Michael Kijana Wamalwa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa
E.G.H.
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| 8th Vice President of Kenya | |
| In office 3 January 2003 – 23 August 2003 |
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| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Preceded by | Musalia Mudavadi |
| Succeeded by | Moody Awori |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa
25 November 1944 Sosio, Kenya |
| Died | 23 August 2003 (aged 58) Hampstead, London, England |
| Political party | National Rainbow Coalition |
| Spouse | Yvonne Namibia Wamalwa |
| Relatives | Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa, brother |
| Alma mater | Strathmore School King's College London London School of Economics Lincoln's Inn |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer Teacher |
| Cabinet | Minister of Home Affairs |
Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa (born November 25, 1944 – died August 23, 2003) was an important Kenyan politician. He served as the eighth Vice-President of Kenya when he passed away. He was known for his strong speaking skills and his efforts to help people.
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Michael Wamalwa: Early Life and Education
Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa was born in Sosio, a village near Kimilili. This area is in Kenya's Bungoma district. His father, William Wamalwa, was a well-known MP.
Michael was a very bright student. At Strathmore School, his secondary school, he was the head boy. He was also the best debater. He won a national essay contest and represented Kenya at a special UN student meeting.
In 1965, he received a scholarship to study law. He went to King's College London and finished his law degree in 1968. He then continued his studies at the London School of Economics. By 1970, he became a lawyer at Lincoln's Inn.
After his studies, he returned to Kenya. He taught law at the University of Nairobi. Some of his students later became his political friends or rivals. During this time, he also managed his family's farms. He held important government jobs too, like director of the Kenya-Japan Association.
Starting His Political Journey
Wamalwa first tried to enter politics in 1974. He was only 30 years old. Some people thought he was too young and wealthy to represent his area. His first campaigns were very grand, even using an aircraft.
He finally won a seat in Parliament in 1979. He was a close supporter of Masinde Muliro. In 1992, Kenya held its first multi-party elections. Wamalwa joined the Ford Kenya group, which was part of the opposition.
He was elected as an MP for Saboti Constituency. He also became the First Vice Chairman of his party. In 1994, he became the chairman of Ford Kenya after Oginga Odinga passed away. Wamalwa ran for president in the 1997 Kenyan elections. He was a leader of the opposition, but he finished fourth in the country.
His Impact and Legacy
Michael Wamalwa was known as a very skilled speaker. People compared him to other great Kenyan orators like Tom Mboya. He used his wealth to help those in need. He paid school fees for children and helped improve living standards for poor families.
He started the Touch Africa foundation. This group aimed to help young people and the needy achieve their goals. He was an MP for Saboti Constituency in the Rift Valley Province. His hometown was Kitale.
Many people believed he could get votes from all groups of people. This was special in Kenyan history.
The 2002 Elections
Before the 2002 general elections, Wamalwa joined other opposition leaders. Their goal was to remove KANU from power. KANU had been the ruling party since Kenya became independent.
He teamed up with other presidential candidates from 1997. These included Charity Kaluki Ngilu and Mwai Kibaki. Later, Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka also joined them. Musyoka and Odinga left KANU because President Daniel Moi seemed to choose Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor.
Many KANU members did not like this. They joined Musyoka and Odinga in the new opposition group. This group formed the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). NARC won the elections and took power from KANU. Mwai Kibaki became president. He made Wamalwa the Vice President because of his important role in the win.
Later Life and Passing
In late 2002, during the election campaign, Mwai Kibaki had a car accident. He was flown to London for treatment. Wamalwa visited him there and also became ill. He received treatment, reportedly for kidney problems.
This was a sign of more health issues to come. In mid-2003, he became ill again and was treated in London. He got better for a short time. He returned to Kenya to marry Yvonne Nambia in a beautiful ceremony. People said he proposed in a very classic way. He arrived at the church in an old car, wearing a special suit.
Just two months after his wedding, Wamalwa went back to the Royal Free Hospital for another check-up. This made many people wonder if his health was worse than doctors had said. Sadly, he did not recover. He passed away on the morning of August 23, 2003. He was given a state burial at his farm in Kitale.
The exact cause of Wamalwa's illness and death was not officially stated. Different newspapers reported various reasons for his illness.
