African-American who often bailed Jomo out of trouble

UN special envoy to Congo Dr Ralph Bunche inspecting a guard of honour mounted by Irish troops in January 1963. [File, Standard]

Running through Nairobi’s Milimani area and joining State House and Ngong roads is an avenue with a curious name: Ralph Bunche.

While those driving through the road may not give much thought to the African-American behind the name, Bunche was a good friend of Kenya’s founding president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.