Michael Mundia Kamau 

P.O. Box 58972 00200 City Square 

Nairobi Kenya

 13th December 2003 

SIR CHARLES 

It was extremely moving to see former Kenyan Attorney General Charles Mugane Njonjo seated with members of the public at the 40th anniversary of Kenya's independence marked on 12th December 2003. It is simply unbelievable that "Sir Charles" ( Charles Njonjo's local nickname for several years ), can be so honourable and down to earth, and I at first thought it was another prank by local comedian Walter Mongare of Nairobi's Kiss 100. Of all the notable public figures in Kenya, Njonjo certainly ranks as the least expected to have chosen to be with the people at such an auspicious occasion. What's more, Njonjo has not fallen on hard times, which is when fallen Kenyan giants choose to mingle with lesser mortals.

More than anything during the contentious twelve day celebrations, the manner in which Njonjo chose to attend the climax of the celebrations, ranks as the highlight. For many years Njonjo has been regarded as the epitome of snobbery in Kenya. The son of former colonial chief Josiah Njonjo, Charles Njonjo is amongst a very small pocket of older generation Kenyans who belong to royalty, other notables being the Awori family, the Koinange family and the Waruhiu family. Legend has it that Charles Njonjo rode on horse back at the start and close of school terms during his student days at Alliance High School, escorted by Tribal Police (TP), today's Administration Police (AP). This was during the height of colonialism and gives one a clear indication of Njonjo's background. It is also said that Charles Njonjo is the only African who stayed in the exclusive whites-only Muthaiga suburb prior to independence.

After independence in 1963, Njonjo was appointed Attorney General and quickly distinguished himself as a no nonsense albeit effective and efficient bureaucrat and technocrat. A ruthless operative, Njonjo also firmly established himself as the de facto patron and protector of the White and Asian communities in Kenya, and got married to a white along the way. Njonjo was a feared man and it only took the mention of his name to settle a score for the two communities. Njonjo has also been the face of exclusivity over the years. He is only known to patronise exclusive establishments such as the Muthaiga Country Club, and patronise high profile events such as dog shows organised by the exclusive East African Kennel Club. At the time of the 1984 Njonjo commission of inquiry into his conduct, it was alleged that Njonjo even imported his fruits and water directly from the United Kingdom. These allegations were not hard to believe because it is also at this time that it emerged that Njonjo's trademark pinstripe suits were custom made with his initials "CN".

To his credit though, Charles Njonjo has always advocated for standards. On his resignation as Attorney General in 1980, and subsequent election as member of parliament for Kikuyu constituency, Njonjo pushed for parliamentarians to build stature and credibility, and shun direct enagagement in activities such as owning and running kiosks. Njonjo's feeling was that parliamentarians focus their energies on bigger ventures.

It is against this background that one is shocked by Njonjo's humble attendance at this year's Independence day celebrations. Njonjo's presence in the crowd personified the very virtues and significance of this day and overshadowed all else. As everybody madly races to be like Njonjo, Njonjo is sending a message that this country needs not just change, but a rebirth. Why else would Njonjo do something he has not done for the last eighty years ?

A rebirth in every sense of the word is what indeed Kenya needs. Sitting together genuinely and approaching the problems facing this country as Njonjo did, is the only way we can ever hope to overcome our problems. The humility shown by Charles Njonjo on 12th December 2003 is the central and lacking ingredient in this nation's plight. One year ago on 30th December 2002, Kenyans assembled at Uhuru park for the swearing in of president-elect Mwai Kibaki at a sham ceremony where diplomats and other distinguished guests were left standing as numerous non deserving locals perched themselves on reserved seats. The leading luminaries of the victorious National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), were not able to contain this despicable behaviour, try as they did. Nothing personifies the low and trivial levels that this country has sunk to more than this. This disturbing trend cannot be reversed by grand speeches and grand declarations, but by action. Charles Mugane Njonjo clearly displayed this action on 12th December 2003.

Michael Mundia Kamau