Kabeere M’Mbijjiwe, the pipe smoking doyen of Meru politics and a former Cabinet minister, took his final bow when he lost the final battle to esophageal cancer on October 31. In 1951 he obtained his University of Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (Kenya) and proceeded to Makerere University. His stint there, however, was rudely interrupted by a school strike in which he was identified as a leader and possible Mau Mau agitator, leading to his expulsion. Eager to resume his studies he applied and was admitted to Fort Hare University, South Africa, only to be prevented from boarding his flight on the day of departure by the colonial government. Being a firm believer in the freedom and emancipation of Africa, he used his resources to finance the Mau Mau resistance.

Source: The Star November 17, 2017 21:00 UTC