Nairobi, KENYA: Former Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Jane Kiano is dead.
Kiani passed away on Thursday night after a long battle with lung cancer.
According to the family spokesperson Irungu Houghton, Kiano who had been admitted at the Nairobi hospital where she had been receiving treatment.
Kiano, who was aged 74 years old recently received the first class chief of the order of the burning spear from president Uhuru Kenyatta due to her outstanding service in the public sector.
Kiano also served a leader of the Alliance Francaise in the years 1982-2013 and the Deputy Chairperson of Nairobi city commission in the years 1988-1992.
Kiano is described as a woman of substance, a role model to the girl child and a woman who fought for the rights of women.
“May her legacy continue to inspire young women and girls from all corners of this country.” said a statement from family spokesman.
She was born in Nyeri and was the wife to the late Julius Gikonyo Kiano the first man to hold a PHD at a young age.
