Hilary Ng’weno dies at 83-years

The late Hilary Boniface Ng’weno. He died on July 7, 2021.

Hilary Ng’weno has died at the age of 83 after a long illness.

His daughter Bettina confirmed the death.

Ng’weno was a distinguished journalist, editor, publisher, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker.

He was also known for his outstanding academic intellect and is said to be the first Kenyan to attend Harvard University in 1957.  He took a year-long sabbatical in Russia in between his studies at the Ivy League university and returned to Kenya in 1962.

At 25, in 1965, he became Kenya’s youngest editor-in-chief at Nation.

He was the founding editor of the defunct Weekly Review political magazine (1975) and the Nairobi Times (now Kenya Times) in 1983.

The late creative and veteran historian is also well known for his television documentaries; The Making of a Nation, Makers of a Nation, Kenya’s Darkest Hour and Kenya at the Olympics.

In 1999, Ng’weno launched a broadcasting station, STV. This was sold to TV Africa Holdings which acquired K24.

The renowned author also wrote a number of books including; the novel Men from Pretoria, With a Light Touch, a collection of newspaper articles and The Day Kenyatta Died.

He leaves behind his French wife Fleur Grandjouan Ng’weno, and two daughters Amolo and Bettina Ng’weno.