Ngina Kenyatta
Encyclopedia
Ngina Kenyatta popularly known as "Mama Ngina", is the widow of Kenya
's first president, Jomo Kenyatta
(1894-1978). She is described by Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki as a kind and welcoming lady.
She was born Ngina Muhoho, daughter of Chief Muhoho wa Gathecha, Kiambu District, Central Province. She married Jomo Kenyatta as his third wife in 1951, a union characterized as a "gift" to Kenyatta from his ethnic group, the Kikuyu. This became her reference as the "mother of the nation", becoming Mama Ngina Kenyatta, independent Kenya's glamorous First Lady
when Kenyatta became President in 1963. She often accompanied him in public, and had some streets in Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as a Children's Home, named after her. In 1965, she became patron of Kenyan Guiding
.
In the 1970s, she and other high-level government officials were allegedly involved in an ivory-smuggling ring
which transported tusks out of the country in the state private airliner. A May 1975 edition of New Scientist
cited her as one of Kenya's "ivory queens" but also asserted they could not be completely certain that these claims were true. However, New Scientist claimed that there was now documentary proof that at least one member of Kenya's royal family had shipped over six tons of ivory to Red China.
Mama Ngina became a Roman Catholic, and was known to attend Mass every Sunday in the Catholic mission with some of their children. She also became one of the richest individuals in Kenya, owning plantations, ranches, and hotels. She currently leads a quiet life in Kenya as a wealthy widow.
(born 1961), Anna Nyokabi (also known as Jeni or "Jane") and Muhoho Kenyatta (born 1964). Her only son, nicknamed Uhuru, the senior Kenyatta's political heir, unsuccessfully ran for president as President Moi's preferred successor in 2002 and is today the Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance. Muhoho Kenyatta runs the family's vast business but lives out of the public limelight. During Jomo Kenyatta's exile at Lodwar and Maralal, Ngina stayed with him, as did their daughters, Jane and Wamboi. Mama Ngina is step-mother to Kenyatta's other three children, two by his first wife and one by the second.
Monsignor George Muhoho, Roman Catholic chaplain at University of Nairobi
is one of her brothers.
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...
's first 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....
(1894-1978). She is described by Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki as a kind and welcoming lady.
She was born Ngina Muhoho, daughter of Chief Muhoho wa Gathecha, Kiambu District, Central Province. She married Jomo Kenyatta as his third wife in 1951, a union characterized as a "gift" to Kenyatta from his ethnic group, the Kikuyu. This became her reference as the "mother of the nation", becoming Mama Ngina Kenyatta, independent Kenya's glamorous First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
when Kenyatta became President in 1963. She often accompanied him in public, and had some streets in Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as a Children's Home, named after her. In 1965, she became patron of Kenyan Guiding
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
.
In the 1970s, she and other high-level government officials were allegedly involved in an ivory-smuggling ring
Elephant hunting in Kenya
Elephant hunting or elephant poaching and exploitation of the ivory trade are illegal in Kenya but pose a major threat to elephant populations. In the 1970s, 1900 elephants were killed in Kenya for their ivory tusks, increasing to 8300 elephants in the 1980s...
which transported tusks out of the country in the state private airliner. A May 1975 edition of New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
cited her as one of Kenya's "ivory queens" but also asserted they could not be completely certain that these claims were true. However, New Scientist claimed that there was now documentary proof that at least one member of Kenya's royal family had shipped over six tons of ivory to Red China.
Mama Ngina became a Roman Catholic, and was known to attend Mass every Sunday in the Catholic mission with some of their children. She also became one of the richest individuals in Kenya, owning plantations, ranches, and hotels. She currently leads a quiet life in Kenya as a wealthy widow.
Family
She bore Kenyatta four children: Kristina Wamboi (born 1952), Uhuru Muigai KenyattaUhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and MP for Gatundu South Constituency. He is the Chairman of Kenya African National Union , the former ruling party, which is currently part of the Party of National Unity...
(born 1961), Anna Nyokabi (also known as Jeni or "Jane") and Muhoho Kenyatta (born 1964). Her only son, nicknamed Uhuru, the senior Kenyatta's political heir, unsuccessfully ran for president as President Moi's preferred successor in 2002 and is today the Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance. Muhoho Kenyatta runs the family's vast business but lives out of the public limelight. During Jomo Kenyatta's exile at Lodwar and Maralal, Ngina stayed with him, as did their daughters, Jane and Wamboi. Mama Ngina is step-mother to Kenyatta's other three children, two by his first wife and one by the second.
Monsignor George Muhoho, Roman Catholic chaplain at University of Nairobi
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
is one of her brothers.