Grace Onyango: Kenya’s first female mayor, acting deputy speaker

By Peter Ochieng

Uasin Gishu Women Representative Gladys Boss is currently serving as the National Assembly deputy speaker, which means that she can assume the role of Speaker in the absence of speaker, Moses Wetang’ula.

Article 106 of the 2010 Constitution stipulates that there shall be a deputy speaker for the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the House in accordance with the Standing Orders, from among members of the House.

Unlike the speaker who is an ex-officio member, one has to first be a validly elected Member of Parliament to be elected as a deputy speaker of the National Assembly. Under Article 107 (b) of the Constitution, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly shall preside over the sitting of that House in the absence of the speaker.

Long before Boss was elected deputy speaker in 2022, Mama Grace Monica Akech Onyango, popularly known as Grace Onyango occupied the position of deputy speaker, albeit in an acting capacity.

The late Onyango holds several firsts in post-independence Kenyan politics, as the first female to climb up the ranks of the political ladder, defying cultural barriers.

Born in Sakwa, Siaya County, Grace Onyango went to Ng'iya Girls School. She joined Vihiga Teachers Training College from where she graduated in 1955, before being posted back to her high school, Ng'iya Girls, as a teacher.

Three years down the line, she was recalled to Vihiga Teachers Training College to work as a trainer. After the death of Kisumu Mayor Mathias Ondiek in 1965, Grace Onyango joined the race to replace him.

Originally, there were two other women in the race but they both dropped out “due to the hostile environment and abuses from male competitors." That left Grace as the only female candidate to battle six male candidates.

She defeated her opponents and was installed as Mayor of Kisumu in 1965, making her the first woman Mayor in Kenya’s history. Upon assuming office, her first action was to ‘Africanise’ Kisumu Town streets, naming them after key political leaders such as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta and Milton Obote.

Many would assume that becoming Mayor was already an achievement enough. But for Grace Onyango, the sky was never the limit. In 1969, and against all odds, she successfully contested for the Kisumu Town Parliamentary seat, marking the first time in post-independence politics that a woman had won a parliamentary seat.

“If I was abused in a rally, I hit back with fury. I was fearless. Men wanted the seat and they used every opportunity to disparage me through male chauvinism. They said it was culturally wrong to elect a woman as MP but I told them off. Voters agreed with me,” Onyango later revealed.

In Parliament, she earned another first when she became the first woman to sit in the speaker’s chair as temporary deputy speaker. She served in parliament until 1983 when she lost her seat and retired from active politics.

Her dream was always seeing more women running for elective seats. And that is evident today, with women contesting for gubernatorial, senatorial, Parliamentary and Ward seats across the Country.

At the advent of devolution in 2013, no woman was elected governor. That drastically changed in 2017 when the late Joyce Laboso (Bomet), Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Charity Ngilu (Kitui) were elected into office.

Currently, 7 women are in office as county bosses having been elected during the 2022 polls. They are Waiguru, Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Fatuma Achani (Lamu), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru) and Gladys Wanga (Homabay).

Mama Grace Onyango died in March 2023, aged 99. She lost the battle while receiving treatment at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), in Kisumu. She is survived by 17 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, thousands of former pupils and a circle of avid admirers.

In his condolence message, President William Ruto appreciated her role in opening doors for the participation of women in political leadership. “She was a woman of great courage, deep patriotism and unflinching courage. Her legacy will endure through every elected female leader for generations to come,” he said.

Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said she will forever be remembered for mentoring girls and women. “A mother and grandmother to many, she will be remembered for mentoring girls and young women leaders,” he stated.

“I want to send heartfelt condolences to Mama's family, friends, relatives and the womenfolk across Kenya for losing a leading light.”