Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was the most recognized statesman in the Eastern section of Africa in the fight for independence for Kenya particularly. He fought and delivered Kenya the British rule.
He took up the struggle against colonial rule in Kenya in the early 1920s, becoming the most prominent of the anti-colonial leaders from Africa. He was of the Kikuyu origin born in Gatundu division in Kiambu on 20th October 1893 according to most biographies (different sources display between 1890 & 1894).
According to history, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who was the first president of the Republic of Kenya was not born and baptized as 'Jomo Kenyatta'. In 1914, he was baptized as a Christian and given the name John Peter which he changed to Johnstone Kamau Ngengi (Kamau wa Ngengi).
Mzee Kenyatta was from a humble background where his father Muigai was a farmer and his mother was Wambui. He again later changed his name to Jomo (meaning burning 'spear' in Kikuyu) in 1938 and adopted his second name 'Kenyatta' which is a Maasai word meaning 'bead belt' which he often wore and was referred to as 'mucibi wa kenyatta'.
After he was baptized, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta enrolled for 5-year education at the Church of Scotland Mission in Kikuyu. From 1921 to 1926, he was employed to work with Nairobi Town Council before he moved to the Supreme Court to work as an interpreter.
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