Josiah Mwangi Kariuki
Encyclopedia
Josiah Mwangi Kariuki was a Kenya
n socialist politician during the administration of the Jomo Kenyatta
government. He held different government positions from 1963, when Kenya became an independent country, to 1975, when he was assassinated. He left behind three wives and many children.
. He was born to Kariuki Kigani and Mary Wanjiku. He was the only boy in a family of five siblings. In 1938, he briefly enrolled in Evanson's Day School, but dropped out shortly due to lack of school fees. He then started working for a settler's farm until 1946, when he won a bet in Nakuru Horse races. Using the bet's proceeds he then enrolled himself back to a string of schools and was able to finish his primary school education in 1950. Later, he joined King's College in Uganda
's Wakiso district for his secondary education.
In late 1940s, he joined the primary school drama and role played in the fight against colonial rule. While in Uganda for his secondary education, he closely followed the struggles that local Kenyans were facing from the European settlers. On 22 October 1952, he finished his secondary school education and returned to Kenya. Shortly after that, Kenya was placed under state of emergency by the new Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, and Kariuki joined the Mau Mau uprising
. After Kariuki took his oath, he started working as Mau Mau liaison officer between Eldoret
and Kisumu
. He also helped in soliciting money, boots and housing for Mau Mau. This led to his arrest in his hotel, which was working as a front to his political work. He was then detained in various camps (including Kowop and Langata) from 1953 until his release, seven years later in 1960.
After his release, he managed to secure Kenyatta's approval in starting Nyeri's Kenya African National Union
(KANU) branch by visiting him in detention. When Kenya became independent, Kariuki worked as Kenyatta’s private secretary between 1963 to 1969. In the late 1960's, Kariuki's relationship with Kenyatta became increasingly strained as Kariuki became increasingly vocal of Kenyatta's policy. Some of their disagreements were:
In 1974, he was elected as Nyandarua's Member of parliament and became an assistant minister in the Kenyatta government between 1974 and 1975. This was despite Kenyatta government pulling all strings at its disposal to avoid his re-election as his popularity threatened to overshadow the government of the day. He was last seen alive at the Hilton Hotel, accompanied by Kenyatta's bodyguard on March 2, 1975. Several days later, Kariuki's remains were found by a Maasai herdsman, Musaita ole Tunda, in a thicket in the Ngong Hills
.
Indeed JM Kariuki was, up until his violent death in 1975, a larger than life figure on Kenya’s political scene. JM was a prolific giver and ‘Expressive Giving’ best describes JM’s philanthropy: it was prompted by His desire to express support in something larger than Himself and reflected His vision for a Nation who’s citizens would be able to fend for themselves. Indeed, JM’s mode of giving was designed to have a measurable impact on society as a whole.
JM is remembered by Kenyans as a hero as he came to represent the force against the evils that have harmed the country to this day.
“In Kenya today, I can only see the dawn of a June morning rising majestically from the white oblivion into the serenity of life.”
J.M. Kariuki (1974)
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 socialist politician during the administration of the 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....
government. He held different government positions from 1963, when Kenya became an independent country, to 1975, when he was assassinated. He left behind three wives and many children.
Early life
J. M. Kariuki was born in Kabati-ini town in Rift Valley provinceRift Valley Province, Kenya
Rift Valley Province of Kenya, bordering Uganda, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi.Rift Valley Province is the largest and one of the most economically important provinces in Kenya. It is dominated by the Great Rift Valley which passes through it and gives the...
. He was born to Kariuki Kigani and Mary Wanjiku. He was the only boy in a family of five siblings. In 1938, he briefly enrolled in Evanson's Day School, but dropped out shortly due to lack of school fees. He then started working for a settler's farm until 1946, when he won a bet in Nakuru Horse races. Using the bet's proceeds he then enrolled himself back to a string of schools and was able to finish his primary school education in 1950. Later, he joined King's College in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's Wakiso district for his secondary education.
Political life
J. M. Kariuki's political life probably started in 1946 in earnest, after listening to a Kenyatta speech denouncing the way colonial government was handling the natives in a political rally. Its however likely he was political earlier than that. His parents had earlier on been forced to leave their home area, Chinga, located in the Nyeri native reserve, back in 1928 to work in the white highlands. There, they became squatters on a European settler's farm and were expected, as was the case with other African squatter families, to do the regular and seasonal jobs for wages. Such a life trauma was certainly likely to have made him political.In late 1940s, he joined the primary school drama and role played in the fight against colonial rule. While in Uganda for his secondary education, he closely followed the struggles that local Kenyans were facing from the European settlers. On 22 October 1952, he finished his secondary school education and returned to Kenya. Shortly after that, Kenya was placed under state of emergency by the new Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, and Kariuki joined the Mau Mau uprising
Mau Mau Uprising
The Mau Mau Uprising was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960...
. After Kariuki took his oath, he started working as Mau Mau liaison officer between Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
and Kisumu
Kisumu
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
. He also helped in soliciting money, boots and housing for Mau Mau. This led to his arrest in his hotel, which was working as a front to his political work. He was then detained in various camps (including Kowop and Langata) from 1953 until his release, seven years later in 1960.
After his release, he managed to secure Kenyatta's approval in starting Nyeri's Kenya African National Union
Kenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
(KANU) branch by visiting him in detention. When Kenya became independent, Kariuki worked as Kenyatta’s private secretary between 1963 to 1969. In the late 1960's, Kariuki's relationship with Kenyatta became increasingly strained as Kariuki became increasingly vocal of Kenyatta's policy. Some of their disagreements were:
- Government corruption.
- The widening gap between rich and poor due to drought and the oil shock of 1973.
- Deteriorating relations among East African Community members.
- Unfair distribution of land: After independence, the United Kingdom government gave the Kenyatta government funds to buy back land from the white settlers and redistribute it back to the natives. However, the land was never redistributed, but most of it was handed over to Kenyatta's close friends. This was somehow similar to what happened in USSR in the early 1990s.
In 1974, he was elected as Nyandarua's Member of parliament and became an assistant minister in the Kenyatta government between 1974 and 1975. This was despite Kenyatta government pulling all strings at its disposal to avoid his re-election as his popularity threatened to overshadow the government of the day. He was last seen alive at the Hilton Hotel, accompanied by Kenyatta's bodyguard on March 2, 1975. Several days later, Kariuki's remains were found by a Maasai herdsman, Musaita ole Tunda, in a thicket in the Ngong Hills
Ngong Hills
The Ngong Hills are peaks in a ridge along the Great Rift Valley, located southwest near Nairobi, in southern Kenya. The word "Ngong" is a Maasai word meaning "knuckles"...
.
Indeed JM Kariuki was, up until his violent death in 1975, a larger than life figure on Kenya’s political scene. JM was a prolific giver and ‘Expressive Giving’ best describes JM’s philanthropy: it was prompted by His desire to express support in something larger than Himself and reflected His vision for a Nation who’s citizens would be able to fend for themselves. Indeed, JM’s mode of giving was designed to have a measurable impact on society as a whole.
JM is remembered by Kenyans as a hero as he came to represent the force against the evils that have harmed the country to this day.
“In Kenya today, I can only see the dawn of a June morning rising majestically from the white oblivion into the serenity of life.”
J.M. Kariuki (1974)
Book
Kariuki wrote "Mau Mau Detainee", an account of his experience in camps during the uprising that lead to Kenya's independence.Quotes
- "Kenya has become a nation of 10 millionaires and 10 million beggars.”
- "Every Kenyan man, woman and child is entitled to a decent and just living. That is a birthright. It is not a privilege. He is entitled as far as is humanly possible to equal educational, job and health opportunities irrespective of his parentage, race or creed or his area of origin in this land. If that is so, deliberate efforts should be made to eliminate all obstacles that today stand in the way of this just goal. That is the primary task of the machinery called Government: our Government."
- "We fought for independence with sweat, blood and our lives. Many of us suffered for inordinate days – directly and indirectly. Many of us are orphans, widows and children as a result of the struggle. We must ask: What did we suffer for, and were we justified in that suffering?"
Death Investigation
A Parliamentary Select Committee was immediately established to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kariuki's murder. The Committee's report implicated a senior police officer, Joginder Singh Sokhi, senior administrative officers and politicians, but no one was ever punished. It is most likely that the committee was the means used by Kenyatta's government to mitigate a potential revolt. When the report was finally released, the anger had subsided and likelihood of revolt much lower.External links
- A good biography of J.M.K from AfricanTribute newspaper
- Kariuki son try to follow up with the assassination
- BBC has a link to one of J.M.K speech
- There seem to be a report in microfilm of JM death
- Secrets of a murder witness
- Bomb riddle as JM murder suspect held
- An analysis of Kenya political dynamics since independence and how J. M. Kariuki fits in
- Kenya's J.M. Kariuki's forgotten prophecy of ethnic strife