Michael Kijana Wamalwa (1944-2003)

Life and Demise

Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa, born on the 25th November 1944, was a veteran Kenyan politician who also served as the country’s eighth vice president. He was born in Sosio, a village near Kilili in Bungoma district (currently Bungoma County). It is said he inherited leadership skills from his father, William Wamalwa, an influential Member of Parliament (MP). He was the head boy and the best debater in his secondary school, Strathmore School. He later proceeded to King's College London where graduated in 1968 with a degree in law. He proceeded to the London School of Economics and in 1970, he earned an invitation to the bar at Lincoln's Inn - the world's most prestigious professional body of judges and lawyers. He returned to Kenya the same year and began teaching law at the University of Nairobi.

Wamalwa plunged into politics in 1974 announcing his candidature in the parliamentary election, just 30 years old. He was dubbed young and from a wealthy background and despite a tumultuous campaign he won the seat in 1979, as a protégé of Masinde Muliro. In 1992, he joined the FORD Kenya faction of the FORD opposition movement. He was elected MP for Saboti constituency, as well as the first vice-chair of his party. In 1994, he became the party's chairman following the death of Oginga Odinga.

In the 2002 general elections, Mwai Kibaki formed a formidable team, including Wamalwa, which propelled him to the presidency. After Kibaki's win, Wamalwa was appointed as the Vice President for his contribution to the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC).

In May 2003, Wamalwa married Yvonne Nambia in a grand wedding ceremony. He became a step-father to Yvonne’s children (Derrick Mboya and Michelle Chichi), who in turn became a step-mother to his three children (Muthoni Wamalwa, William Wamalwa (Junior) and William Wamalwa (Senior)).

While visiting Kibaki in London, who was recuperating from a car accident, Wamalwa fell ill and required treatment, allegedly for kidney problems. He fell ill again in mid-2003 and he was rushed back to Hampstead, London. His health deteriorated for the next couple of months, with no sign of improvement. 

Unfortunately, on 23rd August 2003, Kenya lost its eighth vice president. He received a befitting state burial but the cause of his death was not made public.

Achievements

• Wamalwa was a philanthropist, he started the Touch Africa Foundation to empower the youths, the poor, and the needy to realize their dreams. Regrettably, since Wamalwa was the sole benefactor, the whereabouts of the foundation aren’t known since his demise.
• Wamalwa was an eloquent orator; likened to Tom Mboya, a lawyer and a veteran politician. Perhaps unique in Kenyan history, he managed to secure votes without resorting to tribal appeal to an extent of being presumed as an automatic successor of President Mwai Kibaki.
• He was an opposition stalwart who brought together, not only his community, but also voters from every part of Kenya in opposition to the incumbent political party, KANU, and its 24-year hold on power. Upon the 2002 general elections, he put political differences aside with his adversaries and backed Kibaki for the presidency.

References

• Dailykenya.blogpost.com (Wednesday, February 29, 2012): Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa
• BBC News (6th September 2003); Kenya buries vice-president.
• The economist (Oct 11th, 2003): Going wrong?
• Eddy Mwanza (28th Jan, 2019):Kijana Wamalwa's Children Involved in Property Row

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