Kenya’s first female MP to be buried on March 31

 

Kenya's First Female Member of Parliament Mama Grace Onyango during a past national holiday celebration-Photo Courtesy

By Dickson Odhiambo

March 20, 2023

Kenya’s first female MP to be buried on March 31

The Country’s first female Member of Parliament will be buried at the end of this month.

Hon Grace Monica Aketch Onyango will be buried on March 31 at her home in Gem within Siaya County.

The Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industries Kisumu Branch Chairman Israel Agina who is also the Chairman of the Central Funeral Committee of the late Mama Grace Onyango said a number of activities have been lined up for successful funeral program.

According to the funeral arrangement released late last week, a requiem mass for the late Grace Onyango will be held on March 29 at Anglican Church of Kenya {ACK} Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Kisumu after the removal of the body from Aga Khan Hospital Mortuary.

There will be a public viewing at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Ground on the same day after the requiem mass.

The Central Funeral committee chairman says there will be a night vigil at her residence at Kisumu’s Tom Mboya Estate on March 29 thereafter the cortege will leave for the family’s home in Gem Constituency in Siaya County on March 30.

“Burial will take place on March 31, 2023 at her home in K’Onyango Baridi in Gem Sub-County, West Ward Sidende Village within Siaya County,” the funeral Program says.

Mama Grace Onyango served as the first woman Mayor of Kisumu Municipality from 1965 to 1969 after taking over from the late Alderman Mathews Ondiek who died after taking office as a Mayor.

She was elected as the first Female Member of Parliament for Kisumu Town in the second Parliament that was ushered in after the second General Election in 1969.

Onyango served as a Member of Parliament until 1983 and during her time as an elected Legislator, she also served as the first Female deputy Speaker.

She is a trained teacher by profession and taught in a number of schools before joining politics in mid 1960s.

Mama Grace Onyango passed on this March 8 aged 99 having been born in 1924.

Contributions in cash towards the celebration of the life of Mama Grace Onyango can be sent to Mpesa Pay bill Number 8048695.