85 Notable alumni of
University of Nairobi
Updated:
The University of Nairobi is 731st in the world, 16th in Africa, and 1st in Kenya by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 85 notable alumni from the University of Nairobi sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Iman
- Occupations
- film actormodelentrepreneurtelevision actoractor
- Biography
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Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid, known mononymously as Iman, is a Somali–American model and actress. A muse of the designers Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Yves Saint Laurent, she is also noted for her philanthropic work. She was married to rock musician David Bowie from 1992 until his death in 2016.
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Wangari Muta Maathai
- Enrolled in the University of Nairobi
- Studied in 1971
- Occupations
- biologistpoliticianenvironmentalistveterinarianteacher
- Biography
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Wangarĩ Muta Maathai was a Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. In 2004 she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
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William Ruto
- Occupations
- politicianbusinessperson
- Biography
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William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto is a Kenyan politician who is the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first elected deputy president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. Previously, holders of the position were referred to as Vice President and the officeholder was unelected and appointed by the President. He previously served in three cabinet portfolios as the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture and as Minister for Higher Education.
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Chris Coons
- Occupations
- lawyerinternational forum participantpoliticianbusinessperson
- Biography
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Christopher Andrew Coons is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Delaware since 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Coons served as the county executive of New Castle County from 2005 to 2010.
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Malik Obama
- Occupations
- politicianbusinessperson
- Biography
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Abon'go Malik "Roy" Obama is a Kenyan-American businessman and former political candidate known for being the older half-brother of 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the eldest son of economist Barack Obama Sr.
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Kalonzo Musyoka
- Years
- 1953-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka is a Kenyan politician who was the tenth Vice-President of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. Musyoka served in the government under the late President Daniel arap Moi as the Secretary of Kenya African National Union party (1980-1988), Assistant Minister for Works (1986-1988), Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (1988-1992), Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1993 until 1998, Minister of Education (1998-2001); and subsequently, under the late President Mwai Kibaki, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs again from 2003 to 2004, then Minister of the Environment from 2004 to 2005. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2007 presidential election, after which he was appointed vice-president by Kibaki in January 2008.
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PLO Lumumba
- Years
- 1962-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba is a Kenyan lawyer and activist. He is the director of the Kenya School of Law and served as the director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from July 2010 to August 2017.
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Musalia Mudavadi
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is a Kenyan politician and land economist who is currently serving as Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya and expanded role of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Minister of Kenya, he is also the party leader of the Amani National Congress (ANC), one of the founding political parties, of the Kenya Kwanza alliance. He served as the 7th Vice-President of Kenya in 2002 and Deputy Prime Minister (2008–2012), when he resigned to contest for the Presidency in the 2013 Kenyan general election and emerged third. He was the deputy party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) (2005–2012) and Party Leader of the United Democratic Forum Party (UDF) from May 2012 to July 2015.
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Fred Matiangi
- Occupations
- civil servant
- Biography
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Fred Okengo Matiang'i is a former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. He assumed office on 8 July 2017 on acting capacity after the sudden Demise of Joseph ole Nkaissery, making him hold two cabinet positions concurrently, that is in the ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and Education, Science and Technology. He took up the full position of cabinet secretary for Internal Security and Coordination of National Government after being appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2018 in the president's second comprehensive cabinet appointments. On 22 January 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta, through Executive Order Number 1 of 2019, appointed him chairperson of the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee. The committee is composed of all Cabinet Secretaries, The Attorney-General and the Head of the Public Service who acts as the secretariat.
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Martha Karua
- Occupations
- politicianjurist
- Biography
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Martha Wangari Karua is a Kenyan politician. She is a former long-standing member of parliament for Gichugu Constituency and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She was Minister for Justice until resigning from that position in April 2009. She has consistently fought for the protection of women's rights and improvements to the democratic process.
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Anne Waiguru
- Years
- 1971-.. (age 53)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Anne Mumbi Waiguru, EGH, is the second Governor of Kirinyaga County in Kenya, who has been in office since 22 August 2017. She was re-elected to office as Governor for her second 5-year term in the elections that were held on 9 August 2022. Previously, she served as the first Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. She was nominated by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta to the position on 25 April 2013. She is behind the establishment of Huduma Centres, places where Kenyan citizens can access government services more efficiently in their respective counties. as well as the 30% procurement rule, which accords at least 30 per cent of all supply contracts to the government to the youth, persons with disability and women.
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David Maraga
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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David Kenani Maraga is a Kenyan lawyer and jurist. He was the 14th Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya from October 2016 until his retirement in January 2021.
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Mutahi Kagwe
- Years
- 1958-.. (age 66)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mutahi Kagwe is a Kenyan politician.
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James Mwangi
- Occupations
- accountantbankerbusinessperson
- Biography
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James Mwangi CBS is a Kenyan accountant, career banker, businessman, and entrepreneur. He is the current Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Equity Group Holdings Plc, the banking conglomerate with one of the largest customer bases on the African continent, over 14 million as of December 2019.
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Moses Wetangula
- Years
- 1956-.. (age 68)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Moses Francis Masika Wetang'ula, is the current Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, as well as leader of the FORD-Kenya party. He served in the government of Kenya as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and from 2011 to 2012, and he was Minister for Trade from 2012 to 2013.
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Ferdinand Omurwa
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa is a Kenyan sprinter competing in the 60 metres, 100 m and 200 m. In 2022, he won his first international championships, with victories in the 100 m at the Commonwealth Games, and African Championships in Athletics. Omanyala is the African record holder and the ninth-fastest man of all time in the event after clocking a time of 9.77 seconds on 18 September 2021 in Nairobi. He also holds Kenyan national record in the 60 m.
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Monica Juma
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Monica Kathina Juma CBS, EGH, MBS is a Kenyan diplomat who currently serves as National Security Advisor to President William Ruto. She previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Defence in the cabinet of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
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Ida Odinga
- Occupations
- First Lady
- Biography
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Ida Betty Odinga is a Kenyan businesswoman, activist and educator. She is the wife of Raila Odinga, the former Prime Minister of Kenya, and the leader of National Super Alliance (NASA). In 2010, The Standard named Odinga, who was one of the first women to head a major Kenyan company, as one of the top most powerful women in Kenya in 2010.
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Lucy Gichuhi
- Occupations
- lawyercivil servantpoliticianauditoraccountant
- Biography
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Lucy Muringo Gichuhi is an Australian politician who served as a Senator for South Australia from 2017 to 2019. Born in Kenya, Gichuhi worked as an accountant before entering politics. Gichuhi is a social conservative who has been vocally opposed to the legalization of same-sex marriage.
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Martha Koome
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Martha Karambu Koome is a Kenyan advocate who is currently serving as the Chief Justice of Kenya, and is the first woman to occupy the post.
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Avril
- Occupations
- singeractor
- Biography
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Judith Nyambura Mwangi, better known by her mononym Avril, is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, actress and entertainer. She was formerly signed to Ogopa Deejays, one of the leading music production and record labels in Kenya. As a singer, she is popularly known for her singles "Mama", "Kitu Kimoja", "Chokoza" and "Hakuna Yule". As an actress, she is best known for playing Miss B'Have on Shuga: Love, Sex, Money (2012). Avril's contributions to the Kenyan entertainment industry have earned her one Nzumari Award, one Kisima Music Award, one Golden Mic Award and two Chaguo La Teeniez Awards.
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Peter Kenneth
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Peter Kenneth is a Kenyan politician. He hails from Kirwara Sub-location of Gatanga Constituency in Murang'a County, Kenya.
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Eugene Wamalwa
- Years
- 1969-.. (age 55)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa is a Kenyan politician who was the former Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Defense. Prior to that before 29 September 2021, he was Cabinet Secretary of Devolution. He is also a former minister for Justice. He also served as Minister for Water and Irrigation. He belongs to the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party, and was elected to represent the Saboti Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya during the 2007 Kenyan parliamentary election, and serving for a one term of five years.
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Willy Munyoki Mutunga
- Occupations
- judgelawyerinternational forum participant
- Biography
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Willy Munyoki Mutunga, EGH is a Kenyan lawyer, intellectual, reform activist, and was the Commonwealth Special Envoy to the Maldives. He is also an active member of the Justice Leadership Group. He is the retired Chief Justice of Kenya and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
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Evans Kidero
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Evans Odhiambo Kidero is a Kenyan politician and former Governor of Nairobi County. He served as CEO of Mumias Sugar Company for 8 years, resigning in 2012 to join elective politics.
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Apolo Nsibambi
- Years
- 1940-2019 (aged 79)
- Enrolled in the University of Nairobi
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- politicianuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Apolo Robin Nsibambi was a Ugandan academic and politician who served as the 8th Prime Minister of Uganda from 5 April 1999 until 24 May 2011, when Amama Mbabazi succeeded him.
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Justin Muturi
- Years
- 1956-.. (age 68)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi is the current Attorney General of Kenya who served as the seventh Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. He is the first speaker to serve following the reestablishment of a bicameral Parliament by the 2010 Constitution. On 28 March 2013, Muturi won the speakership after a second round of voting by members of the National Assembly, beating former speaker Kenneth Marende by a 219–129 margin.
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Margaret Ogola
- Occupations
- pediatricianphysician writer
- Biography
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Margaret Atieno Ogola was a Kenyan novelist who wrote The River and the Source and its sequel, I Swear by Apollo. The River and the Source follows four generations of Kenyan women in a rapidly changing country and society. The book has been on the KCSE syllabus for many years, and it won the 1995 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for best first book, Africa Region. Ogola completed her final book, titled Mandate of the People, before her death and it is set to be released posthumously. She was also the recipient of the Familias Award for Humanitarian Service of the World Congress of Families.
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Kipchumba Murkomen
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen is a Kenyan lawyer. He is the Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport, and Public Works in Kenya. He served as the senator for Elgeyo-Marakwet County from 2013 to 2022.
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Githu Muigai
- Years
- 1960-.. (age 64)
- Occupations
- public prosecutor generallawyer
- Biography
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Githu Muigai is a Kenyan lawyer who was the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya until February 13, 2018, when he resigned. He holds a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Nairobi, a master's degree in international law from Columbia University School of Law, and was awarded a doctoral degree in law in November 2002. Prior to becoming Attorney General Githu Muigai served in the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission and at the United Nations as Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
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Davis Chirchir
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Davis Chirchir is a Kenyan politician who has served as cabinet secretary for Energy and Petroleum since 2022. He is also a renowned 'IT guru', having started his career in Telkom Kenya, then known as Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.
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Peter Munya
- Years
- 1969-.. (age 55)
- Occupations
- international forum participantpolitician
- Biography
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Peter Gatirau Munya is the immediate former Cabinet Secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture. He took over the ministry on 14 January 2020 after being transferred from the Ministry of Trade and Industrialization. He also served in the same capacity in the ministry of East African Community and Northern Corridor Development.
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Henry Rotich
- Years
- 1969-.. (age 55)
- Occupations
- international forum participantpolitician
- Biography
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Henry K. Rotich is a Kenyan civil servant who was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury on 23 April 2013. On 14 January 2020, Rotich, who had been arrested on charges of corruption, was removed from this position.
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Joseph Ole Lenku
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Joseph Jama Ole Lenku is a Kenyan politician who is the second Governor of Kajiado County after winning in the Kenyan General Elections on 8 August 2017 and retained his seat in the 2022 General elections held on 8 August. Lenku was Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government from 2013 to 2014.
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Njoki Susanna Ndung'u
- Enrolled in the University of Nairobi
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Njoki Susanna Ndung'u is a Kenyan lawyer and a justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from University of Nairobi and a Master of Laws (LLM) in human rights and civil liberties from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. She was born in 1966.
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Wycliffe Oparanya
- Occupations
- politicianaccountant
- Biography
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Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya is a Kenyan politician who served as the governor of Kakamega County from 2013 to 2022. He was elected on 4 March 2013 and became the first governor of Kakamega County following promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in 2010 and subsequently in August 2017, for his second term as the governor. He is, therefore, the pioneer Governor of Kakamega County under the devolved system of governance in Kenya that established 47 counties. He was previously Minister of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 in the government of the late President Mwai Kibaki. He was appointed on 14 January 2019 as the Council of Governors of Kenya chairperson. Wycliffe Oparanya is also the current Ford Kenya Party deputy party leader.
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Sylvia Mulinge
- Occupations
- chief executive officerbusinessperson
- Biography
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Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge, is a Kenyan businesswoman and corporate executive. Since 1 October 2022, she has served as the chief executive officer of MTN Uganda, replacing Wim Vanhelleputte, who was promoted to regional executive responsible for operations in Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry and Liberia.
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Njuguna Ndung'u
- Occupations
- bankerinternational forum participanteconomist
- Biography
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Njuguna S. Ndung'u is a Kenyan economist who is the Minister of Finance in the cabinet of President William Samoei Ruto since October 2022.
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Aden Mohammed
- Occupations
- entrepreneur
- Biography
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Adan Abdulla Mohammed is a prominent Kenyan banker and entrepreneur. He previously served as the managing director of Barclays Bank in East and West Africa. In 2013, he was sworn in as the Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization of Kenya.
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James Wainaina Macharia
- Years
- 1959-.. (age 65)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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James Wainaina Macharia is a Kenyan accountant who was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Cabinet Secretary for transport in November 2015.He replaced in acting capacity Michael kamau who was suspended in March 2015. Before that he was the cabinet secretary for health..
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Maina Kiai
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- international forum participantlawyerhuman rights activist
- Biography
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Maina Kiai is a Kenyan lawyer and human rights activist who formerly served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association from May 1, 2011, to April 30, 2017. Since 2018, he has headed Human Rights Watch's Alliances and Partnerships program.
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Matia Kasaija
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Matia Kasaija is a Ugandan politician. He is the current Minister of Finance in Uganda's Cabinet. He was appointed to that position on 1 March 2015, replacing Maria Kiwanuka, who was appointed to Senior Presidential Advisor for Finance. From 27 May 2011 until 28 February 2015, he served as the State Minister for Finance in the Cabinet of Uganda. He replaced Ephraim Kamuntu, who was promoted to Minister of Tourism. Before that, he served as the State Minister for Internal Affairs, from 1 June 2006 until May 2011. He is also the elected Member of Parliament for "Buyanja County", Kibaale District.
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David Ethuro
- Years
- 1963-.. (age 61)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ekwee David Ethuro is a Kenyan politician. Currently is the Chairperson Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). He was elected as the first Speaker of the modern Kenyan Senate on 28 March 2013. From 1998 to 2013 he served as a Member of Parliament representing Turkana Central. He also served as the Assistant Minister for Planning and National Development from 1998 to 2002 under the government of President Daniel arap Moi. He was re-elected as Member of Parliament for Turkana Central in the 2007 general elections and steered the proceedings of the 10th Parliament in the position of acting Speaker of the House whenever the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were absent.
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Kenneth Marende
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Kenneth Otiato Marende, born 7 January 1956, was the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya's 10th Parliament. He was elected Speaker on January 15, 2008. Prior to his election as Speaker, Hon. Marende served as the MP for Emuhaya constituency, from 2002 to 2007. Marende was a candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya's 13th Parliament, but was defeated by former Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula who garnered 215 votes ahead of Marende who managed 130.
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Ahmed Issack Hassan
- Years
- 1970-.. (age 54)
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Ahmed Issack Hassan is a Kenyan lawyer and public servant.
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Jacob Kaimenyi
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 72)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jacob Thuranira Kaimenyi is a Kenyan dentist who served as Cabinet Secretary for Education, and then Land, Housing, and Urban Development, in the Cabinet of President Uhuru Kenyatta, before being appointed as the Ambassador to Belgium.
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Robinson Njeru Githae
- Years
- 1957-.. (age 67)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Robinson Njeru Githae is a Kenyan politician. He belongs to the Party of National Unity and was elected to represent the Ndia Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya since the Kenyan parliamentary election, 2002. He has served as assistant minister in the ministries of justice, transport and local government before being appointed a minister in the ministries of Nairobi Metropolitan then Kenya's finance minister. He was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya- US ambassador on 14/08/2014. He was later transferred to Vienna in May 2019 as Kenya’s ambassador to Austria where he is currently serving.
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Anthony Muheria
- Occupations
- Catholic bishopCatholic priest
- Biography
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Anthony Muheria is a Kenyan Catholic bishop who serves as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Nyeri. He was appointed Archbishop of Nyeri on 23 April 2017.
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Dorcas Muthoni
- Occupations
- computer scientistbusinesspersonengineer
- Biography
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Dorcas Muthoni is a Kenyan entrepreneur, computer scientist and founder of OPENWORLD LTD, a software consulting company she started at the age of 24. Through her work as an entrepreneur and computer scientist, Muthoni seeks to see technology positively transforming the lives of the African society, governments and enterprises.
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Joyce Aluoch
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Joyce Aluoch is a Kenyan lawyer who served as Judge of the International Criminal Court from 2009 until 2018. She is a former judge of the High Court of Kenya. In addition to her career as a judge, she was the First Chairperson of the Committee of African Union Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Vice-Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child from 2003 to 2009. She has also served as the inaugural head of the family division of the Kenyan High Court and a member of the Court of Appeal.
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Christopher Obure
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Christopher Mogere Obure is a Kenyan politician. He belongs to the Jubilee Party and was elected to represent the Bobasi Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya in the December 2007 parliamentary election. He was born in Boigesa Village on September 29, 1943, in the then larger Bobasi Machoge Constituency which has since been split into Bobasi and Bomachoge Constituencies. He worked for Bata Shoe Company and Kenya Breweries Limited (now East Africa Breweries) before joining politics. He was the Minister of Public Works in the Government of National Unity. He was the first Senator of Kisii County. Obure is also well remembered as the first non-Luo player to be recruited in Gor Mahia F.C, and was among the squad which played during the club's inaugural season in 1968 and 1969.
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Miriam Were
- Occupations
- writernovelistuniversity teacheracademicphysician
- Biography
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Miriam Khamadi Were is a Kenyan public health advocate, academic, and recipient of the first Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize. In 2022, she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in public health.
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Phyllis Omido
- Occupations
- environmentalist
- Biography
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Phyllis Omido, dubbed the "East African Erin Brockovich", is a Kenyan environmental activist. She was one of 6 people to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015. She is known for organizing protests against a lead smelting plant located in the middle of Owino Uhuru, a slum near Mombasa. The plant was causing lead poisoning by raising the lead content in the environment, killing residents, in particular children, and harming others, including her own child. The plant was ultimately closed.
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Patrick Njoroge
- Occupations
- economistinternational forum participant
- Biography
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Patrick Ngugi Njoroge is a Kenyan economist, banker and the ninth governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
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Michael Kamau
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Michael Kamau is a Kenyan civil servant who was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure on 25 April 2013. He was suspended from the Cabinet on 28 March 2015 on allegations of corruption and charged in court with abuse of office on 4 June 2015. He was replaced by James Macharia in an acting capacity.
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Franklin Bett
- Years
- 1953-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Franklin Kipn'getich Bett alias is a Kenyan politician. He is currently serving as the chairman of the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) after President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him to the position. He belongs to the Jubilee Alliance Party and was elected to represent the Bureti Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya in the Kenyan parliamentary election, 2007.
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Cecilia Ogwal
- Occupations
- management consultantbusinesspersonpolitician
- Biography
-
Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal was a Ugandan politician, businesswoman and management consultant. She was the Member of Parliament for the Dokolo District Women's Constituency. She was a member of Uganda's legislature continuously from 1996 until her death.
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Hassan Arero
- Years
- 1970-.. (age 54)
- Occupations
- politiciananthropologist
- Biography
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Hassan Gurach Wario Arero is a Kenyan civil servant and politician, who has been Kenyan Ambassador to Austria since 2018. He was Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture, and the Arts of Kenya from 2013 to 2018.
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Esther Koimett
- Occupations
- banker
- Biography
-
Esther Koimett, is a Kenyan public-servant experienced in investment promotion, banking, privatisation, public enterprise and public policy. She is presently the Principal Secretary State Department Of Broadcasting And Telecommunication, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs following her appointment by former president Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2020. Prior to her appointment in the ICT docket, Esther served as the Principal Secretary, State Department for Transport, Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure,Housing, Urban Development & Public Works since her appointment in August, 2018.
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Tracie D. Hall
- Occupations
- librarianwriter
- Biography
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Tracie D. Hall is an American librarian, author, curator, and advocate for the arts who served as the executive director of the American Library Association from 2020 to 2023. Hall is the first African American woman to lead the association since its founding in 1876.
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Rosalyn Nandwa
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Rosalyn Waseka Nandwa is a Kenyan politician who is the current deputy chief of staff to the deputy president of Kenya William Ruto and chief of staff to the second lady Rachel Ruto.
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Sabina Wanjiru Chege
- Years
- 1978-.. (age 46)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Sabina Wanjiru Chege is a Kenyan politician and former television actress and radio presenter who is a member of the Kenyan Parliament.
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Chelagat Mutai
- Occupations
- activistpolitician
- Biography
-
Philomena Chelagat Mutai was a prominent female Kenyan politician and human rights defender known for her bold utterances in and outside the Parliament of Kenya. Popularly known as 'Chelagat Mutai', she started out as a vocal student activist and journalist, later joining elective politics early in her life and becoming a fierce critic of the Kenya government. She became an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience when the administration of President Jomo Kenyatta clamped down on dissent and threw her in jail. She was eventually exiled from Kenya joining a cast of foreign-based Kenyan dissidents fleeing the repressive regimes of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi. In October 1974, at the age of 25, she became the youngest person elected to the Kenyan Parliament, defeating a cast of 11 male contestants in a tight race for the Eldoret North seat. She quickly joined Kenya's leftist politics, becoming a fierce critic of the Kenyatta government, and was imprisoned as a result. Soon after her incarceration, she returned to politics winning back the seat she had lost. She would not last long and would be exiled from Kenya, fleeing what she believed to be another round of politically motivated incarceration. She spent several years in exile in Tanzania. She championed the inclusion of women in Kenyan politics and society, and as a lifelong activist for good governance.
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Erastus J. O. Mwencha
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
-
Erastus J.O. Mwencha is a Kenyan businessman who served as a Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to which he was elected on February 6, 2008. On January 30, 2017, he was succeeded as Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission by Ghana diplomat Thomas Kwasi Quartey.
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Vincent Makori
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
-
Vincent Makori is the anchor of Africa 54, Voice of America’s English television live news magazine show that broadcasts daily from Washington D.C. The program brings information about Africa, the United States, and the world to viewers across Africa.
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Judy Thongori
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
-
Judy Thongori is a Kenyan lawyer and rights activist. She is a women's rights activist and she successfully sued the Kenyan government for not delivering 30% representation for women.
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Dorothy Wanja Nyingi
- Occupations
- zoologistichthyologist
- Biography
-
Dorothy Wanja Nyingi is a Kenyan ichthyologist and recipient of the Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms) for her work on Fish Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecology. She is the head of the Ichthyology Department at the National Museums of Kenya. She is the author of the first guide to fresh water fish in Kenya, Guide to the Common Freshwater Fishes of Kenya. She is a Kenyan freshwater ecologist focusing on community driven conservation
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Fredros O Okumu
- Born in
-
Kenya - Occupations
- entomologistparasitologist
- Biography
-
Fredros Okumu is a Kenyan parasitologist and entomologist, who currently works as director of science at the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania. His primary research interests concern the interactions between humans and mosquitoes.
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Nanjira Sambuli
- Occupations
- activistresearcher
- Biography
-
Nanjira Sambuli is a Kenyan researcher, writer, policy analyst and strategist interested in and working on understanding the unfolding, gendered impacts of ICT adoption on governance, media, entrepreneurship and culture.
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Mary M'Mukindia
- Years
- 1950-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- chemist
- Biography
-
Mary M'Mukindia MBS is a Kenyan businessperson in the petrochemicals industry, who served as CEO of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) from 2003 to 2008. In 2015, several major newspapers implicated her in a bribery scandal connected to the failed 2013 presidential campaign of Martha Karua, but a subsequent court case found these charges to be malicious and false. As of 2018, she works as a consultant and leadership coach.
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Peter Amollo Odhiambo
- Occupations
- scientistsurgeon
- Biography
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Peter Amollo Odhiambo, MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS (Edin), FCS (ECSA), FACC, is a Kenyan consultant thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. He is Kenya's first cardiothoracic surgeon and a professor of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Nairobi. He is a founder and former chairman of the Kenya Cardiac Society, and a former president of the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR). Odhiambo is the chairman of the Kenya Tobacco Control Board. He is also the founder and editor of Medicom, the African Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Philo Ikonya
- Occupations
- journalistacademicwriterpolitical activist
- Biography
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Philo Ikonya is a writer, journalist and human rights activist from Kenya. Her articles and books often cover the current political situation in Kenya. She was the president of Kenya's branch of PEN, the international association of writers. After several arrests for her activism and a severe beating in 2009 while in police custody, she left Kenya in political exile.
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Alice Wahome
- Years
- 1959-.. (age 65)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Alice Muthoni Wahome is a Kenyan politician and cabinet secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development. Wahome was the elected as Member of Parliament for the Kandara Constituency in the March 2013 general elections and successfully defended her seat in 2017 and 2022 prior to resigning her seat to join cabinet. Wahome is a member of UDA.
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Peter Mahamudu Msolla
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Peter Mahamudu Msolla is a Tanzanian CCM politician and Member of Parliament for Kilolo constituency since 2005.
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Kimani Njogu
- Years
- 1953-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- linguistwriteracademic
- Biography
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Dr. Kimani Njogu is Kenyan linguist known for his role in study and advocacy of Kiswahili language.
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Simon Mulongo
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Simon Mulongo is a Ugandan financial advisor, international relations specialist, security consultant and politician. He is the former member of parliament and CA delegate for Bubulo County East, Bugisu sub-region and is a member of National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling political party in Uganda.
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Joseph Manje
- Biography
-
Joseph Wathigo Manje is a Kenyan politician, a teacher, and an entrepreneur, and currently the Member of Parliament for Kajiado North Constituency in Kajiado County. He is a member of the ruling Jubilee Party under President Uhuru Kenyatta. He previously served as a Commissioner at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as well as the Electoral Commission of Kenya's (ECK) South Rift Presidential Election Zonal Coordinator. He also served as a teacher employed by Kenya's Teachers Service Commission. He has business interests in the leather and construction industries.
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Troy Onyango
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
-
Troy Onyango is a Kenyan writer, editor and lawyer. His work has appeared in journals and magazines including Prairie Schooner, Wasafiri, Caine Prize Anthology, Brittle Paper, and Transition Magazine issue 121, for which his short story "The Transfiguration" was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His short story "For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings" won the fiction prize for the inaugural Nyanza Literary Festival (NALIF) Prize.
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Chebet Lesan
- Years
- 1990-.. (age 34)
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
-
Chebet Lesan is a Kenyan entrepreneur who has received various awards by creating charcoal briquettes from waste material and then selling it on to a network of women. The resulting product creates affordable fuel in Kenya and avoids trees from being used and its smoke free burn gives health benefits. The awards include the Queen's Young Leader Award and a Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
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Linda Kwamboka
- Occupations
- chief executive officerbusinesspersonlobbyist
- Biography
-
Linet Kwamboka, is a Kenyan computer scientist and businesswoman, who is the founder and chief executive officer of DataScience Limited, an IT research company.
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Ruth Oniang'o
- Years
- 1946-.. (age 78)
- Occupations
- academic
- Biography
-
Ruth Khasaya Oniang'o is a Kenyan Professor of Nutrition and a former member of Parliament. She created Rural Outreach Africa (ROA) to empower smallholder farmers to address malnutrition, she oversees her country's nutrition policy, and she has been on the following Boards: Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Board Member KILIMO TRUST, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Institute for Policy Research Analysis (IPAR), Former Board Chair, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC), USA, Nutrition Third World Board, based in Belgium and supports Third World Nutrition Research, Member of Trustees for the International Rice Research Institute, CGIAR Centre, Project Advisory Committee of the HarvestPlus, and CGIAR Challenge Program seeking to enhance bioavailability of nutrients from food crops using conventional mean.
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Thomas Kariuki
- Occupations
- immunologistinternational forum participant
- Biography
-
Thomas M. Kariuki is a Kenya biologist who is Chief Executive Officer of the Science for Africa Foundation. Kariuki previously served as the Director of Programmes for the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA). He was the Director of the Institute of Primate Research/National Museums of Kenya, for seven years. Kariuki’s research interests have spanned the immunology of neglected infectious diseases and he has been involved in global efforts to develop vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for poverty-related diseases. He has published on vaccines and diagnostics development for schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), malaria and co-infections and on policy issues related to biomedical research and funding. He is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), Senior Fellowship of the European Foundations Initiative for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Presidential honour of the Order of Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) for scientific leadership and public service, Honorary Professor of Research of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LSTM.
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Morris Ogenga Latigo
- Occupations
- politicianacademic
- Biography
-
Morris Ogenga Latigo is a Ugandan professor of agriculture, Academic and politician of the Forum for Democratic Change who was the leader of opposition in the Ugandan Parliament from 2006 to 2010.
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Lucy Sawere Nkya
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 72)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Lucy Sawere Nkya is a Tanzanian CCM politician and Member of Parliament for Morogoro South East constituency since 2010.
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Francis Kagwima
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 72)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
H.E. Francis Nyamu Kagwima is a Kenyan politician, born in 1952. He is the second and incumbent Deputy Governor of Tharaka Nithi County in Kenya after having been cleared on a Jubilee Party in the Kenyan election as Onesmus Muthomi Njuki's running mate. Before being elected the Deputy Governor, he served as a Member of Parliament of Tharaka Constituency for the terms in 1988–1997 and re-elected again in 2002–2007.
