Simeon Nyachae facts for kids

Simeon Nyachae (born February 6, 1932 – died February 1, 2021) was an important Kenyan leader. He was a politician, a government minister, and a successful businessman from Kisii County.

Who Was Simeon Nyachae?

Simeon Nyachae was a well-known figure in Kenya. He served in the government for many years. He also built a successful business empire. People remember him for his long career in public service and his influence in Kenyan politics.

Early Life and School Days

Simeon Nyachae was born on February 6, 1932, in Nyaribari, Kisii County. His father was Chief Musa Nyandusi, a respected leader during the colonial times. Simeon went to Nyanchwa Seventh-day Adventist School in 1941. Later, he attended Kereri Intermediate School. In 1949, he joined Kisii Government African School. He left school in 1953 to work as a clerk for his father. He later studied public administration in the United Kingdom. He attended Torquay Academy and Churchill College, Cambridge.

Starting His Government Career

Simeon Nyachae began working for the government in 1957. He went to London to study how governments are run. When he returned to Kenya in 1960, he became a district officer in Kangundo. He continued his studies at Churchill College, Cambridge in England. By December 1963, he became a district commissioner. This was a big step in his career.

Rising Through the Ranks

After returning to Kenya in 1964, Nyachae quickly moved up in the government. From 1965 to 1979, he served as a provincial commissioner. This meant he was in charge of a whole province. Later, he became the chief secretary in the civil service. This was a very high position. He worked under presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi.

Simeon Nyachae's Political Journey

After leaving his government job, Simeon Nyachae was a very famous person from Kisii County. He decided to enter politics.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1992, Nyachae won a seat in parliament. He represented the Nyaribari Chache Constituency. This win helped him join President Moi's government. He first served as the Minister for Agriculture. Later, he became the Minister for Finance. This made him a very powerful person in the government.

Moving to the Opposition

In 1999, Nyachae had disagreements with President Moi. He resigned from the government. He also left the ruling party, Kenya African National Union (KANU). He then joined an opposition party called Ford–People. At that time, Ford–People was a small party.

Running for President

Simeon Nyachae wanted to become the President of Kenya. However, other big opposition groups joined forces. They supported Mwai Kibaki for president. During the 2002 elections, Nyachae did not win the presidency. But his Ford–People party did very well in Kisii. They won all the parliamentary seats in Kisii. This meant 14 members of parliament were from his party. Ford–People became one of the main opposition parties.

Serving Under President Kibaki

Later, President Mwai Kibaki's government faced some challenges. They needed more support. In 2004, President Kibaki asked Nyachae to rejoin the government. Nyachae became the Minister for Energy. After that, he was the Minister for Roads.

Nyachae ran for parliament again in the 2007 elections. However, he did not win this time. Many people in his home area of Kisii voted for other parties.

Simeon Nyachae's Business Ventures

Besides his work in government and politics, Simeon Nyachae was a very successful businessman. He owned many different types of businesses. These included farms, banks, and real estate. He also had companies in transportation and manufacturing.

Family Life and Later Years

Simeon Nyachae had a large family. He had five wives and more than 20 children. His wives were Esther Nyaboke Nyachae, Drusilla Kerubo Nyachae, Martha Mwango Nyachae, Silvia Nyokabi (who he later divorced), and Grace Wamuyu Nyachae.

In 2018, Nyachae had an accident at his home in Nairobi. He fell and was taken to The Nairobi Hospital. When he did not get better, he was flown to London for more treatment.

Simeon Nyachae passed away on February 1, 2021. He was 88 years old, just a few days before his 89th birthday.