Njonjo and Leakey: Buddies who bowed out same day
Besides their exotic mannerisms, former Attorney General Charles Njonjo and one time Public Service chief Richard Leakey had more things in common.
The two, who died hours apart on Sunday, were ardent conservationists and bosom buddies. They both served as chair of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Njonjo also once served as the chairman of the East Africa Wildlife Society.
Njonjo always wore an elephant bracelet to support conservation of animals. And he readily cited Leakey as his most trusted friend.
“Apart from my own family, the only man I trust is Richard Leakey. I hope he saves our wildlife with his new appointment (as chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Services),” he told a local daily in an interview.
Senior Counsel Paul Muite traced the bond to the colonial period when Njonjo’s father, Josiah Njonjo, served as chief in Kabete while Canon Leakey, Richard’s grandfather, was the pastor in charge of the nearby Protestant church, now the ACK Mother Church, Kabete.
“Let me not say much because I’ve not been in touch with Richard for quite some time but certainly they were very good friends.
Their friendship goes to the days of Senior Chief Josiah Njonjo and Richard’s grandfather, You know Josiah Njonjo is the one who started the Anglican mission in Kabete.
They (Njonjo and Leakey) were very, very close,” Muite told People Daily yesterday.
Muite and Leakey were founders of the Opposition Safina Party that fought the President Daniel arap Moi regime at a time when Njonjo had retired from active politics.
But Moi put up an aggressive crackdown on Safina members because he saw Njonjo’s hand through Muite and Leakey, both close allies of the former AG.
Some observers, however, felt that Moi’s hostility arose from the fact that Leakey’s mobilisation and fundraising skills were causing discomfort within the ruling party, according to the Kenya Year Book.
“There was also a feeling within Kanu that Safina’s main architect was former all-powerful Attorney General Charles Njonjo, Moi’s key nemesis since the early 1980s.
Indeed, fear was rife that Njonjo was using Leakey and Muite to make a comeback to politics.
“Running Scared?” is the way The Economic Review (28 May – 4 June 1995) described Moi’s ranting over Leakey’s entry into politics,” says the book.
Njonjo burial
Leakey’s death was announced on Sunday by President Uhuru Kenyatta who described him as a globally renown Kenyan paleoanthropologist and conservationist.
Njonjo, who died aged 101, had given clear instructions on how his body should be disposed of after his death.
He had directed that his body be cremated immediately, to avoid any funeral rites and related fanfare.
That is exactly what the family did on Sunday after Njonjo was pronounced dead at 5am.
By 10am, he had been cremated at a low-key event at the Kariokor Hindu Crematorium attended only by his immediate family and close friends.
Njonjo’s personal doctor, David Silverstein, who also served Moi, declared him dead at 5am on Sunday.
Friends who attended the brief ceremony included Muite, Muhoho Kenyatta and Prof Yash Pal Ghai. Journalists were denied access to the venue.
Muite said the family was following the former AG’s instructions.
“It was his wishes and directions that if anything happened, he had to be cremated immediately.
He even joked that if it happened in the morning, he had to be cremated by midday so it is as if his wishes were granted.
He went very peacefully, that is what we gathered from the family,” Muite said. Like Njonjo, Leakey was yesterday cremated at a private ceremony.
A statement issued by the family said Leakey was buried yesterday afternoon on a hill along the Rift Valley in line with his wishes.
“In keeping with Richard’s wishes, we, this afternoon, interred his body at a place of his choosing, on his favourite ridge overlooking the majestic Rift Valley that he so loved,” Samira Leakey said on behalf of the family.
The family further advised members of the public against condolence visits due to Leakey’s widow, Meave’s age, in line with the government’s Covid-19 containment protocols.
