Remembering VP Kijana Wamalwa, 19 years later

Wamalwa passed on at the Royal Free Hospital in London after battling kidney disease.

by The Star

News23 August 2022 - 11:22

In Summary

•Wamalwa’s tenure as VP was short-lived as he passed on six months into his appointment.

•Michel Wamalwa was born in 1944 and grew into an intelligent young man

KIJANA WAMALWA: The one-time VP would dearly have loved to have been alive and in contention at the end of Kibaki’s tenure, but he passed on.

Kenya on Tuesday marked 19 years since the death of its eighth vice president Kijana Michael Wamalwa.

His brother, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary of Defence Fores Eugene Wamalwa, remembered him for his quest for unity in diversity and a peaceful united Kenya.

“Today the 23rd of August, we remember and pray for the Soul of Our late Vice President, H.E Michael Wamalwa Kijana who passed on in London on this day in 2003. We also remember his quest for unity in diversity and a peaceful United Kenya, especially during this transition period,” he stated.

Wamalwa’s tenure as VP was short-lived as he passed on six months after his appointment.

The late Mwai Kibaki, then president-elect, had appointed Wamalwa as his Vice-President (now Deputy President) in December 2002.

He passed on at the Royal Free Hospital in London after battling kidney disease.

Michel Wamalwa was born in 1944 and grew into an intelligent young man. A former head boy in school, Wamalwa won a scholarship to study abroad.

He returned to the country with a law degree from Cambridge University and a degree from the London School of Economics.

Wamalwa launched his political career soon after his return. He earned the name 'Kijana' after he attempted to vie for a parliamentary seat in 1974 at 30 years of age.

The community downplayed his quest for the parliamentary seat, terming him too young to become an MP.

Wamalwa and other young leaders dubbed 'Young Turks' formed Forum For Democracy Restoration (FORD) and continued to push for constitutional reforms.

The eloquent yet soft-spoken leader mobilized other members of the opposition to unite and kick out the Moi government.

During a past interview with a local TV station, CS Wamalwa said that senior Wamalwa was disappointed that his dream of a free Kenya had not been realised.

He argued that the corruption that he and other leaders had fought so hard against in the previous regime had been carried onto the new regime, following the Goldenberg scandal.

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