George Saitoti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Professor George Musengi Saitoti
E.G.H.
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| 6th Vice-President of Kenya | |
| In office 1 June 1989 – 30 August 2002 |
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| President | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Josephat Karanja |
| Succeeded by | Musalia Mudavadi |
| Minister of State for Internal Security and Provincial Administration | |
| In office 8 January 2008 – 10 June 2012 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Prime Minister | Raila Odinga |
| Preceded by | John Michuki |
| Succeeded by | Mohamed Yusuf Haji |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 3 January 2003 – 8 January 2008 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Preceded by | Henry Kosgey |
| Succeeded by | Sam Ongeri |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 1988–1993 |
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| President | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Arthur Magugu |
| Succeeded by | Musalia Mudavadi |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office April 1988 – 10 June 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Philip Odupoy |
| Succeeded by | Moses Ole Sakuda |
| Constituency | Kajiado North Constituency |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Musengi Saitoti
3 August 1945 Maasailand, Kenya |
| Died | 10 June 2012 (aged 66) Kibiku Forest, Ngong, Nairobi, Kenya. |
| Resting place | Kitengela, Kajiado County. |
| Political party |
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| Other political affiliations |
United Democratic Front (Kenya) |
| Spouse | Margaret Saitoti |
| Relations |
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| Children | Zachary Musengi |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession |
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George Musengi Saitoti (born August 3, 1945 – died June 10, 2012) was an important Kenyan leader. He was a skilled mathematician and economist. He also served as a successful businessman.
Saitoti was a professor of mathematics at the University of Nairobi. He helped start the African Mathematical Union and was its vice-president. As an economist, he worked with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He also led the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group. His ideas helped shape economic policies in Africa.
He started in politics as a Member of Parliament and Minister for Finance in 1983. He became Kenya's longest-serving Vice-President. He was also a Minister for Education, Internal Security, and Foreign Affairs. Saitoti played a big role in bringing back multi-party democracy to Kenya. He later joined the opposition and helped form the "NARC Revolution" in 2002. He worked to keep Kenya safe, including during Operation Linda Nchi against the Al-Shabaab insurgent group. Saitoti was running to become president when he sadly died in a helicopter crash in 2012.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Saitoti was born on August 3, 1945, in Maasailand, Kenya. He grew up herding cattle, which is a traditional Maasai activity. He also went to school. He attended Ololua Primary School in Kajiado in the 1950s.
From 1960 to 1963, he studied at Mang'u High School in Thika. Many famous Kenyans, including former President Mwai Kibaki, also went to this school.
Studying Abroad
In 1963, at age 18, Saitoti received a special scholarship called the the Kennedy Airlift. This program helped many East African students study in the United States of America and Canada. Saitoti went to Brandeis University from 1963 to 1967. He focused on Mathematics and Economics. He was known for being good at high jump. In 1988, he received a top award from Brandeis University.
Later, Saitoti moved to the United Kingdom. He earned a Master of Science (MSc) degree in mathematics from the University of Sussex. He then got his PhD in mathematics from the University of Warwick in 1972. His PhD work was about a complex area of mathematics called algebraic topology.
Academic Career
After finishing his studies, Saitoti returned to Kenya in 1972. He became a Mathematics lecturer at the University of Nairobi. He helped make mathematics a stronger subject across Africa. In 1976, he helped create the African Mathematical Union (AMU). He was elected the AMU's vice-president until 1979. By 1983, he was an associate professor and Head of the Mathematics Department.
Saitoti also held several public positions. He was chairman of the Agricultural Wages Council in 1972. He was also a committee member of the Natural Sciences Advisory Research Committee. In 1983, he became chairperson of the board for the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology. He also led the Mumias Sugar Company and the Kenya Commercial Bank.
Ideas for Development
Many government leaders saw Saitoti as a smart thinker. They believed he could help improve Kenya's economy and political system. His important book, The Challenges of Economic and Institutional Reforms in Africa, offered practical ideas. It discussed how to reduce poverty and achieve lasting development in Africa. Saitoti stressed that good policies and strong institutions were key for economic growth.
Political Journey
Before joining mainstream politics, Saitoti served in the East African Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1977. This was part of the East African Community.
Representing Kajiado North
In October 1983, President Daniel arap Moi chose Saitoti to be a Member of Parliament. He then appointed him as Minister for Finance. Saitoti held this role until 1989. In the 1988 elections, Saitoti won the Kajiado North Constituency seat.
For over 25 years, Professor George Saitoti represented Kajiado North. He won elections in 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007. He helped make Kajiado North a diverse area where people from different backgrounds could live together. The area became one of Kenya's fastest-growing and wealthiest regions.
Kenya's Vice-President
After the 1988 election, President Moi appointed Saitoti as Kenya's sixth vice-president. Saitoti served as Vice-President for 13 years under President Daniel arap Moi. He held the position from May 1989 to January 1998, and again from April 1999 to August 2002. During this time, he also served as Minister for Finance.
From 1990 to 1991, Saitoti was the Executive Chairman of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He also led the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States from 1999 to 2000. He helped negotiate a new agreement between these countries and the European Union. Saitoti was known for his efficiency and loyalty as President Moi's trusted helper.
Changing the One-Party System
When Saitoti became vice-president in 1989, the ruling party, KANU, was facing pressure to become more democratic. In 1990, after public protests, President Moi formed the KANU Review Committee. Professor George Saitoti led this committee, which became known as the Saitoti Committee.
The Saitoti Review Committee
The Saitoti Committee was tasked with looking into the party's election and discipline rules. The committee traveled across the country, gathering opinions from many people. This allowed for open discussions and criticism of the party.
In January 1991, KANU's leaders accepted Saitoti's idea to suspend party critics instead of expelling them. The committee's recommendations were debated at a big meeting in Nairobi. President Moi supported the report, which opened the door for major reforms. This led to the repeal of Section 2A in 1991, bringing back a multi-party system of government to Kenya.
Challenges within KANU
Saitoti faced many challenges within the KANU party. Despite his loyalty, he was sometimes ignored or frustrated by party leaders. After the 1997 elections, he was temporarily removed as vice-president. When President Moi reappointed him in 1999, he made a public remark that seemed to belittle Saitoti.
Before the 2002 general elections, Saitoti's name was removed from the list of KANU delegates. This blocked his path to becoming president. In March 2002, KANU changed its constitution to create new vice-chairman positions. This was seen as a way to reduce Saitoti's power and prevent him from becoming Moi's successor.
Joining the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)
It became clear that Saitoti was not chosen as Moi's successor. He famously said, There comes a time when the nation is much more important than an individual. He then left KANU.
In August 2002, Raila Odinga also left KANU and formed the "Rainbow Alliance." Saitoti joined this group. In October 2002, this alliance joined with other parties to form the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). Saitoti became a key member of NARC's leadership.
The "NARC Revolution"
When NARC won the election in 2002, Mwai Kibaki became president. Saitoti was appointed Minister of Education. He was in charge of starting Kenya's successful free primary education program.
Supporting President Kibaki
After 2004, Saitoti supported President Kibaki. He campaigned for a new Constitution, which was not approved in the 2005 referendum. In the 2007 elections, Saitoti won his Kajiado North parliamentary seat again. He ran under the Party of National Unity (PNU), which was Kibaki's party.
On January 8, 2008, Saitoti was appointed Minister of State for Internal Security and Provincial Administration. He kept this role even after President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga formed a power-sharing government to end the 2008 post-election challenges. Saitoti also served as Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs from October 2010 to August 2011.
Working with the ICC
In July 2009, Saitoti was chosen to lead a special committee. This committee worked with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Kenya. As Minister of Internal Security and chairman of this committee, Saitoti was important in ensuring the government's cooperation with the ICC. He urged politicians to be careful when discussing the ICC and stressed that only the constitution could decide if suspects could run for president.
PNU Party Leadership
On December 19, 2008, Saitoti was elected PNU chairman. This made him the second-highest leader in the party. He worked with other presidential hopefuls like Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalonzo Musyoka. In November 2010, they agreed to form a political alliance for the 2013 presidential race.
Operation Linda Nchi
Starting in October 2011, Saitoti worked closely with Minister of Defence Mohamed Yusuf Haji. They oversaw Linda Nchi. This was a joint operation between the Somali military and the Kenyan military in southern Somalia. Their goal was to fight the Al-Shabaab group.
Presidential Aspirations
In November 2011, Saitoti announced he would run to succeed President Kibaki. He continued to travel across Kenya, meeting people and campaigning. He was seen as a strong candidate for the presidency.
Personal Life
Saitoti was also a businessman. He had interests in farming, real estate, and hotels. His family life was mostly private. His wife, Margaret Saitoti, was with him when he was cleared of old accusations in court. His brother, Ronald Musengi, worked as a banking executive.
Death
George Saitoti died on Sunday, June 10, 2012. He was in a helicopter crash in the Kibiku area of Ngong forest. The crash also killed the Assistant Minister for Internal Security, Joshua Orwa Ojode, and four others. He was buried on June 16 in Kajiado North. Investigations into the crash are still ongoing.
List of Publications
- Saitoti, G. (2005). "Keynote address given during the official opening of the sub-regional seminar for TIVET policy makers and UNESCO UNEVOC Center Coordinators". Nairobi, Kenya.
- Saitoti, G. (2004). "Education in Kenya: Challenges and policy responses". Paper presented at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington D.C.
- Saitoti, G. (2003) "National conference on education and training, Meeting the challenges of education and training during 21st century". Nairobi.
- Saitoti, G. (2003). "Reflections on Africa Development", Journal of Third World Studies.
- Saitoti, G. and KANU Review Committee(2002), Report of the KANU Review Committee, 1990. The Committee, Nairobi.
- Saitoti, G. (2002).The Challenges of Economic and Institutional Reforms in Africa. Ashgate Publishers Limited.
- Saitoti, G. (1985). i mathematica, Politechnika Warszawska Technical.
- Saitoti, G. "A remark on Mod 2 K-Theory fundamental classes". Ann. Fac. Sci. Univ. Nat. Zaïre (Kinshasa)Sect. Math.-Phys. 3 (1977), no. 1, 61–63.
- Saitoti, G. "Homology of a differential algebra". Publ. Math. Debrecen 23 (1976), no. 3-4, 235—237.
- Saitoti, G. "K-Theory fundamental classes". Demonstration Math. 8 (1975), No. 4, 365–377.
- Saitoti, G. A note on the homology of a differential graded algebra. Nigerian Journal of Science. 8 (1974), no. 1-2,127–130.
- Saitoti, G. Loop spaces and K-theory. Journal of London Mathematics Society.(2) 9 (1974/75), 423–428.
Positions Held
- Member, National Security Committee (NSAC), Kenya. (2008 – 2012)
- Chairman, Cabinet Sub-committee on ICC, Kenya. (2009 – 2012)
- Chairman, Party of National Unity (PNU) (2008 – 2012)
- Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (October 2010 – August 2011)
- Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security (January 2008 – 2012)
- Minister of Education (November 2006 – January 2008)
- Minister of Education (December 2005 – February 2006)
- Minister of Education (January 2003 – November 2005)
- Vice-President (April 1999 – August 2002)
- Minister for Planning and National Development (December 1997 – April 1999)
- Vice-President (May 1989 – January 1998)
- Minister of Finance (1983–1988)
- Vice-President, African Mathematical Union (1976–1979)
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