The Gatundu Succession crisis (1976-1978) represents the moment when Jomo Kenyatta's Kikuyu inner circle attempted to prevent Daniel arap Moi (a non-Kikuyu Kalenjin) from succeeding Kenyatta as president. The attempt failed, with significant consequences for Kikuyu political dominance and for the shape of Kenya's subsequent politics under Moi's rule.
Kenyatta's Inner Circle and Kikuyu Dominance
Jomo Kenyatta, president from 1964 until his death in August 1978, surrounded himself with a close group of political honchos primarily from Kiambu (Kenyatta's home area). This inner circle, informally called the Kiambu Mafia, included some of Kenya's most powerful politicians, business people, and state officials.
Key figures in the inner circle included Mbiyu Koinange (Kenyatta's brother-in-law and de facto leader of the group), Njoroge Mungai, and others. These figures controlled substantial state resources, made major policy decisions, and amassed significant personal wealth. They were instrumental in Kenyatta's governance and were beneficiaries of Kikuyu political dominance.
Under Kenyatta, the Kikuyu had consolidated significant political and economic power. Key ministries and positions were held by Kikuyu. Kikuyu landowners benefited from government land policies. Kikuyu business people were favored in state contracts and credit access. Kikuyu identity was strongly associated with the Kenyatta presidency and with Kenyan nationalism itself.
Daniel Arap Moi's Position
Daniel arap Moi, a Kalenjin from Baringo, had served as Vice President under Kenyatta. However, he was not part of Kenyatta's Kikuyu inner circle and was viewed as peripheral to the core centers of power. As Vice President, Moi had formal authority but limited substantive power.
The constitutional arrangement specified that the Vice President would assume the presidency upon the president's death. However, Kenyatta's inner circle feared that Moi's presidency would disrupt Kikuyu dominance and redirect state resources away from their political and economic interests.
The Succession Crisis Preparation
As Kenyatta aged in the late 1970s, succession planning became critical. The Gatundu succession group (named after Kenyatta's hometown) began maneuvering to change the constitutional succession arrangement. The group sought to alter the constitution to allow Kenyatta to designate his successor, or to create mechanisms that would enable them to control the succession.
The group discussed various options: constitutional change, special elections, or other mechanisms that would bypass the automatic succession of the Vice President. The goal was to ensure that a Kikuyu or Kikuyu-aligned figure would succeed Kenyatta, preserving Kikuyu political dominance.
Key Figures in the Succession Attempt
Mbiyu Koinange was the de facto leader of the Gatundu succession effort. He represented the most powerful interests within the Kiambu Mafia and coordinated the succession planning. Njoroge Mungai was another key figure, wielding significant influence in state structures.
Notably, Charles Njonjo, a prominent Kikuyu politician, ultimately sided with Moi rather than the Gatundu succession effort. Njonjo's decision was significant because it demonstrated that not all Kikuyu elites were united behind the succession attempt, and it brought an influential figure into Moi's corner.
Constitutional Change Attempt
The succession group attempted to move forward with constitutional amendments that would change the succession process. The mechanisms for this constitutional change remain somewhat opaque in historical records, but it appears that the group believed they could influence parliament and Kenyatta himself to support constitutional changes enabling their succession plan.
However, the constitutional change effort failed to materialize before Kenyatta's death on August 22, 1978. The old constitution remained in place, specifying that the Vice President would become acting president with a special election to follow within 90 days.
Moi's Assumption of Power
Following Kenyatta's death, Moi became acting president. The Gatundu succession group's attempt to block his path had failed. The required special presidential election took place in November 1978, and Moi was elected, moving from Vice President to full president.
Moi's assumption of power represented a turning point in Kenyan politics. Kikuyu political dominance, consolidated under Kenyatta, was now challenged and ultimately displaced by Kalenjin political leadership under Moi.
Consequences for Kikuyu Politics
The failed succession attempt had significant consequences for Kikuyu political standing. The Gatundu group's failure demonstrated that Kikuyu elites, despite their wealth and status, could not control Kenya's top political office. Moi's presidency (1978-2002) redirected state resources toward the Kalenjin and other groups, reducing Kikuyu political dominance.
Key Gatundu figures fared differently under Moi. Some were integrated into the new government and maintained influence. Others were sidelined or eventually exiled. Mbiyu Koinange died in 1981, effectively ending the Gatundu succession era.
The failed succession attempt also revealed divisions within the Kikuyu elite. Not all Kikuyu leaders opposed Moi's succession, suggesting that Kikuyu unity was less complete than the Gatundu effort implied.
Long-term Impact on Kikuyu-Kalenjin Relations
The Gatundu succession crisis and Moi's subsequent presidency created lasting impact on Kikuyu-Kalenjin political relations. Kikuyu viewed the loss of the presidency as unjust displacement and sought to reclaim political dominance. This political competition shaped Kenyan politics through Moi's long rule and into the post-Moi era.
Cross-Links
See Also
- Mau Mau Uprising
- Kikuyu Central Association
- White Highlands
- Githaka
- Kenya Land and Freedom Army
- Facing Mount Kenya
- Kiambu County
Sources
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Gertzel, Cherry (1978). "The Politics of Power in Kenya." African Affairs, 77(307), 217-232. https://www.jstor.org/stable/723225
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Wrong, Michela (2009). "It's Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower." HarperCollins. https://www.harpercollins.com/
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Throup, David; Hornsby, Charles (1998). "Multi-Party Politics in Kenya." James Currey Publishers. https://www.jamescurrey.com/