Background
Mzee Herman Kingori Maingi was born in 1920 at Karima village in Othaya Division, Nyeri District.
Mzee Herman Kingori Maingi was born in 1920 at Karima village in Othaya Division, Nyeri District.
He attended catechism and was baptised on 2 December 1944 at Lanet Military Barracks.
He received his formal education at Karima Mission School in the early 1930s. He increased his education by attending many seminars, workshops and short training courses in the field of Agriculture both locally and abroad. He also received his first holy communion and confirmation on the same day.
He also spearheaded the founding of Karima Boys High School and Othaya Girls High School in which he served as a board member for several years.
By the time of his death he had seen the two high schools transformed from Harambee Schools to Government Provincial Schools. Mzee also served in the board of Kagumo High School for 5 years.
He helped see several children through school. Having been raised in a rural set up, mzee had a passion for farming.
In 1964 when the cooperative union was formed, because of his success in farming, he was elected as a factory manager at Ichamama coffee factory.
In 1974 he was elected to the large Othaya Farmers Cooperative Society management where he served in various capacities including that of Chairman for 19 years. Chairman - Nyeri District Cooperative Union
Director, Coffee Research Foundation
Director, Coffee Board of Kenya
Director, Kenya Planters Cooperative Union
Director, Taifa Sacco
Delegate, Cooperative Bank of Kenya
Member, Othaya Land Control Board
In recognition of his long public service, he was granted a Head of State Commendation(Higher School Certificate) by Retired President Daniel arap Moi in 1989. Herman Kingori ventured into politics in 1979 and was elected as a councilor for Karima ward and re-elected again in 1983.
In 1974 he was instrumental in convincing the Member of Parliament for Bahati, (later President) Mwai Kibaki to return home and vie for the Othaya parliamentary seat.