Dorothy Nyong'o

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Managing Director (1957)
Thu Nov 02 2023
By   Prajwol

Dorothy Nyong'o is the first lady of Kisumu County, Kenya. She is the wife of Peter Anyang' Nyong'o and is well-known for being the mother of Black Panther actress Lupita Nyong'o. Beyond her personal ties, Dorothy has made waves with her inspiring professional and exceptional contribution to society. 

Nyong'o has been an advocate of education, health, and women empowerment in Kenya. Nyong'o was honored with the Women of Magnitude Award 2021. Let's delve into the life of Lupita's mother.

Dorothy Nyong'o Married Life & Relationship

Dorothy Nyong'o is currently married to the Governor of Kisumu County in Kenya, Peter Anyang' Nyong'o. The married pair have been happily married for many years and together they share six children.

Dorothy Nyong'o with her husband Peter Anyang Nyong'o.
Dorothy Nyong'o with her husband Peter Anyang Nyong'o. Source: Instagram Mpasho

Lupita Nyong'o's parents Peter and Dorothy met at the University of Nairobi. Gradually, the couple got to know each other and were dating leading to marriage on December 22, 1979. Coincidentally, it was the birthdate of the Black Panther actress's mother.

Nyong'o is more than a loyal and faithful wife to Peter. She has been a supportive pillar of her husband in his life and career as the first lady of Kisumu County.

Lupita Nyong'o, Dorothy Nyong'o's Daughter Called It Quits

While Dorothy Nyong'o is spending a blissful marital life with her husband, her daughter Lupita Nyong'o got separated from her ex. Yes, the Black Panther actress Lupita announced her breakup with Selema Masekela in October 2023.

Lupita Nyong'o and her ex-boyfriend Selema Masekela broke up.
Lupita Nyong'o and her ex-boyfriend Selema Masekela broke up. Source: BellaNaija

The celebrity couple, Lupita and Selema, started dating in December 2022. Neither of the pair has discussed the cause of their break up.

Dorothy Nyong'o Shares Five Children With Spouse

From her nuptials with long-time husband Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, Dorothy Nyong'o has been blessed with five children. She considers herself a proud mother to have such an understanding and well-behaved young one.

Dorothy  Nyong'o with her daughter Lupita Nyong'o and husband.
Dorothy  Nyong'o with her daughter Lupita Nyong'o and husband. Source: Skabash

Among Dorothy's five kids, four are her biological daughter while one is an adopted daughter. Yes, the Nyong'o couple took in Peter's late sister's child.

Lupita Nyong'o, Nyong'o's eldest daughter, is an esteemed actress. while Zawadi Nyong'o is known for her role as a director at 7th Sense Communications and as the creative director at Zero by Zawadi. 

Similarly, Dorothy's other child Wam Nyong'o professional information is not publicly available. Junior Nyong'o has made a name for himself as both a fashion designer and an actor. 

Dorothy Nyong'o Was Born To A Well-educated Couple

The first lady of Kisumu County, Nyong'o was born on December 22, 1957 Maseno Mission Hospital located in Kenya. Dorothy Nyong'o age according to her birthdate is mid-60s. She has an older brother.

Dorothy Nyong'o and her daughter Lupita Nyong'o sharing a frame.
Dorothy Nyong'o and her daughter Lupita Nyong'o share a frame. Source: KATV

Nyong'o's parents value education and were quite educated themselves. When Dorothy was six years old, her father Laban Buyu went to pursue higher education at the University of London.

Later Laban worked as a high school Kiswahili language teacher and is retired now. Similarly, Dorothy's mother Rosemell Buyu, a retired nurse was killed in a car accident on May 25, 1999, when Nyong'o was 41 years old.

Dorothy Nyong'o Enrolled School At The Age Of 5

Lupita Nyong'o's mother, Dorothy Nyong'o is a well-educated personality like Tara Jade Borg. She was 5 years old when she started her academic journey. She was enrolled in Ngiya Primary School. Following that, Nyong'o studied at Pangani Girls High School for six years.

Later, Dorothy graduated from the University of Nairobi, Kenya with a Bachelor's degree in Arts in French and political science in August 1979. It was the same year Nyong'o tied the knot with her spouse Peter.

In addition to this, Nyong'o obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the School of Journalism at the University of Nairobi in 1980. Additionally, in 2009, she completed an Executive Master of Science in Organizational Development from the United States International University.

Dorothy Nyong'o Moved To Mexico City With Husband Peter Anyang' Nyong'o

It was 1980 when there was political repression and unrest in Kenya. Peter's brother, Charles Nyong'o, disappeared after he was thrown off a ferry in 1980. 

Amid such an environment, Dorothy Nyong'o and her husband Peter Anyang' Nyong'o decided to flee from Kenya. They relocated to Mexico City. 

The married couple Nyong'o and her spouse returned to Kenya after things were calm. Dorothy's daughter Lupita was still a child and less than a year old.

How Rich Is Lupita Nyong'o's mother? Insight Dorothy Nyong'o Net Worth

Lupita Nyong'o has an estimated net worth of $10 Million. Does Black Panther actress's mother Dorothy Nyong'o command a net worth as much as she?

Well, without a doubt, Dorothy is a rich individual with an estimated fortune of at least $1 Million like Solveig Karadottir. She works as a Managing Director of the Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF). Similarly, Nyong'o is one of the board members of the Kenyan Red Cross Society. 

Dorothy Nyong'o lives a rich lifestyle.
Dorothy Nyong'o lives a rich lifestyle. Source: The Standard

With all this, Nyong'o earns a respectable income. In addition to this, her husband Peter Anyang Nyong'o is a governor of Kisumu County and a political member. 

According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the salary of a County Governor in Kenya is a gross monthly salary of KES 957,000 in the financial year 2023/2024. Similarly the salary increases to KES 990,000 in the financial year 2024/2025.

With this staggering fortune, Dorothy lives a rich lifestyle with her husband. She has yet to reveal real estate and investments.

Dorothy Nyong'o Charity & Social Works

Throughout her career, Dorothy Nyong'o has been working as an advocate for education and social equality. Nyong'o's work as a teacher, curriculum developer, and education administrator has brought her to different places like Kenya, Mexico, and the United States. 

Dorothy Nyong'o was honored with the  Women of Magnitude Award 2021.
Dorothy Nyong'o was honored with the  Women of Magnitude Award 2021. Source: LinkedIn 

Additionally, Lupita's mother, Dorothy has played an important role in promoting public health and community development in Africa. She holds leadership positions in organizations such as the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Likewise, Dorothy has a lot of contributions to empowering women. She was also honored with the Women of Magnitude Award in 2021.

 

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