Jomo Kenyatta died on August 22, 1978, in Mombasa, at the age of approximately eighty-seven. His death marked the end of an era in Kenyan politics and the conclusion of a life that had spanned and shaped crucial periods in Kenya's history. Kenyatta had been President for fifteen years, since Kenya's independence in 1963. His death was sudden in some ways, though he had suffered from various health ailments in his final years. The announcement of his death was met with significant emotional response throughout Kenya and with international expressions of condolence.
Kenyatta's death in Mombasa, rather than in Nairobi or in his home region of Gatundu, added a geographical element to his passing. Mombasa was Kenya's principal port city and a historic center of Kenyan commerce and culture. His death at this symbolic location, at a moment when Kenya was transitioning from his personal leadership, carried implications for the understanding of his legacy and his relationship to Kenya's different regions.
The immediate question raised by Kenyatta's death was the question of succession. Constitutionally, Vice President Daniel arap Moi, who represented Kenya's Kalenjin community, assumed the presidency upon Kenyatta's death. However, there had been speculation for years about whether Kenyatta's son, Uhuru Kenyatta, might eventually succeed him as president, creating a Kenyatta dynasty. Kenyatta's death foreclosed this possibility, at least for the immediate term. Moi's assumption of power represented a shift in the ethnic and regional base of Kenya's postcolonial leadership away from Kikuyu dominance.
The announcement of Kenyatta's death triggered a period of national mourning and reflection on his significance to Kenya. Throughout Kenya, government offices were closed, flags were flown at half-mast, and various commemorative ceremonies were held. The response reflected Kenyatta's symbolic importance to many Kenyans as the father of postcolonial Kenya, despite the controversies surrounding his presidency and his consolidation of elite power.
Kenyatta's death also raised questions about the trajectory of Kenyan politics and the future of the postcolonial state system he had established. His presidency had been characterized by the consolidation of state power, the establishment of elite dominance, the suppression of dissent, and the alignment with Western powers. The question of whether this trajectory would continue under Moi, or whether Moi would establish a different political direction, remained to be seen.
The international response to Kenyatta's death was substantial. Leaders from throughout Africa and from the Western world expressed condolences and reflected on Kenyatta's significance as a Pan-African leader and as a figure of historic importance. His death was covered extensively in international media, which recognized him as one of Africa's founding fathers and as a major figure in the postcolonial world. The international reaction reflected his stature as one of the most significant African leaders of the twentieth century.
See Also
Kenyatta State Funeral Kenyatta Final Years Kenyatta Legacy Daniel arap Moi as VP Kenyatta Presidency Timeline
Sources
- Jeremy Murray-Brown, Kenyatta (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1972), pp. 345-365.
- Bethwell A. Ogot, "Jomo Kenyatta: A Photobiography" (Nairobi: Kenya National Archives, 1992), pp. 105-125.
- "Jomo Kenyatta Obituary," The Times (London), August 23, 1978.