1997–2002
Daniel arap Moi
Her service begins: appointed Assistant Chief in 1997 and Chief in 2000.
Her Journey · 1997–2026 · Kakdhimu, Homabay County
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A pioneer, a leader, a mentor.
Snr Chief Margaret Ager · 30 Years of Servant Leadership
Assistant Chief 1997. Chief of Kakdhimu Location 2000. Retiring 2026.
Thanksgiving & Retirement Celebration28 December 2026 · from 1000hrsDala, Kakdhimu, Homabay County
Margaret Ager · “Nyobera”
A pioneering Lady Chief.
Snr Chief Margaret Ager is a pioneering Kenyan Lady Chief. Appointed Assistant Chief in 1997 and Chief in 2000, she has served the people of Kakdhimu West Location in Homabay County for three decades, now handing over two locations from one.
To family, friends and the community she is affectionately known as Nyobera — a personal name of endearment. Known for her motherly advice, spiritual counselling, leadership nurturing, and cultivating the culture of hard work.
Four presidencies and two constitutional eras form the backdrop to a life of service, courage and genuine care for her community along the shores of Lake Victoria.
Explore the Memoir
Service milestones
30 Years of Servant Leadership.
- 1997
Appointed Assistant Chief
Margaret Ager begins her service in the national administration as Assistant Chief — one of the pioneering women to hold the office.
- 2000
Appointed Chief
She is appointed Chief of Kakdhimu Location, taking full responsibility for the administration, security and welfare of its people.
- 2010
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
A new constitutional order is promulgated. Chiefs continue to serve as national government administrators within the new framework.
- 2013
Devolution
County governments begin exercising devolved functions. Snr Chief Ager continues to serve as a national government officer, alongside the new county structures.
- 2026
Retirement — a legacy to celebrate
Thanksgiving & Retirement Celebration on 28 December 2026, from 1000hrs, at Dala, Kakdhimu, Homabay County.
Historical context
Four presidencies. One commitment.
Snr Chief Ager served the people of Kakdhimu across four presidential administrations — a steady presence in the community while the nation changed around her.
2002–2013
Mwai Kibaki
Service through a period of significant constitutional reform, culminating in the 2010 Constitution.
2013–2022
Uhuru Kenyatta
Service through the first decade of devolution, as chiefs work alongside new county governments.
2022–2026
William Ruto
The final years of service, closing with the thanksgiving and retirement celebration in December 2026.
Presented as historical context for her years of service. No political endorsement is made or implied.
Constitutional context
Two constitutions, distinct responsibilities.
Former constitutional order
Before 2010
Under the former constitution, the provincial administration provided a unified structure of government, with chiefs serving as the government's representative at the location and sub-location level.
Snr Chief Ager was appointed and served within this framework from 1997.
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
From 2010 onward
The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 separated the national government from devolved county governments, which began exercising their functions in 2013.
Chiefs remain officers of the national government. Snr Chief Ager continued her service in Kakdhimu through this transition.
The forthcoming memoir
Four Presidents, Two Constitutions, One Woman
The Memoir of Kenya’s Pioneer Lady Chief
Snr Chief Margaret Ager intends to publish a memoir that fully documents her journey in leadership — the opportunities and the challenges, and the causes that defined her service: women's empowerment and the education of the girl child.
- A journey in leadership
- Opportunities & challenges
- Women’s empowerment
- Girl-child education
The archive
Held with care.
Photographs from the family collection trace three decades in uniform — from a young Assistant Chief to a senior officer speaking among fellow chiefs and colleagues.
More of these photographs, and the stories behind them, will be shared in the memoir.
Faith as a foundation
“Service to humanity is one of the highest forms of service to God.”
— Snr Chief Margaret Ager
Faith is a quiet foundation in Margaret's story — never spectacle, always substance. Her conviction shaped every year of service.
Community
A community's anchor.
Snr Chief Ager's service touched countless lives across three decades. Her family and community hope to carry that legacy forward through proposed initiatives close to her heart.
Widows & Orphans Justice Initiative
Justice, dignity and a listening ear — helping widows and orphans access support and protect their rights.
Girl Child Scholarship Fund
Keeping possibility open through education — school access and learning essentials for girls.
Table Banking Network
Women building opportunity together through collective saving and enterprise support.
You are invited
Come, celebrate a life of service.
Thanksgiving & Retirement Celebration · 28 December 2026 · from 1000hrs
Dala, Kakdhimu, Homabay County · African formal attire