Posts

Showing posts from January, 2023

Dawson Mwanyumba, the first Coast minister in Jomo independence cabinet

Image
     He was among the pioneer Coastal politicians and a no- nonsense leader, sharp in his ideas as he was fast with his fists. In fact the only politician who could have matched Dawson Mwanyumba in those days was Paul Ngei who had also earned notoriety for spoiling for fights with those he disagreed with.     Mwanyumba made history as the only minister from Coast region in Jomo Kenytta’s first cabinet.    As minister for power and communications, he oversaw the ambitious expansion of the country’s electric power generating capacity in the 1960s, including the building of the 150 megawatt Kindaruma power station.    Undocumented reports say that at one time Mwanyumba locked horns with a leader in the provincial administration who was said to be at the beck and call of Kenyatta.    Mwanyumba was reportedly summoned to State House Nairobi where it’s said Kenyatta literally caned him till the minister cried out like a baby.   ...