Lydia Okang'a
Profile
Sister Lydia Okang'a, SMK, is a member of the Women Faith Leaders Fellowship 2024-2025 cohort. She is affiliated with the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, and is passionate about empowering girls and women, especially those who have endured hardships, including widows and orphans. Okang'a was born and raised in Kakamega County, Western Kenya, in a girls-only family, raised by a widowed mother in a patriarchal society. Inspired by her mother’s courage, she learned resilience and as a teenager trained young ones in liturgical dance. After her religious profession in the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, Sr. Okang'a served as a teacher at St. Aloys Primary School, Ojolla, and later as administrator at St. Mary’s Girls High School, Webuye, becoming a role model to girls. As communication coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega, she mentored many young women. While pursuing a master's degree in communication, she wrote blogs for the Network of Catholic Sisters Communicators (NCSC), sharing stories of girls facing injustices.