Female MPs promise support for a Bill recognizing living Heroes.

Members of Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association{KEWOPA} led by Kisumu Women Rep Rosa Buyu when they paid a visit to Kenyan first woman MP Grace Onyango at her Kisumu home over weekend-Photo Courtesy.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

    

July 2,2018

Female MPs promise support for a Bill recognizing living Heroes.

BOTH Elected and Nominated female Members of Parliament have promised their full support to a yet to be tabled Bill aiming at recognizing living heroes.

Under the banner of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association {KEWOPA}, both elected and nominated female members of parliament serving in the current Parliament have agreed to support the new Bill that will be introduced before the House for discussion and adoption in the near future.

Speaking in Kisumu when they visited ailing Veteran Politician and Kenya’s first female Member of Parliament and First female Kisumu Mayor Grace Aketch Onyango at her Home in Kisumu, the MPs said the plight of those heroes who are still alive should be addressed.

They said that it is quite unfortunate that such people who have greatly contributed towards the opening up of political space and leadership have not been recognized by the state when still alive.

Led by Kisumu County Women Representative Rose Buyu and nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga, the MPs said it is high time the National Government fully recognize such great people who have contributed immensely to political development of this country.

Buyu suggests that the National Government should set aside some funds for recognizing various heroes and heroines wherever they are in this country, adding that there are no needs to recognize a hero only at the time of his death.

Buyu says a lot of money that is being lost through the rampant corruption should be channeled towards such kitty in helping the heroes while still living on earth.

“Corruption should be fought at all cost but as we do this let us also recognize our heroes by even setting aside some funds which can help them while still living,” Buyu says.

Buyu says through their Association in Parliament, they have started to recognize all the heroes across the country and will ensure that they champion for their interests and what they stand for.

“As leaders of today, we have started to recognize all the heroes across the country including women who have been heroes like Mama Grace Onyango among others. This Mama managed to become the first Woman Mayor in Kisumu in 1967 and again pulled a first one when she became the first woman MP in Kenya when she was elected in 1969,” Buyu says.

She says the roles played by heroes like Grace Onyango in 60s and 70 while championing for the interests of women to be in leadership positions at a time when only few women were in the political arena cannot just be ignore and go to waste.

Nairobi Women Representative Esther Pasaris says Mama Grace Onyango was her role model when she was vying for then the seat of Nairobi Mayor before devolution.

She says as female MPs, they are really celebrating the achievement of the First Kenyan woman Member of Parliament, adding that she holds a lot of achievements which should be celebrated at all cost.

Nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga says that people who started the struggle for more women to be in elective positions should be celebrated without being bias.

Siaya Women Representative Dr. Christine Ombaka says women have come a long way to fight for their space in the political arena.

“I am happy today because I have come to celebrate a fellow woman who has been a great inspiration and this is none other than Mama Grace Onyango who we have come to pay a visit today,” she says.

She says the heroes should be celebrated at all the times and not only when they are dead, adding that Kenya should be able to even put statuses of heroes including women in major cities and towns.

She says the Bill on Heroes which is yet to be brought before Parliament will be able to fully acknowledge them.

“I want to see a status of our hero like Mama Grace Onyango and other heroes who have fought so hard for the various issues including good governance in our country.

Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga says women are very much united and will really support one another, adding that the notion that women are their own enemies should be shunned at all cost.

Other leaders who also visited the Veteran Politician include Kasipul Kabondo MP Dr. Eve Obara, Vihiga Women Rep, and Nominated MP Prof Jacqueline Oduol who also echoed same sentiments of need to recognize all the heroes while still alive.

Mama Grace Onyango aged 91 served as the first woman MP in 1969 when elected as Kisumu Town MP.Earlier she served as the first female Mayor for Kisumu Municipality in 1967 to 1968.

She says what matters is doing the great work for the people who have bestowed the responsibility to you as their representative.

The veteran politician now stays indoors most of the time due to her ill-health and prefers taking low profile most of the time.

ENDS