Let the state take care of Kenya’s first female MP funeral expenses-Parliament
By Dickson Odhiambo
March 17, 2023.
Let the state take care of Kenya’s first
female MP funeral expenses-Parliament
The National Assembly has suggested that the Government should take
care of the funeral expense of the Kenya’s first Female Member of Parliament Hon
Mama Grace Onyango.
During a sitting on Tuesday this week, Kiambu Town Member of
Parliament John Waithaka urged the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses
Wetangula to mobilize Members of Parliament and ask Government to give the late
Hon Mama Grace Onyango a state funeral.
The Member of Parliament for Kiambu Town who rose on standing
Order 259 during statement time to pay tribute to the late MP who died early
this month in Kisumu urged the Parliamentary leadership and Government by
extension to assist the bereaved family in giving a befitting send off to Mama
Grace Onyango.
The Kiambu MP has described the late former Member of Parliament
as an astute legislator with an immense contribution to Parliament during her
time while representing the people of Kisumu Town.
The Member of Parliament says in her death, Kenyans mourn a human
rights defender who advocated for the rights of women and children.
Waithaka says the late former Legislator laid foundation for the
full participation of women in elective politics across the country.
In October last year, Mama Grace Onyango was honored and a
Foundation was formed in her honor.
The Mama Grace Onyango Foundation for Digital Health is aimed at
promoting digital health innovations in Africa by African Scientists, Doctors
and Engineers.
The
Board Members of the Grace Onyango Foundation for Digital Health in Africa led
by its chair Prof Khama Rogo who is a retired World Bank Public Health
Specialist and currently Advisor and Health Program Manager in Kenya include
Prof Hazel Mumbo, a Public Health Specialist and Vice Chancellor of the Great
Lake University in Kisumu, Prof Leenta Grobler, an Associate Professor in
Digitization and Digital Economies at the North-West University.
Other
Members of the Foundation’s Board include Jane Aduda, a data and actuarial
Science Specialist with a focus on Public Health Data Management from the Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology {JKUAT} and Pauline Akwacha
who is a renowned businesswoman and represent the family.
In
the year 2018, a team of elected and nominated Members of Parliament visited
Mama Grace Onyango at her Kisumu home and promised to support a bill aimed at
recognizing living heroes.
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 then Kisumu County Women Representative Rose Buyu{Now Kisumu West Member of
Parliament} and then 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
suggested 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
said 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
said.
Buyu
added that through their Association in Parliament, they had 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 said.
She
further said 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 said 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.
Siaya
Women Representative Dr. Christine Ombaka said 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,” Dr. Ombaka said.
She
said 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.
“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,” she said.
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 during that time said what matters is doing the great work for the people
who have bestowed the responsibility to you as their representative.
The
late Mama Grace Aketch Onyango served as Member of Parliament for Kisumu Town
when she was elected as the Kenya’s first Female Member of Parliament in the
post independent Kenya. She was elected to the Second Parliament of 1969 to
1974.
She
earlier served as the first woman Kisumu Mayor from 1967 to 1968.
Onyango
also became the first woman to act as the Speaker of the National Assembly
during the Second Parliament.
Mama Grace died on March 8, this year aged 99 at Jaramogi Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital where she was undergoing treatment.
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