As the world heads on to mark the International Women’s Day Celebrations, Busia County Women Representative Catherine Omanyo has been honored by Isuzu Women Council for her outright advocacy on Gender Based Violence, Education for all and women empowerment.
Omanyo has been active and outspoken regarding issues of human rights and equality, which earned her recognition at the national and international levels. As a result, she became a role model for many in Busia County and throughout the country.
She has also been working in many projects focused on improving the lives of Busia residents and also mobilizing resources aimed at leveling the playing field for women and the community at large.
Isuzu Women Council will on March 7, 2025 award her for the exemplary effort she has put in transforming the society by being the voice of the underserved and oppressed persons.
“Your efforts have inspired many and continue to create a lasting impact. We would like to honour you at Isuzu East Africa’s International Women’s Day Celebration, where we will recognize inspirational women who accelerate action and create meaningful impact in their respective fields,” wrote Mary Mwelu from Avid Public Relations of BSD Group on behalf of Isuzu East Africa.
On education, Omanyo has been able to offer second chance full scholarships to over 50 students for the last two years she has been in office.
The legislator has supplied 50 school with water tanks and drilled additional 100 boreholes in school to ensure learners have enough chance to compete favourably with other across the country.
While addressing the press early last week, she highlighted the need to ensure learners from vulnerable families don’t drop out but propel them to reach their limits in life.
“Education is the equalizer in life. Most learners from rural areas drop out of school due to hard economic times at their places or unbearable conditions in schools like lack of access to basic needs like clean water,” noted Omanyo.
For the first time, the sub counties of Samia and Teso North, which are in semi- arid cluster, have had government lunch programmes, an initiative the legislator lobbied for to reduce cases of school dropout which were on the rise.
“We are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring our children go to school and also supporting community-based organizations to ensure that we have an educated and self-sufficient community,” stated Omanyo.
“With Busia being among the poorest counties, there is need for the government to launch a school feeding programme in all primary schools to sustain those learners and reduce absenteeism,” she added.
On gender advocacy and empowerment, Omanyo through the NGAAF has been able to issues grants to a total of over 215 groups as mean to boost their efforts in business and agriculture sector.
“When I was elected in office, I realized most cases of GBV reported in Busia were as a result of high poverty index and residents’ lack of financial muscles to gear their development agendas. That is why we have issued grants to women groups, bodaboda groups and youth groups from all 7 constituencies to boost their efforts,” Omanyo narrated.
She reiterated her dedication to the people of Busia to continue making policies that enhance gender balance and economic opportunities for women in rural areas.
“I owe it to society to help women because an empowered woman leads to an empowered society,” she said.
It’s through her tireless efforts in education, GBV advocacy, championing for human rights and empowerment programmes that she has earned recognition from Isuzu East Africa who are ready to crown her.
Omanyo serves as a living example of what could be achieved when women were allowed to lead.
