Former Karachuonyo Member of Parliament Dr Phoebe Muga Asiyo has passed away at the age of 93.

According to a statement released by her family, the trailblazing politician died peacefully in North Carolina, United States.

Dr Asiyo began her political career in 1979 when she made history by defeating the late David Okiki Amayo, who was then seeking a third term.

She retained her seat in the 1983 general election.

However, in 1988, Okiki Amayo made a political comeback and reclaimed the seat from her.

The return of multi-party democracy in 1992 worked in Dr Asiyo’s favor, and she recaptured the Karachuonyo seat on a Ford-Kenya ticket.

She served until 1997, when she lost to Dr Adhu Awiti.

That marked the end of her parliamentary journey, after which she stepped away from elective politics to focus on other personal and public interests.

Dr Asiyo is remembered as a pioneering leader and one of the first women to make a significant impact in Kenya’s political landscape.