From Grace Ogot to Gen Zs: How Daughters of the Lake are rewriting their story

A hush fell over the crowd gathered in the cavernous dome tent at Sony Complex in Awendo, Migori County, as an extraordinary procession began. The venue, transformed into an elegant sanctuary with blue and white drapes stretching across its vast expanse, resonated with soft traditional music as Governor Gladys Wanga led women leaders in with graceful, measured steps, each balancing an earthen pot atop her head.

The traditional gesture - a powerful symbol of women's role as community pillars and bearers of cultural wisdom - set the tone for the second annual Sigand Nyinam (Daughters of the Lake) gala dinner.

As they moved in perfect harmony, their turquoise blue attire flowing with each step, the women embodied generations of strength and resilience. The balanced pots, a time-honoured symbol of how women sustain families and communities, spoke volumes about the gathering's deeper purpose: the passing down of traditions, skills, and wisdom between generations with grace, dignity, and unwavering capability.

The venue's walls proudly displayed banners representing the four Luo Nyanza counties - Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, and Kisumu - united in their commitment to women's empowerment and social change. Building on the success of last year's inaugural event in Homa Bay County, this year's celebration brought together an impressive array of female leaders, from seasoned politicians to grassroots activists, academics, and community champions.

Migori County Governor Ochillo Ayacko, one of the few men present at the evening's celebrations, stood out as a steadfast ally to the women's cause. As the host governor, he praised the Sigand Nyinam initiative for its transformative potential and pledged his unwavering support for women's empowerment in the region. His presence and vocal support underscored the importance of male allyship in advancing gender equality.

The two-day event, spearheaded by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, centered on the pressing theme "United Action to Combat the Triple Threat." The atmosphere alternated between celebration and serious discourse. As local artists, both gospel and secular, filled the air with vibrant performances, women in elegant turquoise attire danced, dined, and shared moments of joy. Yet beneath the festivities lay a determined focus on addressing the region's most challenging issues: the triple threat of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), teenage pregnancy, and new HIV infections.

The evening's highlight was the recognition of remarkable women who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities through various fields including sports, religion, media, politics, health, and agriculture.

Among the distinguished honourees was 12-year-old Lisa Gem, a young human rights defender whose exemplary community service earned her special recognition. The event also celebrated Nation Media Group's Angela Oketch, whose compelling health and science journalism has highlighted critical issues affecting women and girls.

Governor Wanga's powerful address resonated throughout the hall as she challenged the assembled women to step beyond tokenism and actively pursue leadership positions. "Our voices must be heard," she declared, urging attendees to speak out against the triple threat at every opportunity.

The gala event drew an impressive roster of political leaders and dignitaries, including Woman Reps Fatuma Mohamed (Migori), Dr Christine Ombaka (Siaya) and Joyce Bensouda (Homa Bay), MPs Eva Obara (Kabondo Kasipul), Roza Buyu (Kisumu West), and Dr Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Migori First Lady Agnes Ochillo, MCAs and grassroots women from the four counties and beyond. 

The success of the gathering was made possible through the support of a strong coalition of partners committed to gender equality and women's empowerment. The four Lake Region counties - Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya and Kisumu - provided crucial backing for the initiative, demonstrating their shared commitment to addressing women's issues. This regional solidarity was further strengthened by support from UNAids, Unicef, UN Women, UNFPA through Naya, the National Syndemic Disease Control council (NSDCC), NDI (National Democratic Institute), Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (Kmet), Kenya Poverty Elimination Network (KPen) and Skyward Express, who joined forces to advance the cause of women and girls in the Lake Region.

As the evening drew to a close, the message was clear: the Daughters of the Lake stand united in their determination to combat the triple threat and create a society where every woman and girl can realise her full potential. The success of this second edition promises even greater impact in the years to come, as these powerful voices continue to rise and resonate across the region.

The festive atmosphere of the previous evening's gala gave way to serious deliberations as women leaders gathered at Migori Stadium for day two of the Sigand Nyinam convention; their determined faces a stark contrast to the previous evening's celebrations. The urgent business at hand: confronting the triple threat that has cast a long shadow over the Lake Region's four counties - Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori.

The timing of this gathering, coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, added weight to the proceedings. While the event showed remarkable growth in both attendance and vigour compared to its inaugural edition in Homa Bay last year, the statistics presented painted a stark picture of persistent challenges facing women and girls in the region.

Jenny Gaki, the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) Regional Coordinator, didn't mince words as she presented the alarming figures.

"Last year alone, we witnessed 26,929 adolescent girls getting pregnant within the four counties. This is really unacceptable, and we must come together to look at the problems that our children are facing," she declared, her voice carrying across the hushed stadium.

The gravity of the situation deepened as Jenny revealed more troubling statistics. According to NSDCC data, Nyanza contributed to a third of new HIV infections nationwide in the previous year. Even more concerning, over 80 adolescents seek maternal services daily, with most exposed to HIV infections.

Read: Men targeted in fight against teen pregnancies, HIV and sexual abuse

"The number could be higher," Jenny warned, "because some do not go to hospital."

Migori County's distinction as the region with the highest number of adolescent pregnancies drew particular concern.

"Teenage pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, new HIV infections not only impact the health of the adolescents, but also ruin our social and economic status," Jenny emphasised.

"It perpetuates the poverty cycle, meaning we will live to be poor just because we are not looking after our adolescents."

The economic burden of these challenges cast a long shadow over the proceedings.

"The country uses Sh25 billion every year to be able to put people on antiretroviral drugs," Jenny revealed. "If we continue adding members to the pool of new HIV infections, then this becomes a burden to our economy. We, therefore, request your unwavering support and unending and relenting efforts in ensuring that we identify the root causes of the triple threat."

UN Women Program Analyst Hellen Muchunu, broadened the perspective, positioning the triple threat within the global development agenda.

Read: Church challenged to lead fight against vices affecting women in Nyanza

"These challenges extend far beyond our region and national borders," she emphasised. "The triple threat undermines global progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - from improving health and well-being, to ensuring quality education, to achieving gender equality."

"These SDGs are all at risk if we don't take decisive action," she warned. "It's not just about tackling individual issues but it is about safeguarding the future of our generations and ensuring that no girl is left behind."

Hellen emphasised that Kenya's commitment to eliminate the triple threat by 2030 aligns with the SDGs, reflecting a recognition that adolescent girls must be at the heart of national development priorities. "It is up to us as the women leaders to hold ourselves, our communities and our policy makers accountable for this promise," she urged. "Your role as women leaders is critical by championing policies that address these issues."

The UN Women official stressed the need for comprehensive approaches, from sexual and reproductive health education to initiatives reducing GBV and ending HIV stigma. "Girls living in marginalised communities, those living with disabilities and those in remote areas are often at the greatest risk," Hellen noted. "Our solutions must be designed to uplift these girls, ensuring protection, empowerment and full participation in society."

A powerful moment arose as Governor Gladys Wanga led the assembly in a collective pledge, their right hands raised in unity. The formal commitment, dated December 6, 2024, in Migori County, captured the solemnity of the occasion:

"I pledge to use my voice, my actions, and my influence to bring an end to the triple threat of new HIV infections, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence in our Communities," they declared in unison.

The comprehensive pledge continued, with the women committing to "educate myself and others on the importance of safe sex practices, to promote access to reproductive health services, and to advocate for comprehensive sex education for all young people."

The women further promised to "create safe spaces for open and honest conversations about gender equality and consent," and to "challenge harmful gender norms and stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women and girls."

Their commitment extended to supporting survivors and accountability: "I will support and empower survivors of gender-based violence, and I will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions."

Amplifying voices

The pledge culminated in a powerful commitment to leadership and representation: "I will actively advocate for equal opportunities for women to take on leadership roles in all sectors of society. I will work towards breaking down barriers and biases that hinder women from reaching their full potential as leaders. I am committed to amplifying the voices of women, ensuring their representation and fostering an inclusive environment where we women can thrive and lead effectively."

The document was signed collectively by "We, the women of Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya Counties," symbolising the unified stance of the Lake Region's women leaders.

Governor Wanga revealed the origins of Sigand Nyinam, explaining how discussions about the legacies of leaders like former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo and Grace Ogot led to a startling realisation.

"We discovered that there are many obstacles that prevent women from being successful. That is how we came up with the idea of holding an annual convention to discuss gender matters," she shared.

The governor emphasised the crucial link between economic empowerment and women's safety. "Women who find themselves in problems are those who are not economically empowered," she observed. "A lot of women who are attacked at home by their husbands are those who fully depend on men for support. We must ensure women have money in their pockets and be financially stable."

Mama Ida Odinga brought attention to the critical role of parenting. "Parents have the responsibility of guiding, monitoring and influencing the behaviours of their children. But some have abandoned their responsibility," she noted, her words drawing murmurs of agreement from the audience.

Dr Lilian Gogo and Dr Eve Obara echoed these concerns, particularly regarding parental supervision during school holidays. "When they go out, they meet other people and become influenced into behaviors that endanger their lives. So it is upon parents to ensure their children are safe during school holidays," Dr Gogo emphasised.

Kisumu Woman Representative Rosa Buyu offered a thought-provoking perspective, advocating for a return to traditional protective practices. "In the past, girls would not just walk alone. It was the order of the day but now, even a primary school going child would be walking alone in the dark leading some to fall in traps," she observed.

Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohamed highlighted the disturbing intersection of poverty and early marriage. "Most people are undergoing financial difficulties. But some parents have taken it a bit too far to solve their woes by marrying off their daughters to get dowry," she revealed.

The discussion turned to gender-based violence, with several leaders noting its connection to femicide. Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga expressed frustration at the culture of silence surrounding GBV.

"Some of these cases happen in a setup where there are many people. But instead of helping, most people chose to watch from a distance and not speak at work unless something bad happens," she noted.

The few male allies present made strong commitments to the cause. Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko proposed expanding the initiative's reach: "We are just leading but other regions have similar problems. Let us cascade the meeting to other regions because this is a global problem," he urged.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi joined in pledging support for women's rights, emphasising the need for new strategies to combat the triple threat in the region.

As the sun began its descent over Migori Stadium, the announcement that Siaya County would host the third edition of Sigand Nyinam in December 2025 was met with enthusiasm. The delegates departed with renewed determination, carrying with them not just promises but concrete commitments to action.

Sigand Nyinam has quickly established itself as a transformative initiative, creating a platform where women and girls can envision and work toward a more equitable future. The gathering demonstrated Migori County's firm commitment to women's empowerment, quality education for young girls, and justice for survivors of rights violations.

The message resonating through the Lake Region was clear: the Daughters of the Lake would no longer stand silent in the face of these challenges. Their collective voice heralds a new era of activism and change in the fight against the triple threat that has for too long held back the progress of women and girls in the region.

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