Maina Wanjigi, the father of businessman Jimmy Wanjigi, has suddenly passed away at Nairobi hospital. He was ninety-two years old.
For more than 25 years, the former Cabinet minister served as a member of parliament, holding a number of cabinet posts, including Minister of Agriculture, Public Works, and Tourism.
In addition, he won the Elder of the Golden Heart of Kenya award, which is given to distinguished statesmen.
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One of his accomplishments during his term was creating the large outdoor Gikomba Market in Kamukunji Constituency.
Additionally, he played a key role in Shauri Moyo’s jua kali business sector’s establishment. As the Director of Settlement under first president Jomo Kenyatta, Maina assisted in the resettlement of thousands of landless people.
After Tom Mboya was assassinated in November 1969, Wanjigi entered active politics during the Kamukunji by-elections.
In 1973, he made a remarkable statement in parliament advocating for free primary education in Kenya, a move that would eventually come to pass thirty years later.
He also worked under former President Daniel Moi’s administration, having been appointed chairman of Kenya Airways in 1979 and then, four years later, appointed to the government as Minister of Tourism and Wildlife.
In 1990,he was kicked out of KANU, the ruling party at the time,for his support of multi-party politics. He was then taken into custody, questioned, and detained for three days at the Langata Police Station before being brought before the court. However, no charges were brought against him.
Maina joined opposition politics and joined the Ford Asili faction led by Kenneth Matiba. During the 1992 General Election, they made an unsuccessful attempt to remove Moi from office.
Later, in an attempt to win back support from the public at large, he gained control of the Kenya National Congress party as a third party, but he was unable to take down the power of the Ford and KANU parties.
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