My times, moments with Mama Asiyo: The Mentor, Girl child Advocate, Mother and visit to President Obama

By Dr Ida Odinga

When I grow up, I want to be like Mama Phoebe Asiyo

“I have known Mama Phoebe Muga Asiyo when I was a little girl in secondary school and that time she was working with the Kenya prisons.

I first saw her when she was in the prison’s uniform, and she looked very smartly dressed and I told myself; I want to be like Mama Phoebe Asiyo.

Mama Asiyo when she was chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake,  and as young girls, we admired her work and how she was handling herself and we used to say when I grow up, I want to be like Mama Phoebe Asiyo.

Later on, when I joined University of Nairobi, Mama Asiyo presence in the national arena became our inspiration and I looked forward to meeting her one day in my life.

First Encounter with Mama Asiyo

In 1991 during the political agitation for the repeal of section 2a of the constitution and introduction of the multi-party politics, my father-in-law, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga walked to my office and asked me to inform Nyagoro that he wanted to see her.

That time, I had been sacked and reinstated by the government as a teacher, I used to work a lot with Jaramogi during that time.

I worked as the office manager and also doubled as Jaramogi assistant, so when he asked to get Nyagoro, I didn’t even know who Nyagoro was.

Jaramogi would tell you what he wants done and the rest was up to you to figure out and have it accomplished.

I went to Luke Obok and asked him, who is Nyagoro?

He smiled and calmly responded that is Mama Phoebe Asiyo, I didn’t have her contacts, and I didn’t know where she worked.

Luke volunteered to get me her telephone contact the following day.

By then, Mama Asiyo was running her ceramic business that made cups, plates and other products.

I called, introduced myself and politely requested her that Mzee wanted to meet her and if she could kindly find time to pass by.

Mama came, I received her, and we exchanged pleasantries before I ushered her in to meet Mzee.

From that moment, our friendship blossomed.

Karachuonyo Parliamentary Election of 1992

Mama Asiyo and I developed a friendship thereafter beyond the boundaries and during the Karachuonyo 1992, first multi-party elections, I accompanied her to the constituency several times.

We would traverse the constituency seeking for votes talking to women and men alike.

It was a fiercely contested election, high voltage but at the end we succeeded.

That moment was a shared experience for our common agenda for the girl child and the promotion of women in leadership and especially in the parliament.

Mama Asiyo opened the gates for women to be elected to the parliament and that is why Homa Bay county have several women elected to the parliament and governor positions.

The League of  Kenya Women Voters

When I founded the League of Kenya Women Voters, a non-partisan organization dedicated to empowering women in the political sphere and promoting their participation in leadership roles.

I requested Mama Asiyo and Mama Jael Mbogo to be the Council members and gladly accepted.

We were able to tap from their knowledge, experience and social networks to be the voice for women, with a focus on training women for political office and the constitutional review process. 

Purpose:

The League’s core mission is to empower women to participate more effectively in Kenya’s political landscape, ensuring they have a voice in decision-making processes. 

• Activities:

They engage in various activities, including:

• Training: Preparing women for political office and the constitutional review process. 
• Advocacy: Taking positions on broad national issues, policies, and the political process as a whole. 
• Awareness: Raising public awareness about the importance of women’s political participation. 
• Lobbying: Working to influence policy and legislation that affects women. 
• Non-Partisan Approach:

While taking positions on critical issues, the League maintains a non-partisan stance. 

• Key Focus:

The organization is particularly concerned about the challenges faced by girls and women in Kenya and actively advocates for issues like sex education and addressing the root causes of early pregnancies. 

• Impact:

The League has played a significant role in Kenya’s political landscape, contributing to constitutional reforms and advocating for women’s representation in government. 

Through Mama Asiyo we were able to achieve the above objects and activities.

Making of Mama Asiyo as first woman member of Luo Council of Elders

I was concerned with the composition of the Luo Council of Elders, I kept asking myself, why can’t we have Mama Asiyo to represent us in the council.

I took it upon myself to approach the then Ker  Mzee Koyo Opien.

We had a discussion, and I requested him to consider having a woman and more specifically Mama Asiyo to be at the Council.

He obliged and that is how we installed Mama Asiyo as an elder.

A fete I am happy to have accomplished.

The meeting with President Barrack Obama

Mama Asiyo and I attended countless number of international meetings in the USA and other parts of the world.

We became lock and key.

She would tag me along and I would also do the same.

We became more like sisters and never left one another side.

When Barrack Obama was the senator, we were able to visit him and shared our dream, experiences.

And when he became the president, Mama Asiyo and I also visited him at the White House, some of the cherished moment, I shared with my elder sister, mentor, trainer and mother.

The Joka Odinga  

The late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga had soft spot for Nyar Agoro.

In 1982, when Jaramogi’s family faced a lot of problems with the government and he couldn’t go to campaign for Nyar Agoro during the general elections.

He went to the Kisumu bus stop and told people in the matatus heading to Hoam bay through  Karachuonyo, that when they arrive, to pass his greetings to Nya Agoro and Jo Karachuonyo. 

That is how he endorsed Nyar Agoro who won the seat against Kanu’s maestro the late David Okiki Amayo.

A mother  and a woman of dignity 

Mama Asiyo cherished her family above everything. 

She remained dedicated to her family and offered the best to the family.

She handled herself with dignity and remains a mentor to all women.

Mama Asiyo understood what it meant to be a mother and a wife and upheld the dignity of her family.

She often reminded women in politics that family was supreme and that they should uphold the dignity of their family and marriages.