Former Vice-President and once Githunguri MP Dr Josphat Karanja is described as one who was 'filthy rich' but weak politically
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Perhaps this can be well illustrated by the short term he served as Kenya's second in command between 1988 and 1989 before a vote of no confidence was passed against him by Parliament.But how did the former University of Nairobi vice-chancellor woes begin?Well, a story is told of how Karanja being so confident of succeeding then President Daniel Moi, demanded that politicians kneel before him when addressing him.However, this was not to go on for long, as the late vocal Limuru MP Kuria Kanyingi would orchestrate his downfall and humiliate him politically. Kanyingi was well connected to Moi's regime and Moi liked him in turn for the witty political jokes that usually left him in stitches.According to the Standard, Kanyingi accused Karanja of acting 'like a small god in heaven claiming he was also acting (when Moi was away) as president-in-waiting of Kenya'.The allegations weighty nature hit Karanja below the belt when on April 25, 1989, former Embakasi MP David Mwenje attacked Karanja on the floor of Parliament.The Standard reports that Mwenje rose under a standing order and told the House Speaker that he would move a no-confidence motion against the VP.The reality dawned on Karanja four days later when the motion was passed and Karanja lost his VP post to another university don, the late Prof George Saitoti.In October 1990, a year-and-a-half after his ouster, Karanja spoke out for multi-partyism, as the Standard further documents, but Moi was furious.“Karanja should shut up. After all, he made history by being vice-president," Moi is quoted to have said.Karanja died on February 28, 1994.#historynow