Jean-Marie Seroney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean-Marie Seroney
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| Born | 25 July 1927 Kapsabet, Nandi District, Kenya Colony
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| Died | 6 December 1982 (aged 55) Parklands, Nairobi, Kenya
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| Burial place | Tinderet, Nandi County, Kenya |
| Other names | Eric Kipketer |
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| Occupation | Member of Kenyan Parliament and barrister |
| Known for | Human rights advocacy, prisoner of conscience |
| Political party | KANU |
| Spouse(s) | none |
Jean-Marie Seroney (born July 25, 1927 – died December 6, 1982) was an important Kenyan leader. He worked hard to protect human rights and served in the Kenyan Parliament. He was also known as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, meaning he was held in prison for his beliefs. He spent 1,155 days in prison because of his views.
Seroney served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for different areas in Kenya from 1961 to 1975. As an MP, he tried to make laws that would limit the president's power. He also worked to make sure that Kenya's elections were fair for everyone.
He often spoke out against leaders who misused their power. He also criticized corruption, unfair sharing of wealth, and the theft of land from poor people. Because of his strong opinions, he made powerful enemies. His time in prison was very difficult and affected his health.
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Early Life and Education
Jean-Marie Seroney was born Eric Kipketer Seroney on July 25, 1927. His birthplace was Kapsabet, in the Nandi District of Kenya. He was the first child of Reuben Seroney and Leah Jeptarus Tapmaina Seroney. His parents were teachers and evangelists.
When he was young, his family moved several times for his father's work. In 1933, they moved to Kapsowar. There, his father helped start a new mission station and school. During this time, his father met Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, who later became President of Kenya. Reuben Seroney became Moi's teacher and helped him get into school.
Starting School
Young Seroney began his formal schooling in 1935 at Kapsowar. His father and Mrs. Reynolds were his first teachers. In 1938, he moved back to Kapsabet. He then joined the Government African School at Kapsabet, which is now Kapsabet High School.
He did very well in his primary school exams. He was the only student in his class to be accepted into Alliance High School. This was Kenya's only secondary school at the time. He received a scholarship to help pay for his studies there.
Higher Education and Law
After high school, Seroney went to Makerere College in Kampala, Uganda, in 1945. He studied arts and won a special research prize. He was also involved in student groups, leading the Political Society and the Dramatic Society.
He then received a scholarship to study in India. In 1947, he began studying at the University of Allahabad. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1949. He continued his studies and earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree in 1951. He was the first Kenyan to get a law degree.
His Faith Journey
Jean-Marie Seroney was baptized as an Anglican in 1944. However, while at Makerere College in 1946, he decided to become a Roman Catholic. Because of his new faith, he changed his name to John Marie Therese. He later changed it to Jean-Marie Seroney. He remained a devoted Catholic throughout his life.
Getting Involved in Politics
After finishing his law studies, Seroney returned to Kenya in 1951. This was a time when many Kenyans were fighting for independence. He spoke at public meetings and even traveled with Jomo Kenyatta, who would become Kenya's first president.
The colonial government was impressed by his political activities. They offered him a loan to study more in England. In 1952, he went to England to study law at the University of London and to become a barrister. A barrister is a type of lawyer who can argue cases in higher courts.
He faced some challenges with the colonial authorities during his studies. But he successfully passed his exams in 1955. On February 7, 1956, he officially became a barrister in England. He was one of the first Kenyans to achieve this. He then returned to Kenya, ready to practice law.
Working and Entering Politics
In 1956, Seroney started working as a legal assistant for the government. He later became a public prosecutor. He also joined the Law Society of Kenya.
Seroney was secretly involved in politics during the 1950s. He worked with early political leaders like Tom Mboya and Oginga Odinga. He also helped some young Nandi people go to America for higher education. He supported the independence movement in many ways.
In 1959, he officially entered politics. He called for a political party that truly cared about Africans. In 1961, he was elected to the Legislative Council for Nandi. He was 33 years old. He also joined the Kenyan Delegation for the independence talks in London in 1962 and 1963.
In 1963, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Nandi North. He later joined the Kenya African National Union (KANU) party. He was elected MP for Tinderet in 1966 and again in 1969.
The Nandi Hills Declaration
In September 1969, Seroney faced trouble. He presented a document called the "Nandi Hills Declaration." This document was written by his friend Joseph K. Mitei. It questioned the government's sale of Nandi land to people from outside the area. It also protested against police actions and the unfair justice system in Nandi.
The government considered the document rebellious. Seroney was arrested and charged with rebellion. He was found guilty and had to pay a fine.
Disagreements with Daniel Moi
Seroney became unpopular with powerful figures, especially Daniel Moi, who was the vice-president. Moi felt that Seroney was challenging his authority as the main spokesperson for the Kalenjin people. However, Seroney was very popular among the local people.
Moi and Seroney had many disagreements. For example, Seroney tried to start a technology and education institute in Nandi Hills. But Moi used his power to stop it from being built. This made the people of Nandi very upset.
Despite strong opposition, Seroney won his seat again in the 1974 general election. He tried to make peace with Moi for the sake of development. But their rivalry soon started again.
Becoming Deputy Speaker
After winning the election, Seroney decided to run for Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He won, even though President Jomo Kenyatta strongly opposed him. Kenyatta even stopped Parliament for three months to try and prevent Seroney's election. But when Parliament started again in February 1975, Seroney was elected Deputy Speaker.
Things became very tense after the death of a fellow Member of Parliament, Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, in March 1975. Seroney was part of the committee that investigated Kariuki's death. The committee wrote a report that raised serious questions about the government's role in the death and how it was handled.
Detention Without Trial
On October 9, 1975, Jean-Marie Seroney got into trouble again. As Deputy Speaker, he refused to ask another MP, Martin Shikuku, to prove his statement that "Kanu was dead." Seroney famously replied, "why substantiate the obvious..."
This remark led to his arrest on October 15, 1975. He was taken to Manyani Prison. He was held there without a trial for three years. Because of this, he lost his seat in Parliament.
Human rights groups like Amnesty International and the Inter-Parliamentary Union spoke out about his case. They asked the Kenyan government to release him.
Seroney did not talk much about his time in prison. But those who visited him said he remained strong. His family faced financial difficulties while he was in prison. He could not pay for his children's school fees or the rent for their home.
Seroney was released from prison on December 12, 1978. He was released with 25 other prisoners, many of whom were also prisoners of conscience. He had spent 1,155 days in detention without trial. This made him one of Kenya's longest-held prisoners of conscience.
After Prison and Later Life
Just three weeks after his release, in January 1979, Seroney was invited to President Moi's home. Moi praised Seroney and said he wanted to work with him. However, this peace did not last long.
Soon after, Moi's supporters introduced a new candidate, Henry Kiprono Kosgey, to run against Seroney in the upcoming 1979 elections. Despite problems and unfairness during the election, Seroney lost his seat. He accepted the defeat but pointed out the serious issues during the campaign and on election day.
Financial Struggles
In 1975, Seroney had bought a large farm called 'Kibois Farm'. He took out big loans to pay for it. By 1980, he owed a lot of money. His farming business was not doing well, and he could not pay back his loans. He was at risk of losing his farm. He tried to get help from the government, asking them to waive the interest on his loans because he had been unfairly detained. But his requests were not heard. This led him to feel very sad and worried.
In 1980, Moi appointed Seroney as the Chairman of the Industrial Development Bank of Kenya (IDB). This was an unpaid, ceremonial role. While it did not help his financial problems, it kept him in the public eye until his death two years later. His constant money worries and fears made him withdraw from public life.
His Biography
A book about Jean-Marie Seroney's life, titled Just for Today: The Life and Times of Jean-Marie Seroney, was launched in 2015. It was written by Godfrey K. Sang. The book includes introductions from important people like former UK High Commissioner to Kenya Sir Edward Clay and fellow prisoners of conscience like Koigi wa Wamwere and Ngugi wa Thiong'o.
In April 2023, Senator Boni Khalwale mentioned the book in the Kenyan Senate. He called it a "beautiful book" while discussing Kenyan heroes.
