Mary Atieno Ominde

Mary Atieno is a Kenyan gospel musician, pastor, and teacher whose work spans over four decades. Atieno is blind. She was awarded an Outstanding Contributor category in the Groove Awards in 2012.

Early life Mary Atieno was born in Kirengo village, Karungu in Nyatike District, Nyanza. She was the first of nine children born to Francis Yara and Polina Ajwang. Her father worked as a headmaster in various schools in Nyanza, and her mother was a housewife. She later joined Thika Salvation Army High School for the blind, before proceeding to Kenyatta University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Education. While at these institutions, her passion for music thrived after she reported being miraculously healed of heart disease. In 1978, at the age of 17, Atieno was diagnosed with heart disease, and doctors were skeptical of her chances of surviving the ailment. Atieno later said, "I turned to prayer. I knew God created me and it was only He who could heal me. I promised God that if I got healed, I would serve Him for the rest of my life. He answered my prayer. When I went for another test, there was no problem at all with my heart. Subsequent tests have shown my heart is healthy". She started her music career in 1979 as a singer in Makwaya style choir, making her the first solo woman gospel musician in Kenya. Atieno joined the International Fellowship of Christ (IFC) choir, Nani kama Yehova (1998). Njooni Tumsifu( 2004).