Ngethe Njoroge
Ng'ethe Njoroge | |
|---|---|
| Kenyan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 1970–1979 | |
| Preceded by | Josephat Karanja |
| Succeeded by | Shadrack Kimalel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 10, 1928 |
| Spouse | Mary Morello (divorced) |
| Children | 4 including Tom Morello |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Njoroge Mungai (brother) Jemimah Gecaga (sister) Jomo Kenyatta (cousin) |
| Education | BSc Central State College MSc Boston University |
Ng'ethe Njoroge is a Kenyan former diplomat.
Biography
Njoroge was born to a Kikuyu family in Kenya.[1] His parents, Leah Magana and George Segeni Njoroge, were pioneer Christians who attended the Church of the Torch which had been founded by the famous Church of Scotland minister, John William Arthur.[2][3] The news and entertainment site Tuko has alleged that the elder Njoroge was born an ethnic Masai but changed his name from Segeni ole Mbuchucha to the Kikuyu name Njoroge.[4] The elder Njoroge worked as a cook at a Presbyterian mission in Nairobi and later opened a store[1] and a transport company. Njoroge has five brothers and one sister.[1] His sister, Jemimah Gecaga (1920–1979), was the first female member of parliament in Kenya and his brother was Kenyan Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament Njoroge Mungai (1926–2014).[1] His cousin, Jomo Kenyatta, was the first elected president in Kenya.[1][5]
Njoroge attended Alliance High School in Kikuyu, Kenya and Busoga University in Iganga, Uganda before moving to the United States where he attended Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio and then in 1960 he went to Boston University[6] where he received a M.S. in journalism in 1961.[7]
According to interview with his son, American guitarist Tom Morello, Njoroge was involved in the Mau Mau Uprising for Kenyan independence (1952–1960). Morello claimed in the same interview that his anti-authoritarian viewpoints are inspired by the involvement of his father in the uprising.[8]
Career
After the ascension of his cousin, Jomo Kenyatta, to the presidency, Njoroge held a number of positions in his government. He was named assistant secretary, Ministry of Lands and Settlements (1963–1964); senior assistant secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1964); delegate to the Organisation of African Unity (1964); member of the Delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (1964); member of the Kenyan Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (1964, 1965, 1966); head of the Africa and Middle East Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi (1964–1967); counselor of the Kenyan Embassy in Bonn, Germany (1968–1970); Ambassador to Italy and Switzerland (1974); and Kenyan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (1970–1978).[6]
Personal life
Njoroge was married to Mary Morello who later founded Parents for Rock and Rap; they had one son, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello.[5] He later remarried and had three more sons.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e Malik, Tania. "Njoroge Mungai – A Tribute to One of the Last Freedom Fighters". Hai Africa.
- ^ "Njoroge Mungai – Kenyatta's doctor who brought UNEP to Nairobi – Kenya Yearbook". kenyayearbook.co.ke. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
- ^ "Dr Njoroge Mungai: A story of big dreams, resilience and triumph".
- ^ Muindi, Benjamin (2016). "Are These The Most Successful 12 Families In Kenya?". www.tuko.co.ke.
Segeni ole Mbuchucha was born a Masai but later renamed Kikuyu name Njoroge. He was the first convert at CSM Thogoto, became a cook at the mission before later establishing a grocery shop and starting a transport company. This is the family that has produced names as Jemimah Gecaga, Udi Gecaga, Dr Florence Njeri Ng'ethe, Gathoni Mungai, Njoroge Mungai and Ngethe Njoroge, among others. This family is related to Michael Kijana Wamalwa (former vice president) by marriage
- ^ a b "Playing 6-string politics". Montreal Gazette. April 24, 2007.
- ^ a b International Who's Who, 1983-84, p. 1004
- ^ "International Educational, Cultural and Related Activities for African Countries South of the Sahara". The Bureau. 1961.
- ^ Dome, Malcolm (November 1, 2006). "My Life Story: Tom Morello". MetalHammer.
- ^ Kot, Greg (July 2, 2000). "Rock Star Real Chip Off The Old Block". Chicago Tribune.