Grace Onyango
| Grace Onyango | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Kisumu | |
|
In office 1 April 1965 – 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Mathias P. Ondiek |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 June 1924 Gobei, Nyanza Province, Kenya Colony |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Political party |
Kenya People’s Union (KPU) Kenya African National Union (KANU) |
| Children |
Paul Ramogi Lynn Akwacha, Jean, Josephine Migadde, Mary, Xandae |
Grace Monica Akech Onyango (born June 26, 1924) is a Kenyan politician.
Born in Sakwa, in Nyanza Province,[1] as the second of nine children, Onyango worked for a time as a schoolteacher before entering politics.[2] She was elected mayor of the city of Kisumu in 1965, and won a seat in parliament in 1969, becoming the first woman in both positions.[1] She remained in parliament until 1984, serving as deputy speaker of the National Assembly from 1979 until 1984.[3] She married a teacher and journalist, Onyango Baridi, who died in 1969, leaving her with six children.[2] During her time in parliament she won recognition for her debating skills. She was heavily involved in the investigation into the murder of Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, ultimately identifying the fact that the official government report into the incident had been doctored prior to publication.[1] Onyango, a member of the Luo tribe,[4] also served as the first woman secretary-general of the Luo Union.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 By EMMAN OMARI [email protected]. "Kenyas first Iron Lady of politics - Daily Nation". Nation.co.ke. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
- 1 2 Reporter, Nairobian. "The Immortals: Grace Onyango - The first woman MP in post-independent Kenya". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ↑ Kathleen E. Sheldon (2005). Historical Dictionary of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5331-7.
- ↑ Charles Hornsby (18 December 2011). Kenya: A History Since Independence. I.B.Tauris. pp. 218–. ISBN 978-0-85773-115-9.