Our school curriculum may teach us a lot when it comes to the history of Kenya as a whole but very little when it comes to the capital city Nairobi. Here we take a look at the first African female mayor of Nairobi and lessons and what she did for the city under the sun.
Margaret Kenyatta was the first-born daughter of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and his wife Grace Wahu. She was born at Pumwani maternity hospital in 1929. Margaret Kenyatta served as the deputy mayor for Nairobi in 1969 and was later elected to the post of mayor for two terms between 1970 and 1976. During this time, Margaret achieved the following.
1. Affordable and modern housing
Jamuhuri, California and Kariobangi South Estate were all the offsprings of Margaret’s tenure as the mayor of Nairobi for the 6 years in charge. At the time, these housing units were among the most stylish and envied in Nairobi.
2. Safe drinking water
In her tenure as the mayor of Nairobi, Margaret Kenyatta ensured that the Nairobi City Council provided the residents of Nairobi with clean water which was ranked by WHO as among the safest in the world at the time.
3. Expansion of Pumwani Hospital
The current day Pumwani Maternity Hospital from which many Nairobians were delivered would not be if Margaret had not taken it upon herself to oversee its expansion. She equipped the hospital with modern equipment, ensured enough medical supplies and doctors and nurses were available. On top of that, she built more wards at the facility.
4. The SOS children’s Homes
In 1972 during a courtesy visit to the Austrian President in Austria, she was able to use her diplomatic skills to convince him to set up the SOS children’s homes here in Kenya which continues to change the lives of so many underprivileged Kenyans many years later.