Tribute to Mzee Maina Wanjigi

I first met Mzee Wanjigi at the home of Dr Johnstone Muthiora on the day he died in 1974.

Mzee was there with his close ally Kenneth Matiba, and they stunned me with their anger about Kenya. That made me realise that even some very senior ministers were not comfortable with the direction Kenya had taken.

I was then the Editor of the Sunday Post and the two spoke freely to me as they knew my paper was critical of some key government policies, and had supported their ally Dr Muthiora in his 1974 election campaign to defeat Dr Njoroge Mungai, the Dagoretti MP considered by many to be the likely successor to President Jomo Kenyatta.

Among others opposing Dr Mungai were Charles Njonjo and Nation Editor George Githii.

The defeat scuttled Dr Mungai’s political career, which ultimately saw Moi become president, whom many preferred. They thought he would be better for Kenyans as he did not belong to a rich, privileged group controlling political power and vast amounts of wealth.

But Dr Mungai certainly did, and many feared he and his group would want to protect and enlarge their gains, many illicitly acquired. As it eventually turned out, President Moi and his cohorts became wealthy and led Kenya astray.

After that first meeting, I became a big fan and a close friend of Mzee Wanjigi. His humility, honesty and commitment to uplifting Kenyans, and his refusal to accumulate vast wealth, made him a very loveable person.

Rest in Peace, dear friend. Pole Jimi.