The family of the late Phoebe Asiyo has announced detailed plans for her final journey, with her body expected to arrive in Kenya from the United States on August 4, 2025, ahead of burial in her native Wikondiek village, Homa Bay County.

In a statement released by her son, Caesar Asiyo, an official at Victory Fish Farm, the family outlined a week-long programme of memorial events set to honour the life and legacy of the former Karachuonyo MP, who passed away recently in the US.

On Tuesday, August 5, there will be a public viewing of the body at Lee Funeral Home, followed by a fundraising event at Maxwell Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Nairobi.

A church service in her honour will be held the next day, Wednesday, August 6, at the same venue.

“On Thursday, August 7, the body will be flown from Nairobi to Kisumu International Airport, and then transported to Wikondiek village. The final funeral service and burial will take place on Friday, August 8, 2025, at her family home in Wikondiek,” said Asiyo.

Asiyo, remembered as one of Kenya’s first female members of Parliament and a bold advocate for gender equality, has continued to receive heartfelt tributes from leaders and institutions across the country.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General Akello Misori described her as a fearless leader who took on the challenges of gender inequality head-on.

Speaking during a tribute in Kisumu on July 21, Misori said, “Phoebe Asiyo was not just a leader—she was a force.”

“In her formative years, she defied the odds, shattered barriers, and stood up to male chauvinism that dominated the political landscape. She didn’t wait for change, she became the change,” he added.

Misori encouraged women across the country to take up leadership roles, drawing strength from Asiyo’s example.

“I call upon our women—young and old—not to shy away from leadership,” he said. “Let the story of Phoebe Asiyo be your guiding light. Step forward. Contest. Lead. Break the barriers, just like she did. Politics is not a man’s game—it is everyone’s right and duty.”

He also credited the gains in gender representation in public life to pioneers like Asiyo who paved the way for others, often facing great resistance. “May the Almighty comfort her loved ones,” he said.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation chairperson Rahab Muiu also paid tribute, describing her as a “distinguished stateswoman, a trailblazer, a matriarch, and an unwavering champion for the rights and dignity of women in Kenya.”

“Mama Phoebe was many things to many people. She has been celebrated across the nation and on our social media platforms, and rightfully so. Today, we pause to remember her as a pioneer of the women’s empowerment journey; a fearless voice that spoke when others remained silent, and a towering figure whose leadership helped shape the course of women’s participation in public life,” Muiu said.

She said Asiyo's belief in women’s leadership was reflected in everything she did, from her personal sacrifices to her public advocacy.

“Mama believed deeply in women’s leadership. Her life was a testimony to that belief. She sacrificed, she persisted, and she dared to dream of a time when women would sit at decision-making tables, not as guests, but as equals.”

One of Asiyo’s most defining moments, according to Muiu, was leading a group of women to Kapenguria to engage with the founding President, Jomo Kenyatta.

“This was no ordinary visit; it was an act of bold negotiation at a time when women’s voices were barely acknowledged. Because of her courage, the seeds of affirmative action were sown. Today, we enjoy the fruits of that labour through the increased presence of women in leadership and governance.”

Asiyo’s life and contributions remain etched in the hearts of many, and the nation prepares to celebrate and honour her legacy during the upcoming memorial events.