Famous politician confirmed dead

Veteran politician and former chairperson of NGO Council Orie Rogo Manduli is dead.

Manduli died on Wednesday at her home in Riverside, Nairobi, after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

A renowned fashionista and activist in the country, Manduli will be remembered as person of many firsts in her illustrious life.

A former Miss Kenya, Manduli was the first woman to chair the NGO Council. She was crowned Miss Kenya, at the age of 16 while still in secondary school.

Manduli also made history by becoming the first African woman rally driver to grace the Safari Rally when she took part in the 1974 edition alongside her late co-driver Sylvia Omino.

She was also known for showcasing African attire with matching massive head scarfs.

Manduli described herself as “lioness in her cage” and in 2005, she was embroiled in a leadership wrangle at the NGO Council which roped in then Culture and Heritage minister Najib Balala who locked gates of the State agency, blocking everybody from entering or leaving the premises.

Maduli refused to step down as the chairperson, despite numerous calls for her resignation.

She locked herself in the council’s offices. Armed policemen stood guard, allowing journalists to speak with Manduli through a small opening at the gate.

Manduli was a trained teacher from Machakos Teachers Training College but never stepped in a class to teach.

She got married after attending college and left for Canada where she studied and graduated with a diploma in office management.

Manduli was born Mary Orie Rogo but changed to Mary Orie Rogo Ondieki after her marriage.

The couple was blessed with three daughters; Elizabeth, Allison and Janice but she divorced after five years of marriage.

She remarried in 1980.

She married a Zambian and cousin of former president Frederick Chiluba, Norman Manduli, who was a politician and a businessman in Lusaka. He passed away in 2003.