Charles Magane Njonjo, arguably one of Kenya’s richest men, is no stranger to political controversy.
A rebellion staged by a low ranking officer Senior Private Grade-I Hezekiah Ochuka lasted for about 6 hours before the disorganized group was overthrown by the Kenya Army.
After the coup which was staged in Nairobi, Moi decided to purge his party and the cabinet of figures he had established wanted him out of power.
Chief among them would be Njonjo, and powerful internal Security minister, G.G. Kariuki.
He was dragged through a judicial inquiry famously known as the Miller inquiry.
However, after a hard-fought battle pitted by lawyers William Deverell and Paul Muite, Charles Njonjo was found to have abused his office.
Some of the key witnesses against him was Raila Odinga.
For over two decades, Charles Mugane Njonjo was missing in action.
He neither identified with a political party nor made political statements.
At the sunset years of Moi’s regime, Njonjo returned to the public eye in 1998, when he was named Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Njonjo closed ranks with Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) post-referendum victory prayer rally at Uhuru Park.
This signaled an end to his beef with the ODM leader, assigning him a share of his monies for campaigns.
Despite reports that Njonjo never participated in any fund raisers, his influence was felt in his political affiliation.
He was key in whipping Central Kenya to support Raila’s 2007 presidential bid.
