Hall

Two years ago, she was honoured by Kisumu County, when the then newly refurbished Kisumu Social Hall, which was built in 1959, was renamed Mama Grace Onyango Kisumu Social Centre. It is dedicated to nurturing music and artistic talents, especially drama, and promoting indoor sports.

Renowned actor and author Obat Masira is the manager and chief executive officer of the centre, headlining the importance attached to honing artistic talents in the lakeside town and the region

Governor Nyong’o explained the decision to rename the centre as a celebration of the achievements of a woman of major firsts, who made history by blazing the trail at a time when many members of her gender kept off the fight for political leadership positions.

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