The provincial administration was for decades, the long arm of the govt.
Provincial Commissioners, District Commissioners and District Officers were little tin gods that lorded over the masses with some ascending to great power and untold riches.
1/
--a history thread--
Provincial Commissioners, District Commissioners and District Officers were little tin gods that lorded over the masses with some ascending to great power and untold riches.
1/
--a history thread--
2/
Some of the PCs, DCs and DOs that bestrode the land dressed in their khaki uniforms and pith helmets, were trained by T.J.F. Gavaghan...
...a brutal savage who invented the "dilution techniques" used in colonial detention camps.
nation.co.ke/lifestyle/1950…
Some of the PCs, DCs and DOs that bestrode the land dressed in their khaki uniforms and pith helmets, were trained by T.J.F. Gavaghan...
...a brutal savage who invented the "dilution techniques" used in colonial detention camps.
nation.co.ke/lifestyle/1950…
3/
Along with J Cowan, commissioner of prisons, Gavaghan, who was DO in charge of Rehabilitation at Mwea camp, perpetrated so much brutality that he was moved and placed in charge of training the colonial administration in 1961.
Along with J Cowan, commissioner of prisons, Gavaghan, who was DO in charge of Rehabilitation at Mwea camp, perpetrated so much brutality that he was moved and placed in charge of training the colonial administration in 1961.
4/
It was no coincidence, then, that at independence, the Under-secretary in charge of Provincial Administration was Jeremiah Kiereini.
Caroline Elkins in Britain's Gulag describes Kiereini as overseeing the torture of Kenya Land and Freedom Army suspects in detention camps.
It was no coincidence, then, that at independence, the Under-secretary in charge of Provincial Administration was Jeremiah Kiereini.
Caroline Elkins in Britain's Gulag describes Kiereini as overseeing the torture of Kenya Land and Freedom Army suspects in detention camps.
5/
The Moi and Kenyatta regimes used the provincial administration to great effect, with Moi deploying them as returning officers at election time.
Voice of Kenya was even at times derisively referred to as the Voice of Provincial Commissioners (Hornsby)
newvision.co.ug/news/1285640/m…
The Moi and Kenyatta regimes used the provincial administration to great effect, with Moi deploying them as returning officers at election time.
Voice of Kenya was even at times derisively referred to as the Voice of Provincial Commissioners (Hornsby)
newvision.co.ug/news/1285640/m…
6/
One of the more sinister of the lot was Hezekiah 'Kalam Maduong' Oyugi, PC of Nyanza and later PS for internal security in the Moi government.
British detective Troon alleged that Oyugi was murdered in a London hospital in 1992 to silence him.
telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatfee…
One of the more sinister of the lot was Hezekiah 'Kalam Maduong' Oyugi, PC of Nyanza and later PS for internal security in the Moi government.
British detective Troon alleged that Oyugi was murdered in a London hospital in 1992 to silence him.
telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatfee…
7/
Believed to have masterminded Robert Ouko's gruesome murder, Oyugi was rumoured to have seen a vision where a goat warned him of an impending famine.
He alerted Moi who took action thereby averting disaster and endearing Oyugi to the president.
sde.co.ke/thenairobian/a…
Believed to have masterminded Robert Ouko's gruesome murder, Oyugi was rumoured to have seen a vision where a goat warned him of an impending famine.
He alerted Moi who took action thereby averting disaster and endearing Oyugi to the president.
sde.co.ke/thenairobian/a…
8/
Eliud Mahihu, a Kenyatta-era Coast PC gained notoriety early for overflying the forests during the emergency and announcing that the struggle was over in order to lure out freedom fighters.
Eliud Mahihu, a Kenyatta-era Coast PC gained notoriety early for overflying the forests during the emergency and announcing that the struggle was over in order to lure out freedom fighters.
9/
After 1963, he oversaw the allocation of beach plots when he was PC Coast Province and a close friend of Jomo Kenyatta.
Uhuru succeeded him as chairman of Kenya Tourism Board in 1999.
businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/5395…
After 1963, he oversaw the allocation of beach plots when he was PC Coast Province and a close friend of Jomo Kenyatta.
Uhuru succeeded him as chairman of Kenya Tourism Board in 1999.
businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/5395…
10/
Another graduate of the Gavaghan School of Leadership was Isaiah Mathenge, DC Homa Bay, PC Rift Valley and later MP in the Moi era.
As head of Kandongu detention camp, Mathenge was brutal to detainees.
Another graduate of the Gavaghan School of Leadership was Isaiah Mathenge, DC Homa Bay, PC Rift Valley and later MP in the Moi era.
As head of Kandongu detention camp, Mathenge was brutal to detainees.
11/
After independence and as a PC, Mathenge was said to have been the largest landowner in Nyeri County.
He lost his MP seat in 1997 and died in 2006.
On Land Ownership - file.wikileaks.org/file/kenya-who…
On his days as head of Kandongu Detention Camp - standardmedia.co.ke/article/114401…
After independence and as a PC, Mathenge was said to have been the largest landowner in Nyeri County.
He lost his MP seat in 1997 and died in 2006.
On Land Ownership - file.wikileaks.org/file/kenya-who…
On his days as head of Kandongu Detention Camp - standardmedia.co.ke/article/114401…
12/
Ishmael Chelanga, Rift Valley PC in the early 90s, was one of those accused of instigating the 1992 land clashes. He died in a helicopter crash in 2013.
csmonitor.com/1993/0927/2709…
Ishmael Chelanga, Rift Valley PC in the early 90s, was one of those accused of instigating the 1992 land clashes. He died in a helicopter crash in 2013.
csmonitor.com/1993/0927/2709…
13/
He was also involved in Mau forest allocations
"Mbugua who was then the Nakuru DC, he alleges, signed allotment cards while Chelanga issued the allotment letters."
Kinuthia Mbugua a former DC later became Nakuru Gov & is now State House Comptroller.
standardmedia.co.ke/article/114402…
He was also involved in Mau forest allocations
"Mbugua who was then the Nakuru DC, he alleges, signed allotment cards while Chelanga issued the allotment letters."
Kinuthia Mbugua a former DC later became Nakuru Gov & is now State House Comptroller.
standardmedia.co.ke/article/114402…
14/
Oxford educated John Godhard Mburu was the western province PC during the Kenyatta era.
A quiet insider, his name came up in 2014, 33 years after his death, over two land tussles: 134-acres Karen saga and the Sh10bn, 302-acre Kiambu land dispute.
businessdailyafrica.com/The-return-of-…
Oxford educated John Godhard Mburu was the western province PC during the Kenyatta era.
A quiet insider, his name came up in 2014, 33 years after his death, over two land tussles: 134-acres Karen saga and the Sh10bn, 302-acre Kiambu land dispute.
businessdailyafrica.com/The-return-of-…
15/
Mohamed Yusuf Haji, Garissa Senator and current chair of the BBI Team was a PC from 1970-1997. He headed up Rift Valley in the Moi govt. He is also the father to DPP Noordin Haji.
businessdailyafrica.com/lifestyle/prof…
Mohamed Yusuf Haji, Garissa Senator and current chair of the BBI Team was a PC from 1970-1997. He headed up Rift Valley in the Moi govt. He is also the father to DPP Noordin Haji.
businessdailyafrica.com/lifestyle/prof…
16/
Haji is mentioned in the Akiwumi Report on the Inquiry into Tribal Clashes
kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/C…
Haji is mentioned in the Akiwumi Report on the Inquiry into Tribal Clashes
kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/C…
17/
Zachary Ogongo, who died in 2015, served as Rift Valley PC during the infamous land clashes in the 1990s and was also Moi’s point man in Central Province at the height of agitation for multiparty politics.
He was one of the better ones.
businessdailyafrica.com/Zachary-Ogongo…
Zachary Ogongo, who died in 2015, served as Rift Valley PC during the infamous land clashes in the 1990s and was also Moi’s point man in Central Province at the height of agitation for multiparty politics.
He was one of the better ones.
businessdailyafrica.com/Zachary-Ogongo…
18/
Once christened Kenya's Loose Cannon by the BBC, Simeon Nyachae, son of Senior Chief Musa Nyandusi, was a DO in the colonial government, a PC in the Kenyatta govt, Chief Secretary under Moi and Minister for Energy, then Roads, under Kibaki.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/24…
Once christened Kenya's Loose Cannon by the BBC, Simeon Nyachae, son of Senior Chief Musa Nyandusi, was a DO in the colonial government, a PC in the Kenyatta govt, Chief Secretary under Moi and Minister for Energy, then Roads, under Kibaki.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/24…
19/
Zakayo Cheruiyot was a DO, then Deputy PC for the Rift Valley Province before becoming PS for Internal Security under President Moi.
He was once accused by the US of using govt machinery to protect recently captured genocidaire, Felicien Kabuga.
thetimes.co.uk/article/rwanda…
Zakayo Cheruiyot was a DO, then Deputy PC for the Rift Valley Province before becoming PS for Internal Security under President Moi.
He was once accused by the US of using govt machinery to protect recently captured genocidaire, Felicien Kabuga.
thetimes.co.uk/article/rwanda…
20/
John Njoroge Michuki son of Senior Chief Michuki wa Kagwi was DO Nyanza, the first African DC, PS Finance under Kenyatta, Assistant Minister Finance under Moi and Minister of Roads & Transport and later Environment, under Kibaki.
John Njoroge Michuki son of Senior Chief Michuki wa Kagwi was DO Nyanza, the first African DC, PS Finance under Kenyatta, Assistant Minister Finance under Moi and Minister of Roads & Transport and later Environment, under Kibaki.
21/
Senior Chief Koinange's son, Charles Karuga Koinange was Chief of Kiambaa in 1951, before rising to DC and later PC in Central and Eastern provinces.
When he died in 2004, he left behind a Sh5bn estate that was the source of many a court battle
mobile.nation.co.ke/news/Ex-PC-kin…
Senior Chief Koinange's son, Charles Karuga Koinange was Chief of Kiambaa in 1951, before rising to DC and later PC in Central and Eastern provinces.
When he died in 2004, he left behind a Sh5bn estate that was the source of many a court battle
mobile.nation.co.ke/news/Ex-PC-kin…
22/
Fred Waiganjo, long time Nairobi PC under president Moi was the son of Waiganjo wa Ndotono, a colonial-era tribal headman who was deported alongside Harry Thuku in 1922.
Fred Waiganjo, long time Nairobi PC under president Moi was the son of Waiganjo wa Ndotono, a colonial-era tribal headman who was deported alongside Harry Thuku in 1922.
23/
Wa Ndotono, Waiganjo's dad, had in 1947 helped raise funding for Dr Gikonyo Kiano to study in Philadelphia, US in 1947 Alongside Jesse Kariuki and James Beauttah of the Kikuyu Central Association
keywiki.org/Kenya_Airlift
Wa Ndotono, Waiganjo's dad, had in 1947 helped raise funding for Dr Gikonyo Kiano to study in Philadelphia, US in 1947 Alongside Jesse Kariuki and James Beauttah of the Kikuyu Central Association
keywiki.org/Kenya_Airlift
24/
Benson Kaaria was PC of North Eastern Province when the Wagalla and the forgotten Bulla Karatasi massacres took place in the 1980s.
African Uncensored has a detailed account of the events on this thread -
Benson Kaaria was PC of North Eastern Province when the Wagalla and the forgotten Bulla Karatasi massacres took place in the 1980s.
African Uncensored has a detailed account of the events on this thread -
25/
Other notable PCs include:
Isaiah Cheluget: Rift Valley
Joseph Kaguthi: Nyanza
Charles Murgor: Nyanza
Nicolas Mberia: Eastern
Francis Lekolol: Nairobi
Francis Sigei: Nairobi
Peter Raburu: Central
Timothy Sirma: Coast
David Musila: Central
Cyrus Maina: Nairobi
Other notable PCs include:
Isaiah Cheluget: Rift Valley
Joseph Kaguthi: Nyanza
Charles Murgor: Nyanza
Nicolas Mberia: Eastern
Francis Lekolol: Nairobi
Francis Sigei: Nairobi
Peter Raburu: Central
Timothy Sirma: Coast
David Musila: Central
Cyrus Maina: Nairobi
***Correction: The helicopter crash was on July 27, 1996
26/
Then there's the poster child, Total Man, Nicholas Biwott
Biwott served as a DO in Nkubu, Meru District from 1964 to 1965, before returning to the University of Melbourne in 1966
He was Moi's aide and right hand man, and feared by all and sundry...
nation.co.ke/kenya/news/pol…
Then there's the poster child, Total Man, Nicholas Biwott
Biwott served as a DO in Nkubu, Meru District from 1964 to 1965, before returning to the University of Melbourne in 1966
He was Moi's aide and right hand man, and feared by all and sundry...
nation.co.ke/kenya/news/pol…
7b/
Correction on Oyugi's career trajectory
Correction on Oyugi's career trajectory
7c/
He has been implicated in a conspiracy to grab land from a widow:
Former provincial administrators in the Kanu regime conspired to defraud a widow of 795 acres in Uasin Gishu county by pretending that the ranch had been marked for govt acquisition
businessdailyafrica.com/news/Former-PC…
He has been implicated in a conspiracy to grab land from a widow:
Former provincial administrators in the Kanu regime conspired to defraud a widow of 795 acres in Uasin Gishu county by pretending that the ranch had been marked for govt acquisition
businessdailyafrica.com/news/Former-PC…
