These MPs Vacated Their Seats For Kenyatta And His Son Uhuru to Join Parliament

A father and son who became Presidents in Kenya in different times joined politics through the sacrifice of leaders who vacated their respective seats for them.

The founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta got into Parliament after Kigumo MP Kariuki Njiiri gave him his seat and likewise his son President Uhuru Kenyatta got into Parliament through a nominated seat left aside by Mark Too.

As Kenya headed to independence there was an election in February 1961 pitting KANU against KADU but Kenyatta who was preferred by the victorious KANU to become the President was still locked at Kapenguria alongside five others.

Mzee Jomo Kenyatta holding his son Uhuru.

Elected members were urged to resign their seats and give it to Kenyatta but none wanted including Koinange his brother-in-law.

Kenyatta was supposed to be a member of Legislative Council (Legco) to play part in negotiations of Kenya’s independence in Britain.

Kenyatta with Kariuki Njiiri (Far right).

Kariuki Njiiri, the son of late Senior Chief Njiiri wa Karanja of Murang’a was MP for Kigumo Constituency. He agreed to vacate his seat for Kenyatta on December 1961 after the latter was released from detention.

This enabled Kenyatta to rise to Prime Minister and later the first President of sovereign Kenya.

Kariuki served as Assistant Minister for Local Government and later Wildlife and Natural resources. He died in 1975 in a road accident at Juja.

Fast-foward to 1997 his son Uhuru Kenyatta vied for Gatundu Seat but was defeated by Moses Muhia.

However, then President Daniel arap Moi wanted Uhuru in Parliament and a Minister in his government.

in 2001 Nominated MP Mark Too nicknamed “Bwana Dawa” was urged to leave the seat for Uhuru and once in bunge as nominated MP, the son of Kenyatta was appointed Minister for Local Government.

Uhuru at the burial of Mark Too.

This paved way for Uhuru’s rise to President. He vied in 2002 and lost but clinched the seat in 2013 and 2017 elections.

Mark Too died in December 2016