Raila mourns Grace Onyango as trailblazer in women leadership

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has mourned the passing on of the first elected female Member of Parliament Grace Onyango.

Raila described Onyango as a trailblazer in women’s politics and she became a role model to many female politicians.

“Nyabungu as we fondly called her illuminated the independent Kenya political landscape with a stride of `firsts’ it was common to expect ‘the first African Woman something’ every time her name was mentioned.

“She was a leader and trailblazer to the hilt,” Raila said.

He added: “A trained teacher, she was a fearless articulator of national issues, astute defender of her roots, lone voice of the wananchi at a time when it was eminently fatal to stand up and be counted. For this, we celebrate her into immortality.

“Mama Grace was a wife, politician, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, all the while not letting her gender stand in the way of competing with men and winning.”

Onyango passes on

Onyango, 98, died on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 6 pm while undergoing treatment after a long illness.

Her daughter Pauline Akwacha confirmed her demise and described her death as a big blow to the family.

“It is true she has passed on while undergoing treatment,” she said.

Kisumu County Governor Anyang Nyong’o noted that he learned about her death with great shock.

“Mama Grace, a woman of many firsts, passed on this evening, four hours after we celebrated and honoured her during this year’s International Women’s Day at a social center we fondly named after her,” he said.

In a press statement released to the media, the county boss said Mama Grace was a pillar of women’s leadership and a great role model who blazed the trail in political leadership in Kenya.

Nyong’o eulogized her as a selfless, focused, brave, and visionary woman, a mother and grandmother to many, and also noted that she will be remembered for mentoring girls and young woman leaders.

“It is only last week when I visited her at her home in Kisumu. We joked and discussed many issues affecting our country today. Her death, on International Women’s Day, is as remarkable as it is confounding,” he stated.