Mugo’s rise from fuel attendant to a top diplomat

Not much is known about retired ambassador Nicholas Mugo, husband to nominated senator Beth Mugo, as he is a private person.

He was born 83 years ago in Gatundu. He went to Kagumo Boys High School, Nyeri, but didn’t pursue further education immediately since he took the role of a breadwinner after his father and elder brother were detained for four years. 

He got a job at a Shell East Africa, Nairobi as an officer, but soon after marrying Beth, he benefited from Tom Mboya airlift and went to study History and Political Science at Warren Wilson College US. 

He became the first African student to attend the university and his exemplary performance made the college admit many Africans afterwards. Later on, he was given the distinguished alumni recognition in absentia as he was an ambassador in the UN.  

“When they heard that I was in the UN, the president of the college came all the way from North Carolina to request me to receive the award in person. They told me that they would pay my air ticket and cater for all the expenses. It was a big thing, my story was published in foreign newspapers as I was the first African student to get the honour,” he narrates. 

He was to pursue a master’s degree, but the late Mzee Kenyatta became Prime Minister in 1963 and sent a message to the Kenyan students abroad with the first degree, to come back home and rebuild the country. 

He worked in East African Common Services Organisation, but in 1964, Nicholas opted to resign to work for the government in foreign affairs ministry. 

“I started as a protocol officer before being transferred to be the officer in charge of the European Commonwealth Affairs. I was then moved to African affairs docket,” he says  

The position meant he attended international meetings where African issues were discussed. He met and worked closely with great leaders at that time such as Tanzanian first president, Julius Nyerere, Mobutu Seseko and Kenneth Kaunda who were fighting for their nations’ independence. 

“It was amazing to know that I was assisting them fight for a course. I was in charge of the Organisation of African Union in the ministry and attended all meetings in Adis Ababa, and other places,” he says. 

He worked in the African affairs department from 1966 to 1970. He took over as the acting high commissioner for London in 1969 and used to attend UN General Assembly sessions as a diplomat.

In 1973, he was appointed Ethiopian ambassador. During that time Kenya’s foreign relations involved ensuring peace in her neighbouring countries as coups and war characterised the African relations scene. 

He recalls a period when he was sent to Nigeria to take relief material during the Biafra war, which took place between 1967 to 1970. 

“That time Nigeria was under military rule and even at the airport, you could see the military presence everywhere. It was a scene I had never seen before,” he recalls 

He also served as a diplomat in Sudan and then France where he covered the Vatican then later Yugoslavia. 

He retired in 1978 and works in the family business. 

Thoroughout his wife’s political career, Nicholas has been behind her, supporting her campaigns and projects.