20 Most Educated Politicians In Kenya & The Controversial Academic Dwarfs
Introduction
Most educated politicians in Kenya are laid back. They talk less about their achievements. Someone may ask, “Is education important for politicians?” Or “What education do politicians need?” Skeptics worldwide have also asked, “Does Kenya have good education?”
Kenya ranks number 68 in both 2020 & 2021 in education rankings worldwide which is slightly lower than Seychelles, the country with the best education in Africa at 69.3. The quality of education is superb given that the adult literacy rate is about 80% and the regional average is about 61%.
Devolution has greatly improved education in Kenya with the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) introduced in 2017 consisting of 2 years in Pre-primary, 6 years in primary, 3 years in junior secondary, 3 years in senior secondary, and 3 years in tertiary institutions.
Most Kenyan politicians went through the 7-4-2-3 system introduced by the British Colonial rule back in 1964 which comprised of; 7 years in primary, 4 years in lower secondary, 2 years in upper secondary, and 3 years (minimum) in tertiary institutions. Some politicians, however, went through the 8-4-4 system which was introduced in 1985. It consisted of 8 years in primary, 4 years in secondary, and 4 years(minimum) in university education.
Having an educated leader is key in determining the nation’s growth. Below are the 20 Most Educated Politicians In Kenya & The Controversial Academic Dwarfs. Well, you cannot miss the three musketeers Hon. Uhuru Muigai Kenyataa, Dr. William Samoei Ruto and Hon. Raila Odinga from this list, can you? Well, let’s dive into the list of the most educated Kenyan politicians.
The Most Learned Politicians In Kenya
1. Prof. George Luchiri Wajackoyah
Prof. George Luchiri Wajackoyah is one of the most educated politician in Kenya. He was born in 24th October 1959 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jinja Uganda. He is a Kenyan of Luhya descent. Wajackoyah’s mother’s name is Melania Makokha and his father’s name is Tito Olilo Jakoya. His parents were both Kenyan but his mother had Ugandan roots.
Prof. Wajackoyah grew up in Kakamega County specifically in Indangalasia village in West Wanga, Mumias. His parents separated when he was still a child and since it was not customary for the mother to leave with the child, he was left with an absent father. He was forced to live with his grandparents instead.
At 16 years of age, he decided to move to Nairobi. It is said that an Indian guy carried him to Nairobi to give him work but upon arriving in Nairobi, the Indian was hit by a car and died. Fortunately, the Hare Krishna rescued him and other street children. He converted and became a Krishna Balaram.
He had completed his primary school studied (O’ levels) so the followers of the Hare Krishna sponsored him through his (A’ levels) at St. Peters Mumias Boys High School. He joined the Kenya police after high school to study Policing and Criminal Investigation.
He became an inspector in the Special Branch, an intelligence unit during President Moi’s era. He was involved in investigating the murder of Foreign Affairs minister Robert Ouko in February 1990. His curiosity and criticism of the government led to his arrest, severe torture and forceful detention without trial.
With the aid of some Americans, he fled to the US but finally settled in the UK. This is where he started his studies. He noted during the JKL Show hosted by Jeff Koinange that he would dig graves to raise money for his school fees. Wajackoyah has a total of 16 degrees including bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
He returned to Kenya in 2010 to establish Luchiri and Company Advocates law firm.
Primary School: Unkown
High School: St. Peters Mumias Boys High School
Tertiary:
i) Walden University – Master of philosophy
ii) Kenya School of Law – Post Graduate Diploma in Law
iii) University of Baltimore – Masters in Law of USA
iv) University of London School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) – Studied Masters of Law (LLM)
v) University of Warwick, UK – Masters of Laws in Law in Development
vi) Universities of Wolverhampton (UK) – Bachelor of Law (LLB)
vii) University of Burundi – Advanced Diploma in French
viii) Kenya Institute of Administration – Diploma in French
ix) World University Service United Kingdom – Studied Economics & Refugee law
x) Riara University – Studied Laws of Kenya
xi) Maastricht University – Postgraduate Diploma
xii) University of Westminster, UK – Legal Practice Course LPC
xiii) University of London School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) – Certificate in Comparative Laws
xiv) American Heritage University of Southern California – Criminal/Civil Litigation
xv) CID Training school – Security & Intelligence Studies
xvi) Kenya Police Training College, Kiganjo – Policing and Criminal Investigation
2. Prof. Kivutha Kibwana
Prof. Kivutha Kibwana is also one of the most learned Kenyan politicians. He adds up as a businessman and a human rights activist. He was born in 1954 in Mwanyani, a remote part located in Nzaui District, Makueni County.
From 1997-2002, He was the spokesperson of the National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) and also served as the Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer, Dean (Faculty of Law), and Chairman of the Department of Law at the University of Nairobi (UoN).
In 2002, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Makueni Constituency and also doubled as Minister of both Land and Settlements and Environment & Natural Resources. In Mwai Kibaki’s government, he was appointed as Presidential Advisor for Constitutional, Parliamentary & Youth Affairs until September 2012.
In 2013, as a flag bearer of the Muungano party, he was elected Governor of Makueni County, a county predominantly consisting of the Kamba people. In 2017, he was re-elected as the Governor of Makueni county for a second term under the Wiper Party.
Primary School: Nduundune Primary School
High School: Machakos School
Tertiary:
i) University of Nairobi (UoN): Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB)
ii) University of London: Masters Degree in Law (LLM), Comparative Constitutional Laws of the Commonwealth; Law of Natural Resources Africa South of the Sahara; Principles of Civil Litigation; Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
iii) Harvard University, USA: Masters Degree in Law (LLM) in Anthropological Approaches to Law; International Business Transactions; Labour Law; U.S.A. Constitutional Law; Foreign Investment in Natural Resources
iv) George Washington University, USA: Doctor of Juridical Science in International Law; International Human Rights Law; Comparative Law; Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
v) Africa International University: Master’s Degree in Theological Studies
3. Prof. Kithure Kindiki
Abraham Kithure Kindiki is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Counsel to the International Criminal Court. He is a Kenyan politician born in 16th July 1972 in Irunduni village in Mukothima Ward in Tharaka Nithi County. He has been for the longest time a Lecturer of Law at Moi University, Kenya serving in the years between 1999 – 2003.
His political career kickstarted in 2013 when he ran for the Senate seat in Tharaka Nithi County. He was re-elected in 2017 in the same seat in the 2017 general elections. He served as the Majority Leader in the Senate between 2013 – 2017 and as the Senate Deputy Speaker from August 2017 – May 2020.
Primary School: Unkown
High School:
i) Lenana High School
ii) Tharaka Boys High School
Tertiary:
i) Moi University: Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB)
ii) University of Pretoria, South Africa: Masters Degree (LLM) in International Human Rights Law and Democracy
iii) University of Pretoria, South Africa: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in International Law
4. Prof. Anyang Nyong’o
Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o tops the list of the most learned governors in Kenya. was born in Ratta, Kisumu, Kenya on 10th October 1945. He is a Kenyan politician and author married to Dorothy Nyong’o, Lupita Nyong’o’s Mother.
Prof. Nyong’o was a professor of political science at the University of Nairobi (UoN) and also a visiting professor in universities in Mexico and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He served until 1987 when he became the head of programs at the African Academy of Sciences. He was a Brundtland Senior Leadership Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health from Oct-Dec 2013 where he taught the course, “Leadership Development in Global Health and Policy-Making in Kenya: The Case of Four Parastatals” in the Department of Global Health and Population.
He was first elected to parliament in 1992 and was awarded the German-African Award in 1995 for his contribution to scholarship and democratization. He served as a nominated MP from the years 1998 – 2002. He ran for office under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket as the Member of Parliament for Kisumu Rural constituency and was voted in. He was appointed the Minister for Planning and National Development from 2003 – 2005 and also the Minister for Medical Services from 2008 – 2013.
He was elected the first Senator of Kisumu County on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket serving from 2013 – 2017. He was elected the Governor of Kisumu county during the 2017 General elections on the same party ticket.
Primary School: Ndiru Primary School
High School: Alliance High School
Tertiary:
i) Makerere University: Bachelors Degree in Political Science & Philosophy
ii) University of Chicago USA: Bachelors Degree in Political Science
iii) University of Chicago, USA: Masters Degree in Political Economy
5. Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi
The University of Eldoret describes James Ole Kiyiapi as an accomplished academic, researcher, public administrator, and grassroots mobilized. He was born on 17th May 1961 at Osupuko Location Transmara District, Kenya. He is the last born of his mother’s six children. He is the child of Daudi ole Kapur and Naomi Kapur.
He started as a young lecturer at Moi University and was really impactful in curriculum reforms (1995-1997) as the Head of the Department of Forestry and Wood Science. He went on to become an associate professor in the same university. He has authored numerous peer-review publications and technical reports.
He was appointed as Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources from 2006 – 2008 and moved to the Ministry of Medical Services from April 2008 – June 2010. He was again moved to the Ministry of Education between June 2010 – April 2012. He is currently the County Program Director of Africa Wildlife Foundation.
He started the Restore and Build Kenya (RBK) party in 2012 and ran for the presidential seat during the 2013 general elections. He lost to Uhuru Kenyatta.
Primary School: Unkown
High School: Alliance High School
Tertiary:
i) Moi University: Bachelors Degree in Forestry
ii) Moi University: Masters Degree in Forestry
iii) The University of Toronto (Canada): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Forest Resources Management
6. Dr. William Ruto
William Samoei Arap Ruto comes from Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County. He was born on 21st December 1966 by his real father Mzee Daniel Cheruiyot and his mother, Sarah Cheruiyot. Little is known about his bothers and sisters but he stated in a KTN interview that he has an older brother named Paulo Martim Ruto.
He was married to Rachel Chebet Ruto in 1991 and together they have 5 biological children namely: Nick Ruto, June Ruto, Charleen Ruto, Stephanie Jepchumba & George Ruto. William Ruto and his wife adopted another daughter Nadia Cherono, one with a very emotional past where she was buried alive and rescued by a good samaritan.
Ruto also had affair with another woman, Prisca Chemutai Bett, and together they have a daughter named Abby Ruto who has made him hit headlines in controversies about his upkeep. Ruto however Tweeted that her daughter is well catered for.
Much is said about Ruto being the late former president Daniel Arap Moi’s son. He was a treasurer for the Youths for Kanu ’92 (YK’92) campaign group, a group of Kenyan youths lobbying for the re-election of Moi. That was the onset of Ruto’s political career.
President Moi disbanded YK’92 after the 1992 general elections and Ruto morphed into an active politician after losing in various KANU party positions. in 1997 however, he ran as an MP in the Eldoret North Constituency (now abolished) and won. Moi appointed him to the be KANU Director of Elections.
He was appointed the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs in 2002. He was elected as the KANU Secretary General in 2005 alongside Uhuru Kenyatta as the Chairman. He resigned from that position on 6th October 2007 and supported Raila Odinga in the controversial 2007 presidential elections. Raila Odinga Lost but Ruto retained his Eldoret North Constituency seat.
He was appointed as Minister for Agriculture in the grand coalition government in 2018. He later was appointed as the minister of Higher Education in 2010 swapping posts with Sally Kosgei.
In October 2017, Ruto was elected to Parliament as the Deputy President to Uhuru Kenyatta after winning the controversial 2017 general elections. After fierce backlash, controversy and namecalling in Uhuru’s government, Ruto, in December 2020 decided to run for president under his new party, United Democratic Alliance.
Primary School:
i) Kerotet Primary School
ii) Sambut Primary School
High School:
i) Wareng Secondary School (O Levels)
ii) Kapsabet Boys High School (A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) University of Nairobi (UoN): Bachelors Degree in BSc (Botany and Zoology
ii) University of Nairobi (UoN): Masters Degree in Environmental Science
iii) University of Nairobi (UoN): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Plant Ecology
7. Prof. Hellen Sambili
Hellen Jepkemoi Sambili is a female Kenyan politician born in 1950. She began as a teacher at Moi High School, Kabarak, and as a lecturer at Egerton University in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She went on to become an Associate Professor at the same university.
In 2007, she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mogotio Constituency. She was appointed the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in 2008. She was named to a ministerial post in the Ministry of the East African Community (EAC).
Prof Hellen Sambili is currently the Chancellor at Garissa University.
Primary School: Unkown
High School: Nakuru High School
Tertiary:
i) University of Nairobi (UoN): Bachelors Degree in Education (Science)
ii) Lancaster University (UK): Masters Degree in Education
iii) Lancaster University (UK): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education
8. Prof. John Krop Lonyangapuo
John Krop Lonyang’apuo is also one of the most educated Kenyan politicians. He is a Kenyan politician born on 10th December 1964 in Kinyarkwat, West Pokot County. He was first appointed as the principal of Moi University Chepkoilel Campus between the years 2002-2007.
He first joined politics in 2007 when he contested for the Kapenguria parliamentary seat on a KANU ticket. He emerged third. He was appointed as the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public works between 2008-2010. He was reshuffled to the Ministry of Industrialization in the years 2010-2012.
He resigned as PS in 2012 and vied as a Senator in West Pokot. He won by 72% of the votes and became the highest-ranked Senator in the country with an approval rating of 74.5%. He again vied as the governor of West Pokot and won.
Primary School: Kanyarkwat Primary School
High School:
i) Ortum Secondary School – O Levels
ii) St Mary’s School Yala – A Levels
Tertiary:
i) Egerton University: Bachelors Degree in Pure Mathematics
ii) Egerton University: Masters Degree in Pure Mathematics
iii) University of Leeds (UK): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Mathematics
9. Prof. Zadoc Ogutu
Most sources cite Prof. Zadoc Abel Ogutu to be the most learned MP in Kenya. He is a Kenyan politician elected in 2017 as an independent candidate and an Aspirant Member of Parliament of the Republic of Kenya representing Bomachoge Borabu constituency. He started as a lecturer and later graduated to an associate professor in Kenyatta University between 1985 and 2009.
He was a Project Manager at Practical Actiion/Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) – EA in 1998 – 2001. He went on to become a Regional Program Coordinator in the Inter-university for East Africa in 2002 – 2008. In 2011-2015, he became a Program Officer at the UN Habitat. Since 2015 to date he is the Focal Regional Manager of CGIAR WLE.
Primary School: Uknown
High School: Uknown
Tertiary:
i) University of Nairobi (UoN): Bachelors Degree in Education (Science)
ii) The University of Toronto (Canada): Master of Science Biogeography
iii) University of Edinburgh (UK): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biogeography
10. Prof. Paul Chepkwony
Paul Chepkwony was born on 10th November 1970 in Ainamoi, Kenya. He is a Kenyan politician and professor. For four years he served as a lecturer at Moi University. He became an Associate professor in the same university in 2009. He started his political career in 2013 when he ran for Governor of Kericho County and won on the United Republican Party (URP) ticket. In 2017, he was re-elected as the governor via the Jubilee Party ticket.
Primary School: Poiywek Primary School
High School: Kericho High School
Tertiary:
i) Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT): Bachelors Degree in Chemistry
ii) University of Nairobi (UoN): Masters Degree in Chemistry
iii) Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organic Chemistry
11. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is said to be the richest Kenyan politician and one of the most educated president in Kenya. He was born at 11:10am on October 26, 1961. His real father was the first president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who had four wives: Wahu Kenyatta, Edna Clarke, Grace Wanjiku, and Ngina Kenyatta. Uhuru Kenyatta is son to the last wife of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mama Ngina Kenyatta. Uhuru’s siblings are Kristina Wambui Pratt, Anna Nyokabi Muthama, and Muhoho Kenyatta.
In 1991 he married Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta and together they have three children: two sons Jomo and Muhoho, and a daughter Ngina.
Uhuru Kenyatta came into the limelight in the year 2001 when the then president Daniel Arap Moi appointed him as the Minister of Local Government. In the 2002 general elections, president Moi endorsed him to run for the presidential seat under the KANU party ticket. He lost to Mwai Kibaki under the NARC coalition.
He became the Leader of the Opposition in Kibaki’s government. He backed Kibaki in his re-election as president in the 2007 general election. In January 2008, the late President Mwai Kibaki appointed him as the Minister of Local Government. He was later appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade in April 2008. He went on to become the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2012, while still holding the Deputy Prime Minister’s seat.
Because of the severe violent aftermath that happened after the 2007 general elections, he was accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing crimes against humanity and had to resign as the Minister of Finance on January 26th, 2012.
In 2013, he was elected the president of Kenya under The National Alliance (TNA) party ticket. He was re-elected in 2017 still as the president but under the Jubilee Party with William Samoei Ruto as his deputy.
Primary School: Loreto Covent School
High School: St Mary’s School
Tertiary:
i) Amherst College: Economics, Political Science and Government
12. Prof. Pamela Awuor Ochieng’
Prof. Pamela Awuor Ochieng’ is a Kenyan female politician who was the Woman Representative for Migori County. She also falls in the category of the most educated politicians in Kenya. Prof Pamela started as a teacher in Highway Boys Secondary School in 1995 – 1998. She went on to become a Senior Graduate Teacher at State House Girls High School and went of to become the Head of Department of Foreign Languages in the same institution in the years 1999 – 2011.
From October 2010 – May 2011 she became a Team Leader & Coordinator of French Program in Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT). She graduated to become the Coordinator in the College of Human Resource Development at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology & University of Western Canada (Ivey Business School). In 2017, she was elected as the woman representative of Migori County.
Primary School: Agongo Primary School
High School: Dede Girls High School
Tertiary:
i) Kenyatta University: Bachelor’s Degree in Education
ii) Kenyatta University: Masters of Business Administration
iii) Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT): Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration
13. Raila Amolo Odinga
Raila Odinga is a Kenyan businessman and politician born on 7th January, 1945 at Maseno Church Missionary Society Hospital in Maseno, Kenya. His father was the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his mother was Mary Juma Odinga. He has three Siblings, Oburu Odinga, Wenwa Akinyi Odinga, and Ruth Odinga.
Raila Odinga’s wife is Ida Odinga and together they have four children: the late Fidel Odinga, Winnie Odinga, Raila Odinga Jr., and Rosemary Odinga. In 1965, he got a scholarship to the Technical School, Magdeburg (now a part of Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg) in Germany. He graduated with a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970.
When he returned to Kenya in 1970, he started the Standard Processing Equipment Construction and Erection Limited (later renamed to East African Spectre) in 1971, a company that specialized in the manufacturing of liquid petroleum gas cylinders.
He was appointed as group standards manager of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) in 1974. He was later promoted to become the Deputy Director, until 1982 when he was detented without trial for six years.
Primary School:
i) Kisumu Union Primary School
ii) Maranda Primary
High School: Maranda High School
Tertiary:
i) The Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg: Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering.
14. Dr. Fred Matiangi
Fred Matiangi’s biography is less populated online as he has shied away from the internet. Dr. Fred Okengo Matiangi who is also one of the most educated politicians in Kenya, was born in Borabu Constituency, Nyamira County. He is a Kisii by tribe. His date of birth is unknown.
His brother is John Matiang’i, still a political personality who was appointed by CS Ukur Yatani as a board member of the Public Service Superannuation Fund Board of Trustees. He doubles up as the treasurer of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) said to have fuelled the outster of Wilson Sossion, the former KNUT Secretary General.
Matiang’i rarely speaks about his wife or his extended family but sources say that his wife is a young beauty in her forties. He was forced to speak about his wife on media when there were rumors about his wife’s sickness. Matiang’i and his wife have two children.
Matiangi’s political career started as a political consultant to the former political stronghold Simeon Nyachae who is his relative. He was first appointed as Cabinet Secretary of ICT. He was, in acting position, the Cabinet Secretary of Lands and Physical Planning and later became the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Science, and Technology.
Following the demise of then CS Joseph Ole Nkaissery, Dr. Matiang’i was appointed to act as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government on 7th July 2017 and was confirmed for the post in January 2018.
He was on 22nd January 2019 appointed Matiangi as the Chairperson of the National Development Implementation and the Communication Cabinet Committee by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Primary School: Unknown
High School: Unknown
Tertiary:
i) Kenyatta University: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education
ii) University of Nairobi (UoN): Master’s Degree in English
iii) University of Nairobi (UoN): Ph.D. in Communication & Comparative Literature
15. Ukur Yatani
Ukur Yatani Kanacho is a Kenyan politician and ambassador. He was born on 14 January 2020 in Forole of North Horr sub-county in Marsabit County. Ukur Yatani wife is Dr. Gumato Yatani and together are blessed with two kids (Ibrae & Ali) one of whom, Ibrae, graduated with a Masters of Law (LLM) from University of Kent, United Kingdom.
Ukur Yatani started as a District Officer and rose to become a Senior District Officer and later to a District Commissioner in July 2002. He was elected as North Horr’s constituency Member of Parliament in 2006. He was then appointed as the Assistant Minister for Ministry of Science and Technology and in 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs named him the Ambassador to Austria and also Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vienna.
In 2013, he was elected as the first Governor of Marsabit county. He was appointed by president Uhuru Kenyatta as the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in 2018 and on 24th July 2019, following the sacking of CS Henry Rotich, he was appointed, in acting capacity as the CS for Treasury. He was confirmed for the same position on 24th January 2020.
Primary School:
i) Maikona Primary school
ii) North Horr Primary School
High School:
i) Garbatulla High School (O Levels)
ii) Kabarnet High School (A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) University of Egerton: Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology
ii) University of York, United Kingdom: Master of Public Administration and Public Policy
16. Mutahi Kagwe
Mutahi Kagwe is a Kenyan politician born in 1958 in Mukurweini in Nyeri County. He is of the Kikuyu tribe. Mutahi Kagwe’s wife is Anne Wanjiku Mutahi, the daughter of the late powerful politician, John Michuki. Mutahi has one daughter Nyawira and four sons namely: Kagwe, Njoroge and Kahumburu.
Mutahi Kagwe’s brother, Dan Kagwe is the Postmaster General (PG) and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK)/Posta. Mutahi’s parents whereabouts are uknown.
His political career kickstarts after he completed his MBA. He ran for the Mukurweini Constituency Member of Parliament seat during the 2002 election which he won. While still serving as the Member of Parliament, he became the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade, Finance and Planning. He was later appointed as the Cabinet Minister (CS) for Information and Communication (ICT).
He ran for the Senatorial seat under the Jubilee Party ticket in 2013 and was elected as the first Senator of Nyeri County which he served until 2017. On Friday, February 28th, 2020 he took his oath of office as the new Cabinet Secretary for Health replacing Sicily Kariuki.
Primary School: Kihate Primary School
High School: Kagumo High School (O and A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) University of Nairobi (UoN): Bachelor of Commerce (Insurance)
ii) United States International University (USIU): Master of Business Administration (MBA)
17. Najib Balala
Najib Balala was born on 20th September, 1967, in the Port City of Mombasa County. Najib Balala’s wife is Najaah Balala and they are blessed with four children: Naneel, Naeem, Naila and Nusaybah. His father died while he was young and was raised by his mother, Rahma Saleh who passed on in 2015.
His siblings are Salim Mohamed Balala and Taufiq Balala who is the County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Transport, Infrastructure, and Public Works in Mombasa County Government.
Najib Balala’s tribe is Arab, Yemen Arabs to be specific. Balala is quoted in the media saying that his older brother, Salim Mohamed Balala was born in Yemen. Balala’s cousin, Ahmed Abdullahi Balala is currently a Member of Parliament for the Malakpet constituency in India.
Balala’s started as the mayor of Mombasa from 1998 – 1999. He became the chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Mombasa Chapter) from 2000 – 2003 and the Minister for Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services in the same period. He went on to become the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). He was in January – June 2003 acting as the Minister for Labour and in 31st June appointed as the Minister for National Heritage.
He went on to vie again for the Mvita parliamentary seat in the 2007 general elections and he served until 2013. From April 2008, he was the Minister for Tourism. He served as the Cabinet Secretary for Mining from 15 May 2013 to June 2015 and since then he has been the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism.
Primary School: Serani Boys Primary School
High School: Kakamega High School (O and A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) United States International University (USIU): Bachelor of Arts in International Relationship
ii) Havard University: Business Administration Leadership
iii) University of Toronto (Canada): Business Administration and International Urban Management and Leadership.
18. Alfred Mutua
Alfred Nganga Mutua is a Kenyan politician and a movie producer. He was born on 22nd August 1970 in Masii, Machakos. His parents are Agnes Mutua and Habil Otieno Lut. Mutua was married to Josephine Thitu Maundu on 1st July 2000 at Nairobi Baptist Ngong Road and together they had three children, a boy aged 7 years old and twins aged 4.
They later divorced and he married Lilian Nganga. After 5 years, he divorced Lilian Ng’ang’a affirming their divorce on social media on Sunday, August 15, 2021. Mutua began his career as a journalist. He first started a magazine called “Golden Times” through a company he formed in 1989 called Golden Dreams Company at the age of 19.
He was sponsored through high school and in tertiary institutions by relatives and missionaries who helped him pursue his education centered on media and journalism.
He began his political career when President Mwai Kibaki appointed him as the Government Spokesman, the public communications secretary, and head of the Office of Public Communications in the Office of the President. In 2012, he resigned and ran for the Machakos gubernatorial seat under the Wiper Party during the 2013 general elections. He became the first Governor of Machakos County.
Nursery School:
i) Guadalupe Catholic Church Nursery School
Primary School:
i) Toi Primary school
High School:
i) Dagoretti High School (O Levels)
ii) Jamhuri High School (A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) Whitworth College: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism
ii) Eastern Washington University, USA: Masters Degree in Communications
iii) University of Western Sydney, Australia: Ph.D. in Communication and Media.
19. Prof. George Magoha
Professor George Albert Omore Magoha is undoubtedly one of the best professors in Kenya. He was born on 2nd July 1952 in Kisumu, Kenya. His parents are Bernard Bonaface Magoha and Sarah Joan Aloo. He is the seventh born of ten children. He grew up in Jerusalem (Salem) in Eastlands Nairobi.
In 1982, Magoha was married to Dr. Barbara O. Essien Magoha a Nigerian she met at the University of Lagos who is a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Kenyatta National Hospital. She is also a lecturer at UoN. Together, they have one child, Michael Agustus Magoha.
In 1997 – 2013, he was a chairman of Kenya Association of Urological Surgeons. He went on to become the president of the Association of African Universities Accra Ghana from 2011 to 2013. He has been president of Associations of Medical Councils of Africa. George Magoha has been a chairman of the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
Prof. Magoha was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary in 26 March 2019.
Primary School:
i) Jina Primary School
ii) Livingstone Primary School
High School:
i) Starehe Boys Centre (O Levels)
ii) Strathmore School (A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) Strathmore College: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism
ii) University of Lagos: Bachelor of Medicine degree
iii) Lagos University Teaching Hospital – University College Hospital, Ibadan: Surgery and Urology
iv) Royal College Of Surgeons, Dublin Ireland: Surgery and Urology
v) Royal Postgraduate Medical School (UK): Surgery and Urology
vi) Royal Postgraduate Medical School Hammersmith Hospital: Surgery and Urology
vii) Stanford University: Executive Management
20. Martha Karua
Last but not least, the Iron Lady also falls under the list of most educated politicians in Kenya. Martha Wangari Karua was born on 22nd September 1957 in Kimunye village, Gichugu Constituency in Kirinyaga county. She is a Kenyan politician and an advocate of social justice. Martha Karua’s father is Jackson Karua and her mother is Josephine Wanjiru Karua. She is the second-born child of eight children, four girls, and four boys.
Martha Karua has two kids, a daughter, Wawira, and a son, Njoka. She was first married to Dr. Major Charles Kamau in the 80s despite him being a family man and she even changed her name to Martha Wangari Njoka. They divorced in 1989.
Martha fell in love with her legal colleague, Justice GBM Kariuki but again love turned sour and they divorced in 2008. In 2015, it was rumored that she had an affair with her NARC Kenya Party Director, Ceaser Ngigi Wanjau.
Martha Karua started as a magistrate in various courts from 1980 to 1987. In 1987, she quit the Judiciary and started her own firm, Martha Karua & Co Advocates. She offered to freely represent Koigi Wa Wamwere when he was charged with treason in 1991.
As she had gained popularity, she joined Matiba’s Ford-Asili and proceeded to the party nominations against the late Geoffrey Kareithi. It was hinted to her that Kareithi had rigged her out and she quickly moved to the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) headed by Mwai Kibaki.
She was elected as the MP for Gichugu Constituency in 1992 – 2013 when she decided to run for Presidency. She finished sixth with 43,881 votes. She is known to be one tough lady and full of drama when she walked out on Moi in Kerugoya Stadium when Moi denied him to address the congregation despite her being an MP. She also quit the coalition government in 2009 after falling out with Kibaki.
In 2017, she vied for the Kirinyaga gubernatorial race on a NARC-Kenya party ticket but lost to the former Devolution Cabinet Secretary, Anne Waiguru.
Primary School:
i) Mugumo Primary School
ii) Kabare Girls Boarding School
iii) St. Michael’s Boarding School
High School:
i) Kiburia Girls Secondary School
ii) Ngiriambu Girl’s Secondary School
iii) Karoti Girl’s Secondary School (O Levels)
iv) Nairobi Girls’ Secondary School (Currently State House Girls) (A Levels)
Tertiary:
i) University of Nairobi: Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB)
ii) United States International University: Masters Degree in Law
Least Educated Politicians in Kenya: The Controversial Academic Dwarfs
1. Mike Sonko
Gideon Mbuvi Kioko (Mike Sonko) is a Kenyan politician and philanthropist born on 27th of February, 1975 in Mombasa County. Following many controversies surrounding his education, he falls under the list of the least educated politicians in Kenya. His father is Mzee Kivanguli and his mother is Saumu Mukami Mbuvi. His father hails from Machakos County.
He is married to Primrose Mbuvi and together they have three biological daughters Saumu Mbuvi, Sandra Mbuvi, and Salma Mbuvi. Following a terrorist attack in 2014, Mike Mbuki adopted two sons: Satrine Osinya and Gift Osinya after their mother died in the attack. One of the sons, Satrine Osinya, had a bullet stuck on his head.
Immediately after high school, Sonko became the sales and marketing manager in his father’s business, a real estate agency called Gidson Properties. Sonko relocated to Nairobi in 1994. He first bought eight matatus on the Kibra route and later bought more matatus, which the Dandora and Umoja routes. He went on to buy minibusses and double-decker buses for tours and travel business.
He rose to become the chairman of the Eastlands Matatu Association. He gained popularity in 2007 when he went to court after Eastlands matatus were denied access to the Central Business District (CBD). At that time, there were more than 5,000 matatus under him. Sonko also notes that he was also buying and selling plots and residential houses.
He vied for the Makadara Parliamentary by-election on a Narc-Kenya ticket and won back in 2010. His flamboyant lifestyle and philanthropy especially in the Eastern parts of Nairobi helped him win the Parliamentary seat.
He went on to vie for the Nairobi Senatorial seat and won becoming the first Senator of Nairobi County. His go-getter personality pushed him to vie for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat which he won against the incumbent Dr. Evans Kidero.
Sonko has had a fair of controversies. He survived the first impeachment motion in February 2020. He was later impeached in December 2020. Mike Sonko has also had a good share of controversies surrounding his education. Critics say that his certificates were forged alleging that he couldn’t have cleared a Bachelors degree in just two years instead of the normal four years.
Primary School:
i) Kikowani Primary School
High School:
i) Kwale High School
These were Sonko’s KCSE results:
Mathematics: E
English: C-
Kiswahili: B-
History and Government: B-
Geography: D
Physical Science: D
Biological Sciences: D
Social Education & Ethics: B-
Agriculture: D
Commerce: D+
Tertiary:
i) Unity College of Professional Studies: Diploma in Sales & Marketing *
ii) Kenya Methodist University: Bachelors degree in Business Administration *
2. Oscar Sudi
Oscar Kipchumba Sudi was born on 12th March 1980 in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia county. He came from a very humble background. His parents were squatters in the Moi University area on the farm of Mzee Kibor Arap Talai. His father was a charcoal seller and his mother was a home keeper. He has two wives, Lilian Sudi & Ann Sudi.
Oscar Sudi started off transporting charcoal and helping his mother in a grocery business his father set for her and that’s where he got to know and interact with the local matatu touts. He started working as a parking boy in 1996.
In 1998, at 18 years of age, he started working as a matatu driver. He would use his salary to buy fertilizer and seeds and do farming. In 2000, he got married to Lilian Sudi and he engaged in the matatu business. He would later enter the car sale and clearing and forwarding businesses.
In his business journey, he brushed shoulders with powerful people like Cyrus Jirongo and William Ruto who was the then Eldoret North MP. In 2013, he vied and won as the MP for Kapseret Constituency under Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) ticket.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Oscar Sudi’s education. Sources say that his education papers were forged. Nabiki Kashu, a Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) official stated that Sudi’s KCSE certificate may be a forgery because his name was not at the council’s database for the 2006 examination.
Kashu noted that Highway High School, which Sudi claimed to have attended was non-existent in 2006. He also noted that the school code (401006) that appeared on Sudi’s KCSE certificate, belonged to Parklands Secondary School and not Highway High School.
It is also said that his diploma certificate in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) appears to be forged. A former head of exams at KIM, John Mateshe noted that the serial number on Sudi’s certificate belonged to a different student.
“The number 36262 on the certificate presented to me belongs to a certificate issued to one Elkana Kimutai of admission number NRB/20870 of Diploma in Purchasing and supplies management which was issued on September 24, 2009,” the witness told the court.
Mateshe also affirmed that Sudi’s admission number also belonged to a different student.
“The admission number NRB/20879 belongs to Scholastica Achieng’ Odhiambo of Diploma in Management of NGOs. The student was registered in 2005. From our records, Sudi has never registered as a student of the institute,” Mateshe said.
Primary School:
i) Tulwop-Ngetuny Primary School *
ii) Ngeria Primary School *
ii) Olympic Primary School *
High School:
i) Highway High School *
Tertiary:
i) Kenya Institute of management: Diploma in Business Management *
3. Ferdinand Waititu
Ferdinard Ndungu Waititu also falls under the list of the least educated politicians in Kenya. He is also known as Baba Yao. He was born on January 1, 1962, in Kibera, Nairobi. He was raised by a single mother, Ms. Monicah Njeri Waititu who passed on in February 2022 at the age of 93 leaving behind seven children. His wife is Susan Ndung’u together they are blessed with two daughters: Monica Njeri and Josephine Ndung’u.
Waititu started as a councilor for Njiru Ward back in 2002. He then served as the Member of Parliament for Embakasi from 2008 to 2013. He was until September 2012 appointed as an Assistant Minister in the ministry of water and irrigation during retired President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure. He was later suspended over claims of incitement and hate speech.
In 2013 when he vied as the Governor of Nairobi County but he lost to former Governor Evans Kidero. In the same year, he changed his name from Ferdinand Ndung’u Waititu to Ferdinand Clifford Ndung’u Waititu. He was voted in as the Kabete MP in 2015 following a by-election after the death of George Muchai who was mysteriously murdered in the streets of Nairobi.
He ran for the Kiambu gubernatorial seat beating the incumbent William Kabogo in the 2017 General Elections. In 2020, he was impeached as the governor on corruption charges.
Waititu has also had a fair share of education controversies when the former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo went to court accusing him that he never went past the primary level. Kabogo accused Waititu of falsifying the documents of one Clifford Ndung’u Waititu which explained why he changed his name in 2013.
Primary School:
i) Mbagathi Primary School *
High School:
i) Dagoreti High School *
Tertiary:
i) Panjab University in Chandigarh, SGGS College, India: Bachelors Degree in Commerce *
ii) Kenya Methodist University (KeMU): Masters in Business Administration (MBA) *
4. Ali Hassan Joho
Ali Hassan Joho was born on February 26, 1976, in Kisauni, Mombasa. Joho’s father is Mzee Ali Joho and his mother is Ummu Kulthum. He has six siblings, one of them is a popular businessman who pushed him into politics called Abubakar Joho (Said Abdalla Joho).
Joho’s wife is Madina Joho and together they have four children, three daughters (Umm Kulthum, Rahma, and Amina) and one son (Shaheed). He first contested but lost the Kisauni Member of Parliament seat in 2002. He became the Kisauni party chairman for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) between 2006-2007.
During the 2007 General Elections, he was elected as the Kisauni member of parliament under the ODM party ticket. He was appointed as the Assistant Minister for Transport. In the 2013 general elections, he vied in the Mombasa County Gubernatorial Race and was elected as Governor of Mombasa.
In 2017, it was alleged that his secondary and university academic certificates were falsified. It was first reported that he sat for his KCSE examinations in 1992 and scored a C+ but it was reported later that he scored a D- in the 1993 KCSE Examination.
This showed that the degree he received at Gretsa University was falsified as the minimum entry for a degree is a C+. Kuria Thuo, the Vice Chancellor of Gretsa, through the Business Daily said the governor graduated with a degree in Commerce in 2016.
In 2020, Hassan Joho came out clean and confirmed that he got a D- in KCSE and he is proud of his grade.
Primary School:
i) Tom Mboya Primary School
High School:
i) Serani Boys Secondary School
Tertiary:
i) High-Grade College, Mombasa: Business Studies
ii) Kenya Institute of Management: Diploma in Management *
iii) Kampala University: Bachelors Degree in Human Resource Management/Commerce *
iv) Gretsa University: Bachelors Degree in Commerce *
5. Johnson Sakaja
Sakaja Johnson Arthur has recently been in the news for allegations against falsifying his academic papers and that’s why he falls under the list of the least educated politicians in Kenya. He was born on 2nd February 1985 in Nairobi. He is the last born in a family of three. His father is Kubasu Sakaja and his mother is Emily Ayoti Kubasu Sakaja. Sources claim that his real name is Johnson Koskei Sakaja and was born in Nairobi. Sakaja is married to a beautiful wife and two sons.
At the age of 19, Sakaja landed his first job at Pricewatercoopers (PwC) for one year. He later worked at his aunt’s cyber cafe and developed a passion for music. He wrote, rapped, and produced several songs most of which are not in the public eye. He started several businesses while in campus including a financial consultancy firm, Arthur Johnson Consultants.
During the 2005 referendum, Sakaja positioned himself in politics by rallying the students for the then proposed constitution. He was a leader in SONU (Student Organization of Nairobi University). He was the director of “Vijana na Kibaki” lobby group in Kibaki’s 2007 campaign team.
He helped in the formation of (TNA), at just 26 years old. He later became the chairman of the party until it morphed into the Jubilee Coalition in 2016. He was nominated as a member of Parliament by the same party.
In 2017, he vied for the senatorial seat and was elected the senator of Nairobi County through the Jubilee party ticket.
Johnson Sakaja has recently been in the headlines as critics vehemently note that he did not complete his university education. Sakaja first claimed that he had an Actuarial Science degree from the University of Nairobi. UON in a letter confirmed he was yet to graduate.
He later claimed that he had a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from TEAM University in Uganda. He claimed that he was on distance learning and so claims by Youth Advocacy Africa that he had only traveled to Uganda once, which was on October 17, 2014, for parliamentary business and not for educational purposes are not stamp that he did not do his degree.
Primary School:
i) Aga Khan Primary School
High School:
i) Lenana High School
Tertiary:
i) TEAM University, Uganda: Bachelors degree in Management *
Well, that was the list of the most educated politicians in Kenya and the least educated politicians in Kenya. Do you think we might have missed a few names? Kindly tell us in the comment section below and we will do the update.
Original post here: 20 Most Educated Politicians In Kenya & The Controversial Academic Dwarfs
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