They say it takes two to tango, but the union of a mother and daughter to selflessly serve the people to meet their various societal needs is something worth emulating.
In comes from the late Dolphine Okech and her indefatigable daughter Dr Easter Jane Okech, both acclaimed educationalists.
Armed with a laser focus and determination to advocate for Gender Equality, Sustainable Development and Equal Opportunities, the duo birthed the Kenya Female Advisory Organization (KEFEADO) in 1994.
They envisioned a violence-free society where respect for human rights for all is upheld, irrespective of gender, age, religion, sexuality, sexual diversity, and ethnicity among other distinctions.
KEFEADO, they vowed, will be at the forefront of championing the identification of harmful beliefs and cultural practices (Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Wife Cleansing and Battery), which erode the self-esteem of women and girls, and stagnate development.
With the demise of Ms Okech in December 2010, the onus fell on Dr Easter to carry high aloft the burning torch to achieve the desired goals.
As the Executive Director, she has expertly woven the organization to straddle the industry like a colossus as it continues to champion for enhancement of capacities of women and girls’ participation in decision-making.
The certified accountant has seen the women’s rights and gender equality non-governmental organization (NGO) spread its tentacles across 47 counties (Kenya), Africa and internationally.
30 years serving humanity
To celebrate three decades of these milestones, the organization converged at the symbolic Kisumu Museum on Monday October 30, 2024.
The museum consists of tortoise pens, snake parks, crocodiles, and a fish aquarium.
It also has a UNESCO-sponsored exhibition of a traditional Luo homestead and artifacts: explaining their origin, migration, customs and beliefs.
This is in sync with one of KEFEADO’s objectives of promoting cross-cultural exchange, through research documentation and information sharing.
It brought together past and present beneficiaries, government functionaries, and partners, who had lots of success stories to tell.
‘Mama Okech was furtive because she never wanted to see women just ‘escorting processes and others.’ She wanted to see women who were focused, aggressive, and assertive in whatever they were doing. Our late mothers were teachers and friends, so we grew up together as childhood buddies’-farida salim
Farida Salim, Kisumu County Executive Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism, Cooperatives, Industries and Marketing is one of the proud beneficiary of the initiatives kickstarted by the late Ms Okech.
“Mama Okech was furtive because she never wanted to see women just ‘escorting processes and others.’ She wanted to see women who were focused, aggressive, and assertive in whatever they were doing. Our late mothers were teachers and friends, so we grew up together as childhood buddies,” Farida recalled with nostalgia the unifying factor between them.
She expressed her satisfaction with the positive values and the leadership agenda (advocacy and communication) instilled in her through KEFEADO.
She reminisced the famous Orange Wednesdays program which saw women touch base and make a difference in each other’s life.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Beatrice Odongo, CECM Sports who encouraged the young girls to inculcate self-belief, commitment and hard work.
“I knew KEFEADO through the ‘Yes Youth Can’ organization which used to organize for us a lot of capacity building. I admired Dr Easter a lot and when I joined them for over a year, I developed the belief that I can make it in life,” said Ms Odongo who is the organization’s former mentee and youth leader said.
She said that due to several trainings organized by the organization, she built her confidence and allowed her to know what to talk about, and do at every given place.
Ms Odongo encouraged the young girls and boys to always strive to come out with something tangible from every training they undergo.
“In life, if your hands were held by somebody, learn to appreciate that person because if he or she didn’t, you would have failed. As we talk about the girl child, let us embrace the boy child too,” she advised the attentive guests.
In the footsteps of founders
Dr Easter noted that she is keen to follow in the footsteps of their founding director in modelling the young women and people to be able to participate in different phases of leadership.
“We were founded on education-centric programs which help the youth in school up to the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) level. If you give someone knowledge, you plant a seed because if you don’t do that then you will walk alone by the time you are old there is nothing you will see sprouting near you,” she explained.
She said the organization has trained its eyes on nurturing and securing future generations.
Dr Easter lauded the mentorship and support she has received from the national and county governments, several stakeholders and the board of directors.
Through fostering lasting partnerships, she observed that they will be able to amplify their voices in advocating and achieving their goals.
The Dolphine Okech Legacy Initiatives (DOLI) Centre serves as the organization’s headquarters domiciled along Bondo -Usenge road with a satellite office in Kisumu.
Representatives of Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Lermarporijo, and KMET’s Executive Dr Monica Ogutu also graced the colourful function,
“In the coming years, we want to ensure that we have a revolving loan where different people can take loans and repay at a small interest. First, we will train you on finance literacy and the loan will help you to grow and assist in food sustenance,’’ said Dr Easter.
