Written By Gerald Gekara | |
Pneumonia claimed the life of Sir Charles Njonjo, the last surviving member of the independence Cabinet.
He was 101 years old at the time.
The Duke of Kabeteshire, according to his son-in-law Carey Ngini, has been ill since 2020, due to old age.
“He’d been battling one ailment or another for the past year and a half, quite well despite his age,” Ngini said at the Kariokor, where Njonjo’s remains were cremated three hours after he died at his Muthaiga home at 5 a.m. on Sunday.
According to the family, the cremation was carried out in accordance with his wishes.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who led Kenyans in mourning Njonjo, the country’s final member of the independence Cabinet, characterized him as a “selfless leader” who dedicated his life to serving the country.
“The death of Hon. Njonjo is a great loss not only to his immediate family, friends, and relatives but to all Kenyans and indeed, the entire African continent because of his pivotal role in the foundation of the Kenyan country at independence,” President Kenyatta said in a statement from State House.
Deputy President William Ruto said
“Njonko devoted his life in serving our country in pre-and post-independent Kenya as a civil servant, Attorney-General, Kikuyu MP and Constitutional Affairs Minister. He was knowledgeable, blunt and a dedicated advocate for the causes he believed in.”
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was a close friend to Njonjo, mourned him as a ‘towering giant’.
“Mama Ida and I have received with shock and heavy hearts news of the passing of my long-time friend Charles Njonjo. As a nation, we have lost a towering giant who served in key roles during his life,” Odinga said in a tweet.
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