Royal Media Services’ chairman, SK Macharia, took to the airwaves on Sunday to offer heartfelt condolences to the family of Charles Njonjo. The former Attorney General, who passed away at the age of 101, had been a fixture of Kenya’s legal and political landscape for more than half a century. Macharia’s message, broadcast across the network’s radio stations, highlighted Njonjo’s “distinguished service” and the loss felt by the nation.
A life steeped in service and controversy
Born on 23 January 1920 in the rural village of Kibichiko, Kikuyu District, Njonwo’s early education set the stage for a groundbreaking career. He excelled at Alliance High School before earning scholarships to King’s College Budo in Uganda and later the University of Fort Hare in South Africa, where many future African leaders studied. Further legal training at the University of Exeter and Gray’s Inn equipped him with the credentials to become Kenya’s first post‑independence Attorney General in 1963.
During his 16‑year tenure, Njonwo advised Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi on a host of constitutional and criminal matters. He later took on the Justice Ministry from 1978 to 1982, overseeing a period marked by both legal reforms and political tension. In 1980 he entered parliamentary politics as the MP for Kikuyu Constituency, a seat he held until 1983. Throughout these roles, he earned the nickname “The Duke of Kabeteshire” for his aristocratic bearing and commanding presence in the corridors of power.
Nation mourns a founding figure
President Uhuru Kenyatta broke the news of Njonwo’s death on national television, noting that the 101‑year‑old was the sole surviving member of Kenya’s founding government. The announcement sparked an outpouring of tributes from former colleagues, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens who remembered his influence on Kenya’s legal framework.
Within hours of his passing, Njonwo’s body was taken to the Kariakor Crematorium, where a simple cremation ceremony was held on Sunday. The swift proceedings reflected both his personal wishes and the desire of the family to avoid a prolonged public spectacle.
Macharia’s condolence message underscored the personal dimension of the loss. He praised Njonwo as “a beacon of integrity and intellect,” adding that his “legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Kenyan lawyers and public servants.” The chairman’s remarks were met with a plethora of supportive responses on social media, where many users shared memories of listening to Njonwo’s speeches on state radio during the 1970s and 80s.
While opinions on Njonwo’s political legacy remain mixed—some point to his role in consolidating state power, others commend his contributions to Kenya’s legal independence—the consensus is that his death marks the end of an era. As Kenya moves forward, the story of a man who bridged colonial education and post‑colonial governance offers a poignant reminder of the country’s complex history.
Murray Hill
September 25, 2025 AT 20:45Man, 101 years old and still shaping a nation’s soul. I think about how few people live long enough to see their own legacy become history. Njonjo didn’t just serve Kenya-he helped write its first chapters in ink that still smudges today.
His voice on the radio back then? Like hearing law spoken like poetry. Not loud, not flashy. Just there. Steady. Like a tree that outlived the storm.
Kinda makes you wonder what kind of mark we’ll leave when our time comes. Not the titles, not the speeches. Just the quiet stuff we did when no one was watching.
Bruce Wallwin
September 26, 2025 AT 08:33He was a tool of the state. Full stop. ‘Distinguished service’? That’s just code for ‘helped crush dissent quietly.’
And don’t get me started on ‘aristocratic bearing’-that’s just colonialism in a suit.
Also, ‘Kabeteshire’? Who even says that? Someone’s trying too hard.
Letetia Mullenix
September 27, 2025 AT 02:50i just listened to that radio clip from 1979 again… his voice was so calm. like he knew things would get messy but he stayed cool anyway.
kinda wish more leaders were like that. not loud, not mean. just… there. solid.
rest easy mr. njonjo. you did your best with what you had.
Morgan Skinner
September 27, 2025 AT 11:35This isn’t just about one man. It’s about the entire generation that built Kenya from the ashes of empire-not with fireworks, but with law books, courtrooms, and quiet courage.
Njonjo didn’t just advise presidents-he helped define what justice could look like in a newly free country.
And yes, he had flaws. All great men do. But let’s not erase the complexity to make him a villain or a saint.
He walked between two worlds: colonial education and African sovereignty. He carried both, and sometimes they pulled him apart.
That’s the real tragedy. Not his death. That he had to carry so much alone.
We owe it to him to remember not just his name, but the weight of what he carried.
Rachel Marr
September 27, 2025 AT 17:48Reading this made me think of my grandfather. He never held office, but he always said, ‘The law isn’t just rules-it’s how you treat people when no one’s looking.’
Njonjo reminded me of that. Even if people disagree with his choices, he believed in the system.
And maybe that’s the quietest kind of bravery.
Thank you for your service, sir. You made space for others to walk forward.
Kasey Lexenstar
September 28, 2025 AT 08:09Oh good. Another ‘national hero’ who helped lock up activists and silence dissent under the guise of ‘stability.’
‘Beacon of integrity’? Sure. If integrity means serving the same power structure for 50 years without blinking.
And now we’re supposed to cry because he died at 101? That’s not legacy. That’s longevity.
Let’s not romanticize the enforcers. Let’s just call them what they were.