Jomo Kenyatta

Jomo Kenyatta was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician. He governed Kenya as Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country’s first indigenous head of government and played a significant role in the transformation of Kenya from a colony of the British Empire into an independent republic.

About Jomo Kenyatta in brief

Jomo Kenyatta was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician. He governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country’s first indigenous head of government and played a significant role in the transformation of Kenya from a colony of the British Empire into an independent republic. Ideologically an African nationalist and conservative, he led the Kenya African National Union party from 1961 until his death. His rule was criticised as dictatorial, authoritarian, and neo-colonial, of favouring Kikuyu over other ethnic groups, and of facilitating the growth of widespread corruption. His government pursued capitalist economic policies and the \”Africanisation\” of the economy, prohibiting non-citizens from controlling key industries. He died in office and was succeeded by Daniel arap Moi. He is buried at the Nairobi National Cemetery. His family name is Kamau and he was born in Kiambu, British East Africa. His father was named Muigai, and his mother Wambui, and they lived in a homestead near the River Thika, where they raised crops, bred sheep and goats. When he was ten, his earlobes were pierced to mark his transition from childhood to adulthood. He then took the name of Kamau Ngengi. His mother then married her husband’s younger brother, also named Muengi. In keeping with KikuyU tradition, he then bore another son, Kongo Kongo, shortly before he died.

His mother died shortly before he was 20 years old, and he then had a son named Kongo wa wa. He also had a daughter, who he named Kamau wa Wambi. He was raised according to traditional belief and was taught the belief, and was needed to herd his flock, to herd sheep. In 1938, he published an anthropological study of Kikuyo life before working as a farm labourer in Sussex during the Second World War. In 1947, he was elected President of the. Kenya African Union, through which he lobbied for independence from British colonial rule, attracting widespread indigenous support but animosity from white settlers. He remained imprisoned at Lokitaung until 1959 and was then exiled to Lodwar until 1961. On his release, he became President of KANU and led the party to victory in the 1963 general election. During his presidency he was given the honorary title of Mzee and lauded as the Father of the Nation, securing support from both the black majority and the white minority with his message of reconciliation. His relations with the Kenyan Indians were strained and Kenya’s army clashed with Somali separatists in the North Eastern Province during the Shifta War. He later married his late wife’s husband, the late Wambu Ngenga. He had three children with her, all of whom were born in the village of Nginda. His last child was born with the name Kamau, also known as Kamau.

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