#HistoryKeThread: Ronald Gideon Ngala 
On Christmas Day in 1972, the country was shocked to learn of the death via a road crash of the Minister for Power and Communications, Hon. Ronald Gideon Ngala.
Mr. Ngala had thirteen days earlier, on 12th December 1972, been involved in a road accident near Konza. His official car rolled as he was being driven to Mombasa from Nairobi following festivities to mark Jamhuri Day.
For two weeks at the Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was admitted, more than a dozen doctors including a neurosurgeon flown in from Canada fought to save him from his injuries. Despite the efforts, Mr. Ngala succumbed to his injuries on Christmas Day.
A 1973 inquest that was launched to probe the minister’s death exonerated his driver, Mr. Elijah Nyenze, who survived the accident. The inquest was presided over by the Nairobi Resident Magistrate at the time, a Mr. S.K. Sachdeva.
Mr. Nyenze claimed that he lost control after a swarm of bees entered the vehicle. Yet another witness said that the car rolled after ploughing into wildebeests that were crossing the road.
More recently in 2010, the family sought - through a petition to then Commissioner of Police David Kimaiyo - to have authorities investigate afresh the circumstances surrounding the accident.
I do not know what became of this plea.
I do not know what became of this plea.
Mr. Ngala died at the prime of his age and was considered, like his fellow Giriama politician Karisa Maitha decades later, to be coast province’s senior-most politician.
Prior to joining politics, Mr. Ngala was a teacher, a stint he served after completing his studies at Makerere University in 1946.
He taught Mathematics, English, Geography and Religion at Buxton High School, Mombasa. Six years later, he rose to become head teacher at the school.
In 1955, he undertook further studies at Redland College in England. He returned in 1957, which was the year when he plunged himself into politics.
The son of a Kilifi carpenter, Mr. Ngala was a man of several firsts.
The son of a Kilifi carpenter, Mr. Ngala was a man of several firsts.
In 1957, he was one of the first Africans elected to the LegCo - Legislative Council. Indeed, his trademark beaded hat was adopted by other local leaders, becoming something of a symbol of African nationalism in those pre-independence years.
He was also the founder of Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), which touted itself as being the voice of pastoralist tribes. By virtue of being KADU leader, he became in 1961 Leader of Government Business, the highest political office than an African could hold in those years.
As Chief Minister in the minority government, he led other pro-majimbo KADU politicians such as Daniel arap Moi, Masinde Muliro and Justus ole Tipis to the Lancaster House independence conference in London.
After Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s KANU party swept majority seats during the general elections of 1963, KADU leaders the following year resolved to merge with the winning party. And that’s how Ronald Ngala, Tipis and Moi, among others, joined Mzee Kenyatta’s nascent government.
Said Mr. Ngala - seen here flanked by Mzee Kenyatta and Colonial Secretary Duncan Sandys in March, 1963:
“This is one of the times when we must be prepared to sacrifice our political dignity for the sake of peace and harmony of Kenya...
....I have decided to take KADU into the government to strengthen the national front and speak with one voice...”
....I have decided to take KADU into the government to strengthen the national front and speak with one voice...”
One of Mr. Ngala’s sons, Noah Katana Ngala, served for several years in former President Moi’s cabinet.
This is a photo of Mr. Ngala’s mausoleum (right) in Kilifi.
Image credits: AfricaMedia24, Daily Nation and The Standard.
