This archive report was first published on 11 September 2021.
On September 11, 2021, the world lost a true fashion icon, feminist voice, and political disruptor, Orie Rogo Manduli. Her death was felt from the corners of her hometown in Maseno to the steps of State House, where the President remembered her as a bold leader, mentor, and champion for women empowerment.
Manduli was a true pioneer and trailblazer, known for her ability to command a room through her fashion looks. Whether it was a political rally or a TV interview, she would turn heads and send tongues wagging.
Today, we celebrate her life, well lived, and draw lessons from her stylish displays. Her larger-than-life personality fit her larger-than-life sense of fashion perfectly. She was a force to be reckoned with.
Manduli's fashion sense was all about making a statement. She would piece together elaborate head gears with large sunglasses, intricately printed voluminous Kitenge dresses, layered jewelry, and occasionally drape fabric over her shoulder to match her outfit. She proved that the phrase 'less is more' was not in her vocabulary.
Her necklaces would drape over her dresses, and her bangles and rings were statement pieces. She would rarely make a debut without her framed designer sunglasses, and her ears were adorned with pearls on a regular basis, teaching us that outfits are incomplete without accessories.
Manduli's sense of identity was undeniable. Her entire presence was heard, seen, and felt. She was her own woman, before she was anything for anyone else, a politician, a mother, a wife. She was everything for herself first.
This showed in her outfits, which mirrored her confidence, flamboyance, and authenticity as an African woman. She often wore dresses made from the Kitenge fabric, which is a custom African fabric, showing us the power in our heritage and the pride we should exhibit while wearing authentic, African clothing.
Manduli's outfits were carefully thought out. She complemented the colors on her dresses to her head gear. If she was wearing a blue dress, she would complement it with a blue head gear. If it was a brown dress, you could be certain that her head gear would be brown, teaching us that complementing features added a cohesive element to our outfits, making them automatically stylish.
To truly make a statement, you have to stand out. Manduli's impressive selection of head gears was the surprise to all her outfits. They defined her style expression and added pomp and elegance to her dresses. They are what we remember about her famous looks and surely, what we will miss the most.
