Top Ten Selfless Visionary Academicians and Nationalists that Kenyan Children should learn to Emulate

   Selfless visionary academicians and nationalists who are in the category of Mandela, Albert Einstein, Kwame Nguruma, Patrice Lumumba and Barack Obama cannot be easily identified in Kenya. Our history books are full of characters whose names have more question marks than answers. Kenyan system of Governance has over the years concentrated on glorifying politicians and political hawkers at the expense of sports personnel, military, good citizens, businessmen, authors, clergy, teachers, civil servants, police and other citizens who stood and still stand firm to support the country, heal it when others are tearing it apart
   There are not so many such men and women in this society who have refused to be driven by majority thinking and have stood by their feet on what to believe in and their ways have been absolutely inspiring despite the challenges involved.
   Below is a list of top ten Kenyan nationalities that I feel any sane Kenyan person can agree with me that they deserve to play in the same league as Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi and our children need to emulate them.

1. Tom Mboya (Politician and Author)

TOM MBOYA

Thomas Joseph Odhiambo "Tom" Mboya was a Kenyan trade unionist, educationist, Pan Africanist, author, freedom fighter, Cabinet Minister and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Kenya; he was also Pro-Democracy and advocate of Good Governance, A capitalist, He organized scholarships for Kenyan children to America which also benefited Barack Obama's father
Born: August 15, 1930, Thika, Kenya
Education: Ruskin College
Assassinated: July 5, 1969, Nairobi, Kenya
Party: Kenya African National Union
Children: Susan Mboya
Books: Freedom and after, The Challenge of Nationhood: A Collection of Speeches and Writings
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2. Ali Mazrui (Academician & Author)

Al'amin Mazrui

Ali Al'amin Mazrui, was an academic professor, and political writer on African and Islamic studies and North-South relations. He was born in Mombasa, Kenya
Born: February 24, 1933, Mombasa, Kenya
Died: October 12, 2014, Vestal, New York, United States
Education: Columbia University, University of Oxford, University of Manchester, Nuffield College, Oxford
He has written more than 30 books that include: The African Condition, The Africans, The power of Babel
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3. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (Writer)

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan writer, formerly working in English and now working in Gikuyu. His work includes novels, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature.
Born: January 5, 1938 , Kamirithu
Spouse: Njeeri wa Ngugi
Plays: Ngaahika Ndeenda
Siblings: Wallace Mwangi
Children: Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ, Nducu wa Ngugi, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, Tee Ngugi
Books: Weep Not, Child 1964, The River Between 1984, A Grain of Wheat 1967, Wizard of the Crow: A Novel 2006, Petals of Blood
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4. Wangari Maathai (Political activist & conservationist)

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Muta Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya. Her campaign in 1990s to save forests destroyed by the Government of Moi tainted her reputation as an enemy of the Government she suffered this fate to force the government respect forests and reduce forest land grabbing
Born: April 1, 1940, Nyeri, Kenya
Died: September 25, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya
Spouse: Mwangi Mathai (m. 1969–1979)
Education: University of Pittsburgh (1964–1966), More
Organizations founded: Green Belt Movement, More
Books: The Green Belt Movement 1985, Unbowed: A Memoir 2006, The Challenge for Africa 2009, Replenishing the Earth 2010, Moral Ground 2010
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5. Olive Mugenda (Researcher)

Olive Mwihaki Mugenda

Olive Mwihaki Mugenda is a Kenyan academic, researcher and academic administrator. She was the Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University upto 20th March 2016, one of the 22 public universities in Kenya
She will be remembered for here efficient leadership skills that transformed Kenyatta University to be one of the leading African Institutions of Higher Learning
Born: 1956, Kenya
Spouse: Abel Gitau Mugenda
Residence: Nairobi, Kenya
Titles: Chancellor, Kenyatta University
Alma maters: University of Nairobi, Iowa State University, Eastern and Southern African Management Institute
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6. Maurice Michael Otunga (servant of God)

Maurice Michael Otunga

Maurice Michael Otunga was a Roman Catholic cardinal and the Archbishop Emeritus of Nairobi who was also the Military Ordinary Emeritus for Kenya. He was born in Chebukwa in diocese of Kakamega in 1923 and died in 2003 at the age of 80.
Rev. Otunga will be remembered for leading a united Catholic Church that stood up against oppression in Moi's iron fist rule, There was no tribalism in the church then something his antecessors have failed to address.
Born: January 31, 1923, Kenya
Died: September 6, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya
Education: Mang'u High School
Metropolis: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi
Consecration: February 25, 1957
Created cardinal: March 5, 1973
Ordination: October 3, 1950
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7. Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (politician)

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki was a Kenyan socialist politician during the administration of the Jomo Kenyatta government. He held different government positions from 1963, when Kenya became an independent country, to 1975, when he was assassinated.
JM will be remembered as a Pan African nationalist and his courage to question Kenyatta's government to honor promises and pledges they had made for the people of Kenya
Born: March 21, 1929, Kenya
Assassinated: March 2, 1975
Books: 'Mau Mau' detainee
Ex-spouses: Esther Mwikali, Doris Nyambura
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8. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga

Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga was a Luo chieftain who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He later served as Kenya's first Vice-President, and thereafter as opposition leader
Hate him or like him, he was a selfless leader who sacrificed his opportunity to be the first Kenyan president in favor of Kenyatta who was then in prison, his bravery is why we enjoy a lot of freedom today after being the pillar in fight for multiparty in 1990s. He can also be remembered as a voice of the less privileged and marginalized Kenyans
Born: October 1911, Bondo
Died: January 20, 1994, Nairobi, Kenya
Children: Raila Odinga, Oburu Odinga
Books: Not yet uhuru
Education: Makerere University, Alliance High School
Political parties: Kenya African Union, More
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9. JAMES MWANGI (Banker)

James Mwangi

James Mwangi is an accountant, banker, businessman and entrepreneur in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community
James Mwangi is an Icon of management and Africa's 'Steve Job' his ambitions and innovations have seen Equity Bank grow in three fold in less than a decade. He has transformed the banking industry in Kenya - nothing has ever been seen before and now his bank is only second to KCB- Kenya Commercial Bank in assets and turnover.
His competitiveness has seen single East Africa's Largest Telecom industry (Safaricom) fighting for survival in mobile money transfer technology
Born: 1962, Kangema, Kenya
Alma mater: University of Nairobi
Home town: Nairobi
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10. Pio Gama Pinto (Freedom Fighter & Journalist)

Pio Gama Pinto

Pio Gama Pinto was a Kenyan journalist, politician and freedom fighter. He was a socialist leader who dedicated his life to the liberation of the Kenyan people and became independent Kenya's first martyr in 1965.
He was virtually at war with the capitalist conspirators, largely accused of land-grabbing, that included Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta and his “Kiambu mafia”, and the gods of the Western capitalism led by the US and British governments.
Born: March 31, 1927, Nairobi, Kenya
Assassinated: February 25, 1965, Nairobi, Kenya
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Compiled by: Maurice A. Nyamoti