Kalonzo Musyoka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kalonzo Musyoka
E.G.H.
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| 10th Vice President of Kenya | |
| In office 9 January 2008 – 9 April 2013 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Prime Minister | Raila Odinga |
| Preceded by | Moody Awori |
| Succeeded by | William Ruto (Deputy President) |
| Minister for Home Affairs | |
| In office 9 January 2008 – 9 April 2013 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Minister of Environment and Natural Resources | |
| In office 23 August 2004 – 7 September 2005 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Succeeded by | Kivutha Kibwana |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1 January 2003 – 14 August 2004 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Preceded by | Marsden Madoka |
| Succeeded by | Chirau Ali Mwakwere |
| Minister of Tourism and Information | |
| In office 6 February 2001 – 30 November 2002 |
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| President | Daniel Arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Biwott |
| Succeeded by | Raphael Tuju |
| Minister of Education and Human Resource Development | |
| In office 6 October 1998 – 6 March 2001 |
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| President | Daniel Arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Joseph Kamotho |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations | |
| In office 8 June 1993 – 1 July 1998 |
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| President | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Wilson Ndolo Ayah |
| Succeeded by | Bonaya Godana |
| Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| In office 7 January 1988 – 7 January 1992 |
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| President | Daniel arap Moi |
| KANU National Organising Secretary | |
| In office 1 February 1988 – 20 July 2004 |
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| President | Daniel Toroitich arap Moi |
| Assistant Minister for Works, Housing and Physical Planning | |
| In office 5 May 1986 – 1 January 1988 |
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| President | Daniel Toroitich arap Moi |
| Member of the Kenyan Parliament | |
| In office 6 July 1985 – 28 March 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Philip Manandu |
| Succeeded by | John Munuve |
| Constituency | Kitui North (1985–1997) Mwingi North (1997–2013) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka
24 December 1953 Tseikuru, Kenya |
| Political party | WDM |
| Spouse | Pauline Musyoka |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Karen, Kenya |
| Alma mater | University of Nairobi (LL.B) Kenya School of Law (PgDL) Mediterranean Institute of Management (PgDBM) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Positions | Patron, K. Musyoka Foundation Chief Commissioner, KSA |
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (born 24 December 1953) is a Kenyan politician. He served as the tenth Vice-President of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. Before that, he held many important roles in the Kenyan government.
Under President Daniel arap Moi, he was the Secretary of the Kenya African National Union party. He also served as Assistant Minister for Works and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Later, he became the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Education.
When Mwai Kibaki became President, Kalonzo Musyoka was again Minister of Foreign Affairs. He then served as Minister of the Environment. In the 2007 presidential election, he ran for president. After the election, he was appointed Vice-President by President Kibaki.
Today, Kalonzo Musyoka leads the Wiper Democratic Movement political party. He is also the Chief Commissioner for The Kenya Scouts Association.
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Early Life and Education
Kalonzo Musyoka was born in Tseikuru, a remote area in Kitui District, Kenya. He went to Tseikuru Full Primary School for his early education. Later, he attended Kitui High School and Meru School.
In 1977, he earned a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi. He continued his studies at the Kenya School of Law. In 1979, he studied business in Cyprus.
In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate in divinity. This award recognized his work in promoting peace. In 2008, Kenyatta University also gave him an honorary doctorate. This was for his efforts in peace-making and community development. He was named African Dignitary Man of the Year in 2016.
Political Journey
Kalonzo Musyoka first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1983. He ran for the Kitui North seat but did not win. At that time, Kenya had only one political party, the Kenya African National Union (KANU).
Two years later, in 1985, he won a special election for the Kitui North seat. He became an MP at 32 years old. In 1986, he was made Assistant Minister for Works. He was re-elected in 1988 and became Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He also served as KANU's National Organizing Secretary for many years.
Multiparty Politics (1992-1997)
In 1992, Kenya held its first elections with many political parties. Musyoka stayed with KANU and won his parliamentary seat again. He was then appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He held other minister roles while in the KANU government.
In 1993, he spoke at a big meeting in Austria about human rights. He talked about how illegal mineral trade causes conflicts and poverty. The meeting led to an important agreement called the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
Joining a New Party (2002-2007)
Before the 2002 election, Kalonzo Musyoka left KANU. He joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This party was part of the National Rainbow Coalition, which won the election.
He became Minister for Foreign Affairs again under President Mwai Kibaki. In 2004, he was moved to the Minister for Environment role. He was also removed from his role in peace talks for Sudan and Somalia.
Musyoka was not happy because President Kibaki did not follow an agreement they had made. He then led a successful campaign against a new constitution in 2005. After this, he was removed from the Cabinet.
Later, Kalonzo Musyoka left the LDP and joined a smaller party called the Labor Party of Kenya.
Running for President (2007)
Many people expected Kalonzo Musyoka to run for president in the 2007 election. He sought the ticket for ODM-Kenya. His popularity changed, and some wondered if he would have a big impact.
ODM-Kenya later split into two groups. One group supported Musyoka, and the other supported Raila Odinga. Musyoka was chosen as his group's presidential candidate in August 2007. He launched his campaign in Nairobi in October 2007.
He often said that fighting poverty means also dealing with environmental issues.
After the 2007 Election
In the 2007 election, Musyoka came in third place. There was a lot of conflict and violence after the election results. President Kibaki then appointed Musyoka as Vice-President and Minister of Home Affairs in January 2008. Musyoka said he was thankful and knew his appointment came at a difficult time for the country.
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The political crisis ended with a power-sharing agreement between Kibaki and Odinga. In the new government, Musyoka remained Vice-President and Minister of Home Affairs.
In 2010, Musyoka supported a new constitution. During the campaign, some people joked that he was like a "watermelon." This was because they thought he secretly opposed the new constitution, even though he publicly supported it. The "green team" supported the constitution, and the "red team" opposed it. A watermelon is green outside and red inside.
Elections in 2013 and 2017
For the 2013 presidential election, Kalonzo Musyoka joined Raila Odinga. They formed the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD). Musyoka decided not to run for president himself and became Odinga's running mate (vice-presidential candidate).
When Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner, Odinga challenged the results in court. Musyoka left office when President Kenyatta was sworn in.
In the 2017 general election, Musyoka again joined Raila Odinga. They formed the National Super Alliance to run against President Kenyatta. Musyoka was Odinga's running mate once more.
2022 Elections
In the 2022 elections, Musyoka first announced he would run for president. However, he later decided not to and supported Azimio la Umoja candidate Raila Odinga.
Other Important Roles
Since 2013, Dr. Kalonzo Musyoka has been the University Chancellor of the Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU). This is a private university in Kampala, Uganda.
In 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Dr. Musyoka as a special envoy to South Sudan. In 2020, he helped make a peace deal in South Sudan. This deal led to President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader Riek Machar forming a unity government.
Personal Life
Kalonzo Musyoka is married to Pauline. They have four children. He is a Christian. He is also the patron of the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation, which he has supported since 2006.
