When founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s health was flagging, he at one day 46 years ago introduced his two members of Cabinet as his father and mother to the shock and embarrassment of government officials present.
In his last days Kenyatta was neglected and close allies pushed him to continue with meetings and rallies.
Lee Njiru, former Press Secretary for late President Daniel arap Moi and who worked closely with Kenyatta recalled how the first President’s incapacitation was not sudden but a gradual process and anybody who cared should have noticed.
The day he introduced the two state officials as his parents was in early 1978 in Nakuru State Lounge, months before his death.
That day he was receiving credentials from foreign envoys brought by then Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Kassim Bakari Mwamzandi.
After welcoming the diplomats Kenyatta introduced Minister of State in Office of the President and brother-in-law Mbiyu Koinange and Mwamzandi thus: “This is my father and mother”.
It was such an embarrassing moment that left the envoys confused and astonished.
His fading health was an open secret. He lost memory and was incoherent.
A leader known for his powerful speeches concluded with “Harambee” or “Thank You”, his last speech at Mombasa Show opening was confusing and he oddly ended it with “Amen”.
Hour before his death, Kenyatta was in Mombasa and was scheduled to travel to Msambweni but he collapsed in the toilet.
Allies close to him including Mbiyu Koinange, State House Comptroller Alexander Gitau and Provincial Commissioner Eliud Mahihu overlooked the incident and failed to get medical care for Mzee.
“After Mzee collapsed, a senior member of administration had the callousness to ask him to say “Harambee” …after Kenyatta was take to State House and the customary night entertainment programme cancelled, Mbiyu boarded a plane and left for Nairobi” Njiru said in an article.
He passed away on August 22, 1978 from the heart complications he developed in 1960s.
