Mulinge thwarted two coups and developed home infrastructure

By Daniel Nzia

Had it not been for him, this country would be different today. He successfully crushed two attempted coup de tats during his tenure as a top military officer.

General (rtd) Jackson Kimeu Mulinge served the military diligently under the founding President Jomo Kenyatta and his successor Daniel arap Moi.

His first acid test was during the 1972 coup attempt, when some civilians and politicians attempted to overthrow the late Kenyatta’s Government.

Rtd Gen Mulinge demonstrated his loyalty and patriotism when he crashed the coup and restored peace and stability in the country.

This time the head of the armed forces was the late Maj Gen Ndolo and Gen Mulinge was his deputy. He later succeeded his boss.   

Gen Mulinge was at it again to save the country from going to the dogs when he helped Moi back to the presidency after a section of the military’s air wing soldiers staged a coup to overthrow his Government in 1982. It is now 30 years since the flop of the second coup.

His admirers credit him for his loyalty arguing if he was power thirsty, he would have used his position and taken over the leadership.

Today, the retired top military chief is ailing and has been condemned to a wheel chair by sickness that caught up with him in his old age.

“The General is down but not out. Although he cannot walk as he did in his hey days, he is still the soldier he was by nature,” says his former aide Daniel Yumbya.

Enormous contribution

Mr Yumbya, who is the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (MPDB) Chief Executive Officer worked for Mulinge when he was minister for Lands and eventually Health.

He credits the ailing Mulinge for his enormous contribution to the many development projects he initiated and completed during his time in the military and politics.

“Gen Mulinge helped to transform Kathiani constituency by ensuring the necessary infrastructure for development were in place,” Yumbya told The County Weekly.

For the residents of Kathiani constituency, Gen Mulinge will remain a pillar of development for he has helped them in many ways.

They acknowledge retired General’s influence in the tarmacking of Kathiani-Machakos road, water, rural electrification, schools and health projects.

“General Mulinge used his position to bring president Moi to conduct harambees for the construction of Kathiani High school. He was also behind the construction of the sister Kathiani Girls Secondary school,” says former nominated councilor John Musyimi.

It is said that Mulinge did not have the slightest interest to join the military because he never bothered to present himself during the many recruitment occasions in Machakos town.

The story is told of how Mulinge, who had taken goats for sale at Machakos, was identified by the recruiting officers because of his height and physique.

“Mulinge had taken goats to the market when a white army officer called him and asked him to join the queue,” says Musyimi.

Back in his Kathiani village, many families today put food on their tables through Mulinge’s hand.

 It is said at least every family that had a son or daughter fit to join the military did so courtesy of the retired General.

This included his own sons, one who rose through the ranks to become a Major General before he retired a few years ago.

Maj Gen James Mulinge is today Kenya’s ambassador to Sudan. He is also the chairman Board of Governors at Kathiani High school after his father.

The young Mulinge also demonstrated a high sense of patriotism when he led Kenyan troops in a peace keeping mission in Siera Leone.

Maj Gen Mulinge stood out when he declined an offer to be released leaving behind his captured soldiers and he opted to remain captive together with them.

Though age and sickness have confined Gen Mulinge to a wheel chair for the last couple of years, his friends continue to visit and pray for him.

Mulinge suffered stroke sometimes last year in addition to other earlier health complications and has since lost his speech and mobility.

Looking at the many visitors who have appended their signatures on the visitors’ book in his sitting room, both the low and mighty still remember him.

Retired President Moi and Kibaki have visited the ailing General and offered their best wishes to him.

Sense of patriotism

Last month, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka paid him a visit and praised him for his contribution to the national and local development during his times as a soldier and politician.

Mr Musyoka was accompanied by MPs Johnson Muthama, Daniel Muoki, Victor Munyaka, Peter Mathuki of East Africa Legislative Assembly and Yumbya.

Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo also recently visited the ailing General and wished him well.

Mr Kilonzo said Gen Mulinge should be honored for steering the country’s military to greater achievements during his tenure.

“Mzee Mulinge exhibited a high sense of patriotism while in the military and cabinet. We need to honor and emulate him,” he said.