Charles Njonjo
Encyclopedia
Charles Mugane Njonjo is a former Kenya
n Attorney General
(1963 – 1979), and Minister for Constitutional Affairs (1980 – 1983).
. After Kenyan independence in 1963, Njonjo was appointed Attorney General. Njonjo registered G.e.m.a. association, but would soon became opponent of the group and in 1976 charged some of its members including Kihika Kimani and Njenga Karume
with treason - the order was soon turned down by the president Jomo Kenyatta
. He held the Attorney General's post until 1979. The same year he was elected Member of parliament
for Kikuyu Constituency
and in 1980 he was appointed Minister of Constitutional Affairs in the government of Daniel arap Moi
. In 1983 he was forced to resign, and left public life after a judicial inquiry concluded he had abused his office amid allegations that he was trying to take over the presidency from Moi. In the early 80's he was the chairman of East African Wildlife Society
.
In 1998 he returned to public life, and was appointed chairman of Kenya Wildlife Service
. In October 2006 there were reports that Njonjo was making a comeback in Kenyan politics, including his show of support for Raila Odinga
.
Njonjo has a reputation for snobbery. He is ironically nicknamed "Sir Charles" or "Duke of Kabeteshire", and it is rumored that while at Alliance High School, he rode to school on horse back at the start and close of school terms, escorted by Tribal Police, and that he was the only African who lived in the exclusive whites-only Muthaiga suburb prior to independence. There are widespread allegations that Njonjo has made statements that he is ashamed of being a Kikuyu, that he cannot shake hands with a Luo
, and that he cannot entrust his safety to an African pilot, and although many such allegations may be conjecture, they have earned him a reputation as the epitome of snobbery in Kenya.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
(1963 – 1979), and Minister for Constitutional Affairs (1980 – 1983).
Biography
Njonjo is the son of former colonial chief Josiah Njonjo and received a degree in law from the Fort Hare University in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. After Kenyan independence in 1963, Njonjo was appointed Attorney General. Njonjo registered G.e.m.a. association, but would soon became opponent of the group and in 1976 charged some of its members including Kihika Kimani and Njenga Karume
Njenga Karume
- Business :Karume holds diploma in business management from Jeans School . While Kenya was still under colonial rule, he formed a wholesale shop on Grogan Road in Nairobi. It was one of the few shops in Kenya operated by indigenous people.Later he operated the Nararashi Distributors, who...
with treason - the order was soon turned down by the president Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
. He held the Attorney General's post until 1979. The same year he was elected Member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Kikuyu Constituency
Kikuyu Constituency
Kikuyu Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Kiambu District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections. From 1988 elections to 2002 elections it was known as Kabete Constituency....
and in 1980 he was appointed Minister of Constitutional Affairs in the government of Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
. In 1983 he was forced to resign, and left public life after a judicial inquiry concluded he had abused his office amid allegations that he was trying to take over the presidency from Moi. In the early 80's he was the chairman of East African Wildlife Society
East African Wildlife Society
' is a membership-based non governmental conservation organization. It was founded in 1961 following the amalgamation of the Wildlife Societies of Kenya and Tanzania ....
.
In 1998 he returned to public life, and was appointed chairman of Kenya Wildlife Service
Kenya Wildlife Service
The Kenya Wildlife Service, otherwise known by the initialism KWS, is a Kenyan state corporation that was established in 1990 to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife...
. In October 2006 there were reports that Njonjo was making a comeback in Kenyan politics, including his show of support for Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga
Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
.
Njonjo has a reputation for snobbery. He is ironically nicknamed "Sir Charles" or "Duke of Kabeteshire", and it is rumored that while at Alliance High School, he rode to school on horse back at the start and close of school terms, escorted by Tribal Police, and that he was the only African who lived in the exclusive whites-only Muthaiga suburb prior to independence. There are widespread allegations that Njonjo has made statements that he is ashamed of being a Kikuyu, that he cannot shake hands with a Luo
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)
The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. They are part of a larger group of ethnolinguistically related Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, northern and eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania.The Luo are the third largest...
, and that he cannot entrust his safety to an African pilot, and although many such allegations may be conjecture, they have earned him a reputation as the epitome of snobbery in Kenya.