Independent Kenya’s first Attorney General Charles Mugane Njonjo, who passed away yesterday, had given clear instructions on how his body should be disposed off after his death.

He had directed that his body be cremated immediately, to avoid any funeral rites and related fanfare.

That is exactly what the family did yesterday. Njonjo, aged 101, was pronounced dead at 5am and by 10am he had been cremated at a low-key event at the Kariokor Hindu Crematorium attended only by his immediate family and close friends.

Njonjo’s personal doctor, David Silverstein, who also served the late President Daniel arap Moi, declared him dead at 5am on Sunday morning.

The news was shared to his three children; Wairimu Njonjo, Nimu Njonjo and Josiah Njonjo, who then made quick plans for his final send-off, according to his wishes.

Friends who attended the brief ceremony included prominent city lawyer Paul Muite, Muhoho Kenyatta and Prof Yash Pal Ghai. Journalists were denied access to the venue.

Muite said the family was following the former AG’s instructions. Urbane and known for his legendary British mannerisms, that would be no surprise.

However, his wishes seemed to contradict his Christian orientation, having been a prominent member of the Anglican church.

 “It was his wishes and directions that if anything happened, he had to be cremated immediately.

He even joked that if it happened in the morning, he had to be cremated by midday so it is as if his wishes were granted.

He went very peacefully, that is what we gathered from the family,” Muite told People Daily in an interview.

It was a sad day and rude start to the New Year for Kenyans as hours after Njonjo’s cremation, news filtered out that former Head of Public Service Richard Leakey had also died. Coincidentally, Njonjo and Leakey were close friends. (See separate story) 

Muite, a former Kikuyu MP which Njonjo once represented, said Njonjo was hoping to celebrate his 102ndbirthday on January 23.    

“The last time I talked with him was on Wednesday the other week, not last week. He sent for me and I went to his house where we had a very long conversation lasting about one and a half hours.

We talked about the Judiciary and so many other things.  He was very clear-minded,” said Muite.

 He added: “We also talked about his birthday which was to be marked on January 23rd meaning, he died just about 20 days short of his 102nd birthday.”

 Unlike people of his stature, his death and final cremation was low-key, without lavish ceremonies associated with the death of the high and mighty.

According to Njonjo’s son-in-law Carey Ngini, the cremation started at around 10am in line with his wishes and specific instructions.

“Charles Njonjo was very clear about what he wanted not only in life but what he wanted in death as well.

Part of those instructions was to perform a cremation after his passing. He didn’t want funeral-related fanfare.

He wanted to be cremated almost immediately after death. So we have fulfilled his wish,” Ngini said yesterday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said Njonjo’s death was a big blow not only to his immediate family, friends and relatives but to all Kenyans and indeed, the entire African continent because of his leading role in the founding of the Kenyan nation at independence.

“As a nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to Hon Njonjo and his generation of independence-era leaders for their selfless contribution to the laying of the solid foundation upon which our country continues to thrive,” Uhuru stated.

He added:” Kenya’s progressive constitutional and legal regime owes its robustness to Hon Njonjo’s splendid work when he served as the country’s first post-independence Attorney General between 1963 and 1979, and as Constitutional Affairs minister between 1980 and 1983.”

In an interview in 2015, Njonjo, said he did not fear death and he did not want friends and relatives to raise money and have meetings for his burial since he had made necessary arrangements for his cremation.

“Death is something you can face, why fear it? I don’t engage in that kind of thought and I don’t want anyone to raise money when I die (or) friends meeting at the cathedral. I don’t want any collection of money,” he said.

Yesterday, Njonjo’s body was taken to Lee Funeral Home where it was prepared for cremation and later transferred to Kariokor Hindu Crematorium. The body arrived there at 9.30am accompanied by 25 family members.

 The Alliance High School alumni attended Kings College Budo, in Uganda before proceeding to Fort Hare University, South Africa, for his BA in a law degree, and later Exeter University, UK, for a diploma course in social anthropology between 1947 and 1950.

He worked in the UK before returning to Kenya where he took credit for amending several laws especially those that were imposed by the British colonialists.

Known for his trademark pin-stripped three-piece suits, Njonjo would be appointed Kenya’s first independence Attorney General and later Constitutional Affairs minister under Moi.

Prominent philanthropist

 The former AG is remembered for ensuring a peaceful transfer of power to Moi in 1978 after the death of founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta amidst resistance by a section powerful politicians from Central Kenya, who wanted the Constitution changed to deny the Vice-President (Moi) automatic ascension to power for 90 days.

 Njonjo would later fall out with Moi who tagged him a traitor and hounded him out of government.  

The former AG would later retire from politics to run his vast business empire.

A prominent philanthropist, Njonjo was also a nature lover and conservationist.

To celebrate his 100th birthday, the former minister flew to Uganda to track gorillas at Mgahinga National Park.

“I was at Kings College Budo and went there with King Freddie (Kabaka Edward Mutesa I).

I am very fond of Uganda and what I got from you. I was lucky to see gorrilas, two young ones and two big male,” Njonjo said at the time.

Because of their mutual contempt for each either with retired President Mwai Kibaki, Njonjo would later embrace opposition chief Raila Odinga for who he has been campaigning for the past three elections to the chargrin of Mt Kenya power brokers.  

Yesterday, Raila and Deputy President William Ruto sent messages of condolences to the Njonjo family, describing the fallen politician as a great son of Kenya.

 “Charles Njonjo devoted his life in serving our country in pre-and post-independent Kenya as a civil servant, Attorney-General, Kikuyu MP and Constitutional Affairs minister.

He was knowledgeable, blunt and a dedicated advocate for the causes he believed in,” said Ruto.

He further said the country will miss the Njonjo’s wisdom, company and warmth.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Njonjo family, their loved ones and all those who knew and worked with him. Rest In Peace, Sir Njonjo.”

Raila, a close friend of the former AG, said that Njonjo qualifies as one of the critical founders of the Kenyan nation who helped lay a firm foundation for its institutions and the rule of law.

“Mama Ida and I are heartbroken at the passing of our long-time friend and confidant, former Attorney General Charles Mugane Njonjo. We pass sincere condolences to his family and friends. Charles was a brilliant legal mind,” said Raila.

 Njonjo joins a growing list of prominent Kenyans who have chosen cremation as opposed to the traditional burial rites common in the African society. 

It is a process that reduces the body to its essential elements by exposing the body to open flames and intense heat in a specially designed furnace. In most cases, the family is given the remains inform of ashes.

Some of the people who have been cremated are former minister Kenneth Matiba, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, former Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore  and former Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation Jane Kiano.