By Prudence Minayo
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta has often been described as a charismatic leader. As Kenya’s founding father, he played a critical role in Kenya’s history. In the course of his life, he married four wives with Mama Ngina Kenyatta being the most famous one.
Mama Ngina Kenyatta got married to the founding father in 1957 at the age of 18, she was 47 years younger than him. She became known as Kenya’s first lady and is believed to be a powerful force to date.
Below are Jomo Kenyatta’s wives as compiled by WoK.
Grace Wahu
Grace Wahu was the first wife of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. She got married to the strongman in 1919 in a traditional ceremony while he was still known as Johnston Kamau. When she fell pregnant, the elders insisted that they get married before a magistrate. The couple officially married in 1922 in a civil ceremony. She had two children with the country’s first president, Muigai Kenyatta (born in 1922) and Margaret Wambui Kenyatta (born in 1928). Margaret worked as a teacher before joining politics and serving Nairobi as the mayor between 1970 to 1976. She was then appointed Kenya’s United States ambassador. Muigai, who served as assistant minister for Foreign Affairs, passed away in 1979 while Margaret passed away in 2017 at her home.
Wahu died in 2007 aged 110 years.
Edna Clarke
During World War II, Kenyatta lived in England. He escaped being recruited as a British soldier and instead worked as a farm laborer. Putting his magnificent brain to use, he also offered lectures at Workers Education Center where he met Edna Clarke, a teacher by profession. In the aftermath of the death of Edna’s parents, she found solace in Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. The couple became romantically involved and got married at Chanctonbury Registry Office in May 1942. Kenyatta left his family in 1945 and returned back to Kenya. The couple got divorced in 1946 but it is said they still kept in touch.
Peter Magana was the only child born out of this union. He worked with BBC for a number of years and lives a quiet life in London.
Edna passed away at the age of 86 in 1995.
Also Read: Lena Moi Biography: The Neglected Wife And Mother Of President Moi’s Eight Children Who Died Lonely
Grace Wanjiku
Grace Wanjiku was the daughter of Senior Chief Koinange and sister to Peter Mbiyu Koinange. Peter Mbiyu Koinange was a powerful minister in Jomo Kenyatta’s government and was believed to be one of Kenyatta’s most trusted friends.
Grace Wanjiku is said to have passed away in 1950 while giving birth to her only child Jane Wambui Gecaga. Jane is the mother of Soiya Gecaga, Nana Gecaga and Jomo Gecaga. Nana is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta International Convention Center while Jomo has worked as President Uhuru’s private secretary.
