HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 924061,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/924061/?format=api",
"text_counter": 450,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mwaura",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13129,
"legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
"slug": "isaac-mwaura"
},
"content": "COGNIZANT that under the Heroes Act, 2014, the state is obliged to confer recognition to the late statesman for his cardinal contributions to the political and economic growth of this country; FURTHER COGNIZANT that other patriotic Kenyans like Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Masinde Muliro, Dedan Kimathi and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga have been accorded such recognition; NOW THEREFORE, the Senate urges the National Government in remembrance of Matiba’s contribution to our Nation, to rename Murang’a University of Technology to Kenneth Matiba University of Technology. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are talking of a very distinguished Kenyan who served this august House for about three or so terms. Hon. Kenneth Matiba was born on 1st June, 1932, in Mbiri - now Kiharu Constituency - in Murang’a County. He was a politician who was ahead of his time. He was very privileged to be in Alliance High School which was considered royalty in those days and even to date. He then proceeded to Makerere University to study for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and Geography. If you may recall, if one went to Makerere University, he or she must have been an extremely brilliant individual. He started working as a high school teacher at Kangaru High School in Embu County. Until his death, Hon. Matiba was married to Edith Matiba, and together, they had five children. He died at the ‘young’ age of 85 years. Hon. Kenneth Matiba is truly a trailblazer in the history of this Republic. This is because he was appointed as the first African Executive Secretary, the equivalent of a Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education. You can see the connection here because he was already a teacher at Kangaru High School. Soon after that, in 1963, he was appointed Permanent Secretary (PS) for Commerce under Minister, Hon. Mwai Kibaki. He also worked together with the retired President, Daniel arap Moi. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is quite interesting to note that in 1968, Hon. Matiba left the Public Service for private entrepreneurship. This is a great step because most people would actually prefer to live off the privileges of Public Service rather than go it alone in private practice. He came back to public life in 1979 when he was able to floor the legendary Dr. Julius Gikonyo Kiano from Mbiri Constituency. This is someone who was in the first LEGCO having been elected in 1955. He served Mbiri Constituency from 1979 to 1988. Interestingly, he resigned as Cabinet Minister because he disagreed with the KANU regime. Even then, he had already served in three ministerial portfolios, namely Transport and Communication, Health and Culture and Social Services We all know for sure that in 1992 he ran for the general election and came a close second to His Excellency Daniel arap Moi. He was the Official Leader of the Opposition from 1992 to 1997. In this same period, he was the Member of Parliament for Kiharu Constituency. I am happy that a former Member for Kiharu Constituency, Sen. Kang’ata, is also here and will second this Motion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to look at Hon. Matiba from various facets. One of the key issues, as you saw in 1968, is that he was able to move from Public Service to private entrepreneurship. He was an astute businessman who invested heavily, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}