Jomo Kenyatta for President!!

Jomo Kenyatta can be accredited with many things but we should solute him for his accomplishments in Kenya. He was not only the first Prime Minister but also the first President and considered the founding father of Kenya. He came from nothing and ended with a legacy including schools, roads and airports named after him. No matter who are you, you have to agree that he has done a lot and saved countless.

Jomo Kenyatta was born in 1889 in Kamau wa Ngengi in the village of Negenda, Gatundu, in British East Africa which later became Kenya. He was a member of the Kikuyu people also known as Agikuyu, which is the most populous group in Africa. His parents were Muigai and Wambui and also had a stepbrother James Muigai but there is little information available about then and Jomo’s early life. However, after his parents died he was placed in the care and teachings of his grandfather, a medicine man, and also his uncle Ngengi.

He began his schooling after taking an interest in the customs and culture he was raised in. His first place of schooling was at the Scottish Mission Center in Thogoto. While in schooling away from his hometown he can under the influence of Christianity and was converted in 1914. His Christian name was John Peter but it was later changed to Johnstone Kamau and eventually in 1938 it became Jomo.
After his schooling he moved to Nairobi during the First World War to live with relatives and to work as a clerk. After the war he became a storekeeper for a European firm and started to show his African pride in a beaded belt he wore. Eventually he married to a Grace Wahu and they had two children Peter and Margaret.

He finally entered the world of politics in 1924 and became active in the KCA, Kikuyu Central Association, which eventually made him as a representative of the Kikuyu land problems. He made many different appearances in their name. He also published his own newspaper, Muigwithania which talked about his culture and farming methods. Finally, in 1930 he returned home to fight for the women of his country and the issue of female circumcision.

After much traveling, teaching, and marriages he finally returned to Kenya where he was appoint President of the Kenya African Union. However, many white settlers weren’t happy with this and he was arrested in 1952 for his involvement with the Mau Mau rebellion and was jailed for seven years. On June 1st, 1963 he became prime minister of the Kenyan government. At the end of the year they declared independence and became a republic and Kenyatta was the first leader in the new nation.

Quotes by Kenyatta:
--"When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the Land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible.”

--"The European condemns the Africans for having two wives yet he keeps two mistresses"
--"I have no intention of retaliating or looking backwards. We are going to forget the past and look forward to the future."