Mary Onyango was a formidable voice in the fight against breast cancer, the struggle for women’s rights and the fight for democracy and national integration. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, she partnered with Julia Mulaha, a breast cancer survivor, to found Kenya Breast Health Programme – a breast cancer advocacy and support organisation in 1999. Julia passed on in 2003, leaving Mary to serve as executive director of the organisation, which later widened its scope to include the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Before succumbing to a recurrence of cancer in 2012, Onyango had a career spanning over 25 years in senior management. She served as Vice Chair of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), during which she was deeply involved in initiatives endeavouring to bring lasting peace in the Mt Elgon region between the warring Bukusu and Sabaot factions. She also sat on the management boards of several charities and civil society organisations in Kenya and was also a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

Onyango studied Commerce (Accounting) for her undergraduate degree from the University of Nairobi, pursued an MBA (Finance) from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and a Master’s in Public Health from Kenyatta University.

She personally championed Kenya Kwanza, a multimedia campaign aimed at delivering a peaceful 2012/13 general election and beyond to avoid a replica of the 2007/2008 post-election violence. She was determined to break the cycle of violence that characterises Kenya’s elections.