Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, 40 years later

The late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta takes oath of office as Prime Minister. Kanu won 83 seats out. Photo/Courtesy
I was not born when the Founding father and first President of this great republic Kenya passed away on August 22, 1978.
However as an avid reader of history and politics i have over time learnt of the kind of man he was, both as a leader and a family man.
Forty years after his demise, the memories and dreams of the late President live o.



A visionary leader
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta passed away in State House Mombasa at 3am according to one Lee Njiru who was Secretary to former President Daniel Moi.
However his passing away was made minutes to noon and left the nation shaken to the core.
After the announcement, final plans for his burial commenced as the finer details had been planned ten years prior his demise by the then Attorney General Charles Njonjo.
Jommo, or as was named Kamau was mourned by countries over as an Independent Hero who had helped drive the nation from a colony to a republic.
Kenyatta, the father to the current President Uhuru Kenyatta became president in 1964, a year after becoming Prime Minister in the independent Kenyatta and was on throne until his death in 1978.

Nyama Choma lover
In veteran journalist Kamau Ngotho in his memoirs, former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda says  during his visits to Kenya, Kenyatta would order 20 goats for his guests to be flown to his farm in Zambia to have enough supply.

'Village boy'
In an interview of President Uhuru Kenyatta while he was Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru said his father loved life in the village and he would travel back to their rural home in Gatundu after a days's work at State House.
He goes father to explain how they never lived in Nairobi until after the demise of the first Prime Minister Kenya ever had.

One of the most loved leaders Kenyans had
Because of his love for the nation, Kenyatta was loved more than he was hated.
After his death, his body was viewed by a record 500,000 people in pone day after it was flown to the city and then his Gatundu home.
Kenyans from across spent the whole week mourning the sudden loss of the man they visioned as their God sent hero.
Tanzania announced seven days of mourning. Fourty Ugandans flew in for the funeral. Among the African presidents were Julius Nyerere, Idi Amin, Siaka Stevens, William Tolbert and Kenneth Kaunda who brought with him Zimbabwean freedom fighter Joshua Nkomo.

Rest in peace Founding father

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