Kisumu County First Lady Mama Dorothy Nyong’o has renewed calls for the creation of a ‘Wall of Fame’ to recognise outstanding men and women from the Luoland who have significantly contributed to community development, with a strong focus on immortalising the legacies of women leaders who shaped Kenya’s socio-political landscape.

Speaking on August 5, 2025, during a memorial celebration for the late Phoebe Asiyo, a former Karachuonyo MP and a revered icon in the women’s movement, Mama Dorothy proposed that the tribute be established at the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural Centre in Kisumu town as a physical and symbolic gesture of honour and remembrance.

“In our African culture, memory is sacred. But memory must also be made visible. This Wall of Fame will ensure that the legacies of our trailblazers, like Mama Phoebe Asiyo and Mama Grace Onyango, live on. It will be a place of learning and pride for generations to come,” she said.

The proposed Wall of Fame is envisioned not merely as a physical installation, but as a cultural archive — an African tradition of honouring elders and community pillars, rooted in respect, storytelling, and legacy.

“It is time we celebrate our heroes and heroines publicly and proudly. Their stories inspire leadership, courage, and equity in the heart of our communities. Our children deserve to know whose shoulders they stand on,” added Mama Dorothy.

The event turned into a powerful forum on gender equity in leadership, with several women leaders using the occasion to challenge the continued underrepresentation of women in Kenya’s political spaces.

Caren Aketch, Kisumu County branch Chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO), paid glowing tribute to Mama Asiyo’s legacy and used the platform to highlight the ongoing struggle for gender parity in leadership across Kenya and Africa.

“The story of democracy in Kenya is incomplete without the voices of women like Mama Asiyo. She stood tall when it was neither easy nor fashionable to be a woman in leadership. Today, we must pick up that baton. Women must rise and demand their rightful place at every decision-making table,” said Aketch.

“It is not enough to be voters — we must also be policy-shapers, lawmakers, governors, and presidents. Gender equity is not a privilege; it is a democratic right,” she added.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga echoed the clarion call, urging women to boldly step forward and claim space in Kenya’s democratic and governance structures.

The legislator stressed that more women should rise to seek elective positions in future elections to increase their chances of representation in the legislative houses.

“We must break away from cultural and systemic barriers that keep women on the sidelines. Our Constitution guarantees equal participation.”