Behind these faces lie evidence of our struggles, pain and triumph

By Standard Reporter

TOM MBOYA

He was founder of the Nairobi People’s Congress Party, a key figure in the formation of Kanu, and the Minister of Economic Planning and Development at the time of his assassination on 5 July, 1969. Mboya’s role in Kenya’s politics and transformation is a subject that continues to raise interest to date.

BISHOP ALEXANDER MUGE

He was the first bishop of the Eldoret diocese and a vocal critic of government excesses. He harshly criticised the handling of investigations into the death of former Foreign Affairs minister Robert Ouko. His death, in a

road accident in 1990, remains one of Kenya’s enduring mysteries.

PROF WANGARI MAATHAI

She was the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace prize for her

contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. The former Tetu MP and presidential candidate in the 1997 General Election planted millions of trees through her Green Belt Movement. She died in 2011.

GEN MAHMOUD MOHAMED

He is remembered for crushing the 1982 coup by a section of disgruntled Kenya Air Force soldiers. The general was credited with leading loyal armed forces to counter the short-lived attempt at overthrowing Moi. Mohamed later became the Chief of General Staff from 1982 to1986.

Prof Ali Mazrui

He is arguably the best-known Kenyan scholar. An academic and political writer on African and Islamic studies and North-South relations, he was in 2005   ranked 73rd on the Top 100 Public Intellectuals list of Prospect Magazine (UK) and Foreign Policy (US).

Daudi Kabaka

The father of “twist” composed patriotic songs that spurred on freedom fighters. Together with his compatriot John Nzenze he composed and sang Harambee Harambee, tuimbee pamoja, Kenyatta aliteswa. His music is timeless and is played on radio stations throughout East Africa.

JM KARIUKI

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (21 March 1929 – 2 March 1975) was a populist politician during the administration of former president Jomo Kenyatta government. He held different government positions between 1963 and 1975, when he was assassinated. He was popularly known as “JM”.

Mama Kayai

For 32 years, Mama Kayai or Mary Khavere has graced living rooms as a comedian on the national broadcaster. She is the first woman to venture into comedy as the wife of Mzee Ojwang Sibuor Ondiek! Together, the two are not only the longest serving cast but also the most recognisable screen couple.

MANU CHANDARIA

The CEO and chairman of the Comcraft Group of Companies, a billion-dollar enterprise that has a presence in over 40 countries. He has invested in Manufacturing, Insurance, Transport, Banking, Real Estate and Telecommunication. He has been listed as Kenya’s leading philanthropist and industrialist.

MAURICE CARDINAL OTUNGA

He is hailed for his humility and outspokenness on social injustices,

corruption and police brutality.  The Catholic cleric was among church leaders who pushed for democratic governance during the clamour for multi-partyism. He died in 2003 and is on course to be the first Kenyan to attain sainthood.

Jomo Kenyatta.

He was born in 1889. He was among other prominent leaders who were arrested and tried at Kapenguria on April 8, 1953 for managing Mau Mau. He was sentenced to 7 years in jail with hard labor. On April 14, 1959, Jomo Kenyatta completed his sentence at Lokitaung but remained in restriction at Lodwar. On June 1, 1963, he became the first Prime Minister of self-governing Kenya. At midnight on December 12, 1963, at Uhuru Stadium, amid world leaders and multitudes of people, a new nation was born and a year later, on December 12, 1964, Kenya became a republic with Kenyatta as the President.

JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA

Kenya’s first vice-president is remembered for his principled stand against single party rule throughout his life. Odinga was the most outspoken critic of the colonial government during Kenyatta’s detention in the 1950s and led calls for his release. But in April 1966, three years after independence, Odinga resigned his VP post to form the Kenya People’s Union (KPU). In the crackdown that ensued, Odinga was hounded and jailed and KPU banned. He re-emerged as leader of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy in the early 1990s. He died in 1994 aged 84.

MARTIN SHIKUKU

Joseph Shikuku (1933 – August 22, 2012) was an eloquent politician who played a key role during the Lancaster House conference. He is also prominent for his push for multiparty politics. In 1969, he was appointed Assistant Minister in the Office of the Vice-President and Home Affairs by founding President Kenyatta. He was, however, detained by Kenyatta after he sarcastically remarked in Parliament that the Kanu government was “dead”.

PIO GAMA PINTO

Pio Gama Pinto (March 31, 1927 — February 25, 1965) dedicated his life to the liberation of the Kenyan people and became independent Kenya’s first martyr in 1965. Pinto was shot at very close range on the driveway while waiting for the gate to open.

KENNETH MATIBA

His stab at the presidency at the height of the clamour for multipartysim in the 1992 General Election placed him second. An outspoken critic of the Kanu government, Matiba made history when he resigned from the Cabinet and was among founders of the Opposition’s Forum for Restoration and Democracy (FORD). He remains in poor health as a result of his stint in detention at the Nyayo House torture chambers in the 1990’s.

RONALD NGALA

Ngala was born in 1922. He began his national career by being elected to the Legislative Council in 1957. In the 1957 elections to the legislative council, Ngala was elected to represent the Coast Rural constituency. Following these elections, Ngala, along with Tom Mboya, Oginga Odinga, Lawrenze Oguda, Masinde Muliro, Daniel Moi, Benard Mate and James Muimi formed the African Elected Members Organisation  and signed a controversial press statement declaring Kenya’s Lyttelton constitution on which they had been elected, void.

DANIEL MOI

He served as the second president of Kenya from 1978 to 2002, rising from the vice-presidency between 1967 to 1978. When Jomo Kenyatta died on 22 August 1978, Moi succeeded him. He was popular, with widespread support all over the country. He toured the country and came into contact with the people everywhere, which was in great contrast to Kenyatta’s imperial style of governing behind closed doors. He left State House in 2002.

MWAI KIBAKI

Kibaki is the third president of the Republic of Kenya. Kibaki was appointed vice-president by Moi in 1978. He continued to serve in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning until 1983, when he moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Heritage. He served until 1988 when he moved to the Ministry of Health. Kibaki was also the Leader of Government Business and Chairman of the Sessional Committee from 1978 to 1988. He was the Kanu vice-president from 1978 to 1988.

RAILA ODINGA

Raila Odinga (born 7 January 1945) served as Prime Minister under the National Accord adopted following the controversial 2007 General Election. Raila is also a victim of detention without trial. Raila was placed under arrest for seven months after it was alleged he was collaborating with the plotters of 1982 failed coup, in which hundreds of Kenyan citizens and thousands of rebel soldiers died. Several foreigners also died. Raila was later charged with treason and detained without trial for six years.

CHARLES RUBIA

The first African mayor of Nairobi and former Cabinet minister was among those that fought for multi-partyism. Rubia was detained at the infamous Nyayo House torture chambers and was at one point accused of importing arms to overthrow the government.

EDDAH GACHUKIA

She is credited with promoting education, particularly of girls, in Kenya. The former nominated MP started the Riara group of schools with her husband in 1974. Gachukia, who has authored several education publications, has also served as president of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) and Maendeleo Ya Wanawake.

Mzee Ojwang

His real name is Benson Wanjau, a comedian of unqualified success who, for 32 years, has featured in Vitimbi (and Vioja Mahakamani) TV drama on KBC. He is the flipside of Mama Kayai. Together they have been decorated as national heroes having received State commendations for their role in developing the entertainment industry.

MASINDE MULIRO

He is one of the central figures of the second liberation push, credited for the return of multi-partyism in the country. In 1989, Muliro teamed up with Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, the late Martin Shikuku, Phillip Gachoka and late Oginga Odinga to form Forum for Restoration of Democracy, a pressure-group agitating a return to pluralist politics. FORD became a party.

KIPCHOGE KEINO

He single-handedly placed Kenya firmly on the world athletics map with a series of Olympic and Commonwealth gold medals shortly after the country’s independence. He is 73 and president of the National Olympic Committee.

Eric Wainaina

As a musician, he is a cultural hero for his promotion of the Afro-fusion genre that is part of the pop culture since the 1990s. He represents a generation that is a transition between the benga and rhumba genres on the one side and the hip-hop, the new generation dancehall fad. His composition Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo elevated him to celebrity status. Through his music, he has contributed to the fight against pervasive corruption.

Henry Chakava

The renowned publisher ventured into the field after completing his studies in literature and philosophy in 1972. As long serving editor at Heinemann publishers of textbooks and fiction, he influenced education in Africa. He published the works of Ali Mazrui, Chinua Achebe, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Meja Mwangi, Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Okot p’Bitek, among others.

Mzee Ojwang

His real name is Benson Wanjau, a comedian of unqualified success who, for 32 years, has featured in Vitimbi (and Vioja Mahakamani) TV drama on KBC. He is the flipside of Mama Kayai. Together they have been decorated as national heroes having received State commendations for their role in developing the entertainment industry.

Fadhili Williams Mdawida

He is synonymous with the hit song Malaika, the first Kenyan song to go international in the 1970s. The song, which has won multiple platinum awards, has since been remixed by more than 10 bands in the world.

PROf JOSEPH MAINA MUNGAI

Born in 1932, Mungai became the first African Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Nairobi. He was one of the earliest Africans to engage in scientific research work and began with

neurologic research while studying for his doctorate in London. He continued with production of scientific research papers in the 1980s and is described as a pioneer medical researcher in East Africa. He died in August 2003.

DR RICHARD LEAKEY

The world-famous paleo-anthropologist and conservationist once headed the

Civil Service under the Kanu regime. His tenure as director at National Museum saw it grow into an international research centre and yielded dozens of fossil finds within Lake Turkana, including the famous 1.6 million year old skeleton nicknamed ‘Turkana boy,’ in 1984.

NAUSHAD MERALI

Merali is regarded as Kenya’s most-suave business mind and wealthiest resident. He founded the first privately-owned mobile service provider, Kencell, with French telco Vivendi. Kencell has since changed hands and names several times on the way to becoming today’s Indian-owned Airtel. In the most dramatic of these transfers of ownership in 2004, Merali reportedly made a cool Sh1.6 billion in one hour. As one of the leading industrialists, Merali has contributed greatly to bringing commercial investments in Kenya for more than 30 years.

Prof Calestous Juma

He shot to fame first as a science writer. Prof Juma is now an internationally acclaimed scholar in the area of applied science and technology for sustainable development. He is recognised as one of the most influential 100 Africans in 2012 and 2013 by the New African magazine. He is professor of the Practice of International Development and Faculty Chair of the Innovation for Economic Development Executive Programme at Harvard Kennedy School, among other high profile positions he is holding.

K MACHARIA

Macharia has invested in telecommunications, banking, agriculture, transport, insurance and real estate. He is a media tycoon who owns the biggest radio and television network in Kenya with a huge audience. According to a survey conducted by Forbes, an American magazine that carries research on world billionaires, Macharia is believed to be worth more than Sh112 billion.

 PHOEBE ASIYO

She is credited for moving the Affirmative Action Motion, also known as the ‘Asiyo Motion’ in Parliament in 1974. This birthed the Kenya Women’s political caucus and catalysed the push that has today seen better representation of women in elective and appointive office. The former Karachuonyo MP was also a member of the Constitution of Kenya Review

Commission (CKRC), and has headed Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, among other positions she has

JAMES MWANGI

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Equity Banking Group. From humble beginnings, Mwangi rose to become an internationally recognised entrepreneur. He won the Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 award; the world’s most coveted business award. He has won other business awards. He also has three honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of his contributions to the Kenyan society. He is also the Accounting, Banking and Finance Chairman, Vision 2030.

PROF JULIA OJIAMBO

The former Funyula MP was the first woman to be elected MP in the former Western Province and the first woman to be appointed an assistant minister. Ojiambo is also a former nominated MP and heads the Labour Party of Kenya. A nutritionist by profession, she has authored dozens of publications in the field and helped steer negotiations that led to establishment of the UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi.

KITILI MWENDWA

Mwendwa was Kenya’s first African Chief Justice and was in office between 1968 and 1971. He died in a road accident in 1985. He was at the time the Kitui West MP.

BISHOP HENRY OKULLU

He was the spearhead of Anglican clergy pushing for an end to Kenya’s one-party rule in the 1980s. From the pulpit, Okullu pushed for constitutional change and called for a two-term limit to the presidency at a time when doing so was considered subversive. The first black provost of Nairobi’s All Saints Cathedral was a strong advocate of human rights issues. He died in 1999.

TITUS ADUNGOSI

He was the first chair of The University of Nairobi’s Student

Organisation (SONU). Adungosi was a critic of the Kanu government and was jailed for 10 years for sedition in 1982 after an aborted coup. He would later die in prison under unclear circumstances in 1988.

TABITHA KARANJA

She is the Managing Director and founder of Keroche Breweries, the multi-billion shilling Naivasha-based firm.

Having quietly fought to make her company competitive in the alcoholic beverage market, Ms Karanja has emerged successful in her business. The company has made strides in the market with ready-to-drink spirits and beers. The brewer controls at least 20 per cent of Kenya’s alcoholic beverages market.

PROF MIRIAM WERE

She was the first recipient of the Japanese Hideyo Noguchi African prize that honours persons with outstanding achievements in medical research and medical services to fight infectious diseases in Africa.

Were is recognised for her role in promoting community-based programmes that promote women and children’s health in the East African region.

DR OKI Ooko-oMBAKA

He was a legal scholar and human rights activist. He served as the

first vice chair of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) and was instrumental in the Constitution review process. The one-term MP also chaired the ‘Ufungamano Initiative’ during the cmapaign for constitutional reforms. He died in 2002 aged 50 years.

Michael Werikhe

Nicknamed Rhino Man, he became famous through his long fundraising walks in the African Great Lakes region and overseas. He started his campaign after learning how endangered Black Rhinos were in Africa. Wherever he walked, his arrival was greeted with much public fanfare and media attention. This helped to raise funds for conservation of Rhinos and other endangered African mammals.