Family Reveals the Cause of Sir Charles Njonjo’s Death

The family of Sir Charles Mugane Njonjo, Kenya’s first post-independence Attorney-General, has revealed the cause of his death.  

Njonjo, the last surviving member of the independence Cabinet, died in his sleep at his Muthaiga home at 5.15 am on Sunday aged 101.

His son-in-law Carey Ngini said the Duke of Kabeteshire, as he was popularly known, has been ailing since 2020 and died of Pneumonia.

“Over the course of last year and this year, he’d been battling one ailment or another, very well despite his age,” Ngini said.

“As of this morning, at around 5:15 am, he breathed his last. It was actually as a result of a little bout of pneumonia, which he suffered. Pneumonia had compromised his lungs. His passing was peaceful. He was surrounded by his family members.”

Ngini was speaking at Kariokor Crematorium where Njonjo’s body was cremated three hours after his demise in line with his wishes.

Njonjo was the only surviving member of Kenya’s independence Cabinet. He served as the Attorney-General between 1963 and 1979 and later as Constitutional Affairs Minister between 1980 and 1983.

President Kenyatta eulogized Njonjo as a national hero and an icon of Kenya’s progress through the years.

“As a nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to Hon. Njonjo and his generation of independence era leaders for their selfless contribution to the laying of the solid foundation upon which our country continues to thrive,” Kenyatta eulogized.

Deputy President William Ruto said Njonjo “was knowledgeable, blunt and a dedicated advocate for the causes he believed in.”

ODM leader Raila Odinga mourned Njonjo as “a towering giant who served in key roles during his life. Our legal fraternity greatly benefitted from his input and hard work.”