Kenya's first President the late Jomo Kenyatta made the decision to quit drinking alcohol in 1920 after he was accused by the church of two 'sinful' crimes, namely taking liquor and marrying without church rites.
As documented in a book titled: Darkest Secrets of the Kenyan Presidency by Chris Kumekucha, Kenyatta pleaded guilty to both and solemnly promised to reform. This promise, however, seems not have helped Kenyatta much as he was expelled from the church for three years. He was also ordered to get married before a European magistrate. After the strict church carefully observed him for three years, he was accepted back in 1923 in a ceremony where he promised to refrain from alcohol for the rest of his life. This was never to be because the presidency happened, and as the author says, everything changed.Kenyatta's fortunes are said to have changed considerably after he stopped taking alcohol. He was able to secure a job in 1922 at the Nairobi Municipal Council as a water meter reader and stores clerk where he was earning a cool Sh250 a month. This was an era when a good blanket was worth below 50 cents. He got the job courtesy of one John Cook who was his protégé at the church. Cook was the Water Superintendent at the council. It would have been an uphill task for Kenyatta to secure such a job on his own as the colonial masters then considered Kikuyus as thieves and murderers. One was required to be trustworthy to be able to serve as a store clerk or meter reader. Cook's influence at the council and Kenyatta's link with the church at Thogoto where he had confessed his sins and reformed, enabled him get the job. Kenyatta's salary enabled him buy a motorbike in the same year (1922). He also became active in politics joining the Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) still in 1922. During his meter reading job, Kenyatta was exposed to many people including Asians who would later print his newspaper Muiguithania (The Reconciler).During these years Kenyatta was said to speak out strongly against the consumption of alcohol.#historynow