1. Charles Mugane Njonjo was a Kenyan lawyer who served as Attorney General of Kenya from 1963 to 1979, Minister of Constitutional Affairs and the member of Parliament for Kikuyu Constituency from 1980 to 1983.
27 Facts About Charles Njonjo
1. 2.
Charles Njonjo was the son of the late Josiah Charles Njonjo, a paramount chief and one of the foremost collaborators of British colonial rule in Kenya.
3.
The Njonjo family were close friends of Harry Leakey, whose son and paternal grandson later played important roles in archaeology and Kenyan politics.
4.
Charles Njonjo graduated in 1946 and returned to Kenya but had the burning ambition to study Law and be called to the Bar.
5.
Charles Njonjo accepted the scholarship and moved to England in 1947.
6.
Charles Njonjo completed his studies in 1949 but rather than returning to Kenya, he began studying Law with the view of being called to the Bar at Gray's Inn.
7.
Charles Njonjo was asked to move out of 36 Great Cumberland Place which housed Kenyan students and visiting dignitaries in London.
8.
Charles Njonjo met a friendly Welshman named Elwyn Jones who was a London solicitor.
9.
Charles Njonjo took him in to train in his chambers.
10.
Charles Njonjo worked there until he was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1952.
11.
Charles Njonjo served as the first ethnic African Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Kenya High School.
12.
Charles Njonjo worked in London for two years and returned to Kenya at the end of 1954.
13.
Charles Njonjo then went into the State Law Office and on 1 March 1955 he was appointed Assistant Registrar General.
14.
Charles Njonjo stayed there for five years with his offices based at the Legal Mansion on Fort Jesus Road.
15.
Charles Njonjo become Attorney General in Independent Kenya under President Jomo Kenyatta.
16.
In 1976, during a period of tense relations between Kenya and Uganda, Charles Njonjo took part in secret negotiations with Israel that proved instrumental in the success of the Israeli military's Operation Entebbe.
17.
Charles Njonjo entered into parliament in April 1980 after retiring as attorney general at the age of 60, a post in which he had served for 17 years.
18.
Charles Njonjo had considered politics for over a decade but hesitated due to lack of a popular base.
19.
Charles Njonjo was elected MP for Kikuyu unchallenged, after the incumbent MP had resigned his seat the day before Njonjo announced his candidacy.
20.
Charles Njonjo was dragged through a judicial inquiry, which concluded that he had abused office, and had tried to take over power from Moi.
21.
Charles Njonjo was forced to resign, effectively destroying his political career.
22.
In October 2006 there were indications that Charles Njonjo was attempting a comeback in Kenyan politics, including his show of support for Raila Odinga.
23.
In 1972, Charles Njonjo married Margaret Bryson, with whom he had three children, Elizabeth Wairimu, Mary Wambui, and Josiah Charles Njonjo.
24.
Charles Njonjo was 51 at the time of his wedding, having passed off many chances to marry earlier.
25.
Charles Njonjo had been the best man of his close friend Tom Mboya, who married Pamela Odede at St Peter Claver's Catholic Church in January 1962.
26.
Charles Njonjo owned interests in high-profile financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies.
27.
Charles Njonjo turned 100 on 23 January 2020, and died of pneumonia, at age 101, on 2 January 2022 at his residence in Old Muthaiga.