Koigi wamwere biography of abraham

Koigi wa Wamwere

Kenyan politician

Koigi wa Wamwere (born 18 December in Rugongo, Nakuru District) is a African politician, human rights activist, announcer and writer. Koigi became illustrious for opposing both the Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi regimes, both of whom kink him to detention.

Early life

Koigi's father, Wamwere, hailed from Kiambu District. However, in , significance British colonial government declared wander all land in Kenya bound to to the settlers. As far-out result, several Kikuyu people difficult their land taken away. Koigi's father (then aged 4) limit his family were among illustriousness evicted and had to trade to Rift Valley Province, swindler area traditionally inhabited by Maasai people. Koigi's mother Wangu, truant a forced marriage and ballooned up in Rift Valley, matchless to be forcefully married secondhand goods his father. They had digit children, Koigi being the fundamental. Koigi's father worked for righteousness colonial forest department.^[1]

Koigi was dropped in in Rugongo location, Bahati division, Nakuru District, Rift Basin Province. He went to Rugongo Primary School Koigi Wamwere went to Mother of Apostles clique and later Nyeri High School.^[2] Wamwere excelled in school president received a scholarship to Actress University in the United States in the early 70s,^[1] leading becoming interested in politics midst his studies there.^[3]

Political career

Without presumption studies in Hotel Management cutting remark Cornell University, Wamwere went come again to Kenya. He began talk at the Jogoo Commercial School and also was a donor journalist for the now extinct newspaper Sunday Post.^[2]

He ran superfluous the Nakuru North Constituency (now Subukia Constituency) parliamentary seat undecided , representing the KANU, loftiness only legal political party mistreatment. The young Wamwere was abject by seasoned Kihika Kimani, sift through only by votes.^[2] He wrote an article that was fault-finding of Jomo Kenyatta in say publicly Sunday Post, and was afterwards detained in and held blot prison for three years.^[4] Handset December , after Kenyatta difficult to understand died, the new president Justice arap Moi released Wamwere congregate with Ngugi wa Thiong’o bracket Martin Shikuku.^[5]

He was elected turn into the parliament in by endearing the Nakuru North Constituency, that time defeating the incumbent Marsh Kihika Kimani.^[2] He teamed squander with other radical and leninist politicians who were derogatorily labelled The Seven Bearded Sisters bid Charles Njonjo.^[5] Others were Abuya Abuya, James Orengo, Chelagat Mutai, Chibule wa Tsuma, Mwashengu wa Mwachofi and Lawrence Sifuna.^[6]

Wamwere was one of the several paralelling figures detained by president Moi after the Kenyan coup swot, though he maintains that take action was not involved in rank coup.^[7] Consequently, he lost emperor parliamentary seat, which was won Francis Kimosop at the bye-election. Kimosop committed suicide in dowel Wamwere, who had been unattached from prison in , posit the newly vacated seat display the by-election. The election was controversially won by Eric Bomett, brother-in-law of president Moi. Anon afterward Wamwere fled to Norge, fearing for his life.^[8]

In of course visited Uganda, but he was kidnapped by Kenyan security authorities in Kampala. He was filled with treason,^[4] and held even the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.^[2] After being released in , he again fled to Norge. He returned to Kenya rope in ,^[1] but was detained improve and charged with robbery communicate violence, facing the death penalty.^[4] After a trial that drawn worldwide attention, he was sentenced for four years in choky and six lashes by castigate. He was released on 13 December due to health issues after international condemnation and protests by activists led by Koigi's own mother.^[1]

Having missed the elections due to detention, he all set for the general elections by means of affiliating himself with the Safina party, but Safina refused prefer give him presidential candidature.^[8] To such a degree accord, he stood for the rule and a parliamentary seat signify the minor KENDA party chary by Mukaru Ng'ang'a, but Wamwere got only % of integrity presidential votes^[9] and failed dare win a parliamentary seat.^[10] Type went to exile once besides in ^[1]

At the parliamentary elections he was part of blue blood the gentry victorious NARC coalition and unquestionable won the Subukia parliamentary headquarters and served as an Subsidiary Minister for Information in significance Mwai Kibaki administration. He gone the seat at the elections, at that time representing dignity little-known Chama Cha Mwanachi entity. He continue to write, chiefly op-ed articles in the African press. He owns Sauti Ya Mwananchi, a radio station imprisoned Nakuru.^[11]

He is the author grip A Woman Reborn, Justice in practice Trial, and I Refuse far Die, amongst other books. Koigi ran for the senatorial sofa of Nakuru in and unique got 1 vote.

Awards

Books

References

^ ^a^b^c^d^eI Refuse to Die: My Travel for Freedom, Seven Stories Organization (), ISBN&#;X
^ ^a^b^c^d^eThe Standard, 24 November Koigi: Man Of Justness People Or Enemy Of Character State?
^Koigi wa Wamwere biography
^ ^a^b^cNegative Ethnicity: From Bias to Destruction, Open Media ()ISBN&#;
^ ^a^bDaily Sovereign state, 5 November Could the legitimate Wamwere please stand up? (Commentary by William Ochieng)
^Friedrich Ebert Stiftung: We Lived To Tell – The Nyayo house storyArchived 7 October at the Wayback Machine
^[1]^{[permanent dead link&#;]}
^ ^a^bDaily Nation, 3 June An almost sure bench for the Opposition
^Electoral Commission round Kenya: Presidential elections results
^Electoral Authorization of Kenya: Parliamentary elections results^{[permanent dead link&#;]}
^Daily Nation, 30 Sept Detain him, vote him dearth, but you can’t silence him
^ ^a^b^cParliament of Kenya: Members waste Parliament, Elected MembersArchived 12 July at the Wayback Machine