The late Phoebe Muga Asiyo will be remembered as the mother of affirmative action, which led to the creation of the woman representative position in Kenya.
The political icon served as the MP for Karachuonyo from 1980 to 1983, when parliament was dissolved. She was re-elected in 1992 and served until 1997 on a FORD Kenya ticket.
While serving in the seventh parliament in April 1997, Asiyo tabled an affirmative action motion. The motion was aimed at dealing with the exclusion of women in Kenyan politics.
It was also intended to shield women against domestic abuse, disinheriting widows of their family property, and female politicians subjected to electoral violence.
At that time, the Kenyan Parliament had only 6 women out of 200 MPs. This made Asiyo recommend that the government introduce a statute compelling political parties to nominate women to at least one-third of all elective posts.
Later, Asiyo became a party to the creation of the Constitutional Review Committee that was led by senior lawyer Yashpal Ghai. The committee enabled the creation of the current constitution, which established a woman representative position in each of the 47 counties in Kenya.
The Chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation in Karachuonyo Constituency, Rose Ouso, and the Organisation’s chaplain in Homa Bay County, Teresa Korinda, hailed the late Asiyo for her contribution in fighting gender imbalance in Kenyan politics.
The Ouso argued that Asiyo’s efforts enabled Kenyans to recognise women as people who were worth being leaders.
“Asiyo started this battle long ago when Kenya had only had six female members of parliament. Her motion of Affirmative Action played a very significant role by enlightening the then government and political parties that they needed to start taking care of the interests of women in politics,” Ouso said.
Ouso described Asiyo as a selfless leader who was committed to empowering her fellow women.
“She ensured that other women got elected. She did not become complaisant on the grounds that she had acquired the Karachuonyo parliamentary seat she wanted,” Ouso said.
According to Korinda, Asiyo’s love for gender equality gave impetus to the creation of the woman representative position in Kenya.
Korinda argued that Asiyo narrated to her how she used her influence in Kenya to ensure that the woman rep position was established in the current constitution.
“Hon. Asiyo used to narrate to me what she did in the Yashpal Ghai-led Constitutional Review committee in addressing gender imbalance in political representation in Kenya. As women of this country, we are highly indebted to her for the efforts that led to the creation of the woman rep position,” Korinda said.
Korinda said Asiyo also used to teach female leaders to be obedient to their husbands.
“As much as she used to empower women for various leadership positions, she also told women to respect their husbands. She was committed to the perpetuation of families,” Korinda added.
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara is one of the leaders Asiyo empowered to join parliament. Dr Obara told The Saturday Standard that Asiyo left an indelible mark on her political life.
“The journey Asiyo walked with me started very many years ago. When I was appointed the Managing Director of the Kenya Literature Bureau, Asiyo mobilised women from various parts of the country to my home. Her main objective was to recognise me as a role model for women in leadership,” Dr. Obara said.
She said Asiyo’s mentorship enabled her to become an MP. “I am an MP today because of the mentorship I got from Asiyo. She was very instrumental,” Dr Obara said.
Journalist Jeremiah Orondo remembered Asiyo for her commitment to ensuring women had visibility in the media in regard to leadership.
“Asiyo understood the role of the media in promoting democracy and empowerment. Whenever she had a mentorship session for women, she used to ensure journalists covered the events to disseminate messages that encouraged women to come out for elective posts,” Orondo said.
He said Asiyo ensured women in Nyanza achieved their leadership dreams.
“She used to tell us that women were undergoing numerous challenges that required concerted efforts to be addressed,” Orondo said.
Later in 1958, she was elected the chairperson of the same organisation. Until her death, she was a trustee of the organisation.
