×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Kenya's Bold Newspaper
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Father of the nation? How Jomo Kenyatta built up myth that masked his faults

A photo of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta with then-young Uhuru. (Photo/Mo Amin)

Kenya's legacy as a state is deeply intertwined with Jomo Kenyatta's influence on the nation. Kenya's founding president died on 22 August 1978 in his sleep at State House, Mombasa.

Kenyatta is generally typecast as the "father of the nation", guiding the newly independent Kenya onto the path of independence and development. It is an image he carefully crafted.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in
Athletics
Kenya's athletics stars pumped billions into the economy in 2025
Football
Egypt seal top spot in Group B after goalless draw with Angola
By AFP 2 hrs ago
Football
Appollis penalty sends South Africa past Zimbabwe and into AFCON last-16
Boxing
Boxing heavyweight Anthony Joshua hospitalised after fatal road crash in Nigeria