Tom Mboya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Mboya
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Mboya in 1962
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| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 1 June 1963 – December 1964 |
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| Prime Minister | Jomo Kenyatta |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1963 – 5 July 1969 |
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| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Maina Wanjingi |
| Constituency | Nairobi Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya
15 August 1930 Kilima Mbogo, British East Africa |
| Died | 5 July 1969 (aged 38) Nairobi, Kenya |
| Resting place | Tom Mboya Mausoleum, Rusinga Island, Homa Bay County |
| Political party | Kenya African National Union |
| Spouse | Pamela Mboya |
| Children | 5 (including Susan) |
| Alma mater | Ruskin College |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Industrial labour administrator |
| Cabinet | Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister for Labour Minister for Economic Planning and Development |
Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya (15 August 1930 – 5 July 1969) was a very important Kenyan leader. He was a key figure in Kenya's fight for independence from British rule. He also worked to improve conditions for workers and helped shape Kenya's economy.
Mboya was known for his intelligence and great speaking skills. He traveled the world, giving speeches and talking about Kenya's independence. He also supported the Civil Rights movement in the United States. At just 28 years old, he led a big meeting in Ghana called the All-African Peoples' Conference. He helped build strong worker unions across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and other parts of Africa. He was even featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1960.
Mboya worked with important American leaders like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.. Together, they created programs to help African students study in American colleges. These programs were known as the Kennedy Airlifts. Many students benefited, including the famous environmentalist Wangari Maathai.
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Tom Mboya's Early Life
Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya was born on August 15, 1930. His parents, Leonardus Ndiege and Marcella Onyango, were from the Luo ethnic group in Kenya. They worked on a large farm that grew sisal, a plant used to make rope. This farm was near the town of Thika.
When Mboya was nine, his father sent him to a mission school. His father later became an overseer on the farm. Mboya was one of seven children in his family.
His Education Journey
Mboya went to several Catholic mission schools. In 1942, he started at St. Mary's School Yala, where he learned English and History. He then attended Holy Ghost College, which is now Mang'u High School. He did well enough to get his Cambridge School Certificate.
In 1948, Mboya studied to become a sanitary inspector in Nairobi. He finished this training in 1950. He also took an economics course by mail. In 1955, he received a special scholarship. This allowed him to study industrial management at Ruskin College in England. He returned to Kenya in 1956.
Starting in Politics
Mboya's political journey began in 1950. He worked as a sanitary inspector for the Nairobi City Council. While there, he became the leader of the African Staff Association. He quickly turned this group into a strong worker's union. It was called the Kenya Local Government Workers' Union.
He left his job but continued to work for the Kenya Labour Workers Union. He became its secretary-general. In 1953, many Kenyan leaders, including Jomo Kenyatta, were arrested. They were fighting for independence during the Mau Mau War. Mboya was asked to lead the fight.
Since the main political party was banned, Mboya used worker unions to push for independence. He became the Secretary General of the Kenya Federation of Labour (KFL). This was the main group for all worker unions in Kenya. He spoke in London and Washington, D.C., against British rule. He also organized strikes to get better working conditions for African workers.
Helping African Students
In 1957, Mboya felt that Africans did not have enough say in the government. So, he started his own political group, the Nairobi People's Convention Party. He also became good friends with Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana. Both believed in Pan-Africanism, which means uniting all African people.
In 1959, Mboya helped create the "Airlift Africa" project. This program helped 81 Kenyan students go to universities in the United States. Barack Obama Sr., the father of former U.S. President Barack Obama, was one of the students who received help from this program.
In 1960, Senator Jack Kennedy (who later became President) agreed to support the airlift. The program then expanded to other African countries. Hundreds of African students received scholarships to study in the U.S. thanks to Mboya's efforts.
After Kenya Became Independent
In 1961, Jomo Kenyatta was released from prison. He, along with Mboya and other leaders, formed the Kenya African National Union (KANU). This new party aimed to unite different groups and prepare for independence talks. Mboya was the Secretary General of KANU. He led the Kenyan team that negotiated Kenya's independence in London. He even helped design the flag for the new country!
After Kenya became independent in 1963, Mboya became the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. He created the National Social Security Fund, which helps people save for retirement. He also set up a special court to handle problems between workers and employers.
In 1964, when Kenya became a republic, President Kenyatta made Tom Mboya the Minister for Economic Planning and Development. Mboya, with his deputy Mwai Kibaki, created a plan for Kenya's economic future. This plan, called Sessional Paper 10, guided Kenya's economy. Mboya's plans helped Kenya's economy grow by 7% each year during his time as Minister.
His Legacy
Tom Mboya continued to serve as Minister for Economic Planning and Development. Sadly, he died suddenly on July 5, 1969, in Nairobi. He was only 39 years old. He left behind his wife, Pamela, and five children.
He is buried in a special building called a mausoleum on Rusinga Island. This monument was built in 1970 to honor him.
Personal Life
Tom Mboya married Pamela Odede on January 20, 1962. Pamela was a university graduate and the daughter of a politician. They had five children together. Their daughters include Maureen Odero, who became a high court judge, and Susan Mboya, a business executive. Susan continues her father's work by helping African students get an education. She is married to former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero. Their sons were Lucas, Peter, and Patrick.
Pamela Mboya passed away in 2009.
