Joyce Cherono Abonyo (née Laboso; 25 November 1960 – 29 July 2019) was a Kenyan politician who served as the second governor of Bomet County from 2017 until her death on 29 July 2019. She was a Member of Parliament representing Sotik constituency, before she was elected to the gubernatorial seat. She was married to Dr. Edwin Abonyo, and had two sons. In 2008, she had to drop her husband's name and revert to Laboso because her marital status to a man from another community provided ammunition for her detractors to degrade her in her political journey.

Political Life

Joyce Laboso was elected to the

Parliament of Kenya The Parliament of Kenya is the bicameral legislature of Kenya. It is based at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi and consists of two houses. The upper house is the Senate, and the lower house is the National Assembly. See also * Politics of K ...

to represent the Sotik Constituency in a

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

held on 25 September 2008. She succeeded her sister,

Lorna Laboso Lorna Chepkemoi Laboso (8 November 1961 – 10 June 2008) was a Kenyan Politician born in Kericho District of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). She was briefly a Member of Parliament and an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs i ...

, who died in a plane crash. A nominee of the

Jubilee Party The Jubilee Party of Kenya is a major political party in Kenya. It has significantly influenced the country's political landscape since its founding on 8 September 2016. Emerging from a merger of 11 smaller parties, including The National Alli ...

, she beat 11 other contestants after she garnered 23,880 with a vote margin of 10,000 over her closest challenger, retired Brigadier Alexander Sitienei (a former aide to

Daniel arap Moi Daniel Toroitich arap Moi ( ; 2 September 1924 – 4 February 2020) was a Kenyan politician who served as the second president of Kenya from 1978 to 2002. He is the country's longest-serving president to date. Moi previously served as the thi ...

) who received 13,843 votes. She was the ACP Co-president of the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. She worked as a lecturer in the Department of Language and Linguistics at

Egerton University Egerton University is a public university in Kenya. It is the oldest institution of higher education in Kenya. Location The main campus of the university is located in Njoro, a small community approximately , southwest of the town of Nakuru. T ...

and served as a Commissioner of the National Commission on

Gender and Development ''Gender & Development'' is a peer-reviewed journal published triannually by Routledge and Oxfam to provide "promote, inspire, and support development policy and practice." The editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor ...

. Laboso was one of three first female governors in Kenya, along with Kitui County Governor Charity Ngilu and Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru. Laboso beat Isaac Rutto, the incumbent who had joined NASA Coalition. Rutto later conceded defeat in public.

Personal life

Laboso attended Kaplong and Molo Primary Schools, before proceeding to Kaplong Girls Secondary School to pursue her O-Level. She later joined The Kenya High School where she sat for her

A level The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...

. Laboso was first diagnosed with cancer in 1991. According to her husband, Edwin, Laboso managed to survive cancer for 28 years. The disease struck her again severely in March 2019. The family sought medical attention both in the UK and India, unfortunately, the doctors informed them that nothing much could be done to save the governor's life. She later succumbed to cancer on 29 July 2019 at Nairobi Hospital. A requiem service for her was conducted on 2 August 2019 and her burial was held at her home in Fort Ternan, Kisumu County on 3 August 2019.

References

1960 births 2019 deaths 21st-century Kenyan women politicians Deaths from cancer in Kenya Jubilee Party politicians Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) County governors of Kenya People from Bomet County Alumni of Kenya High School {{Kenya-politician-stub