Background
NYAGAH, Jeremiah Joseph Mwaniki was born on November 24, 1920 in Kigare, Embu. Son of Joseph Nthiga Mwonge and Mary Mbiro.
NYAGAH, Jeremiah Joseph Mwaniki was born on November 24, 1920 in Kigare, Embu. Son of Joseph Nthiga Mwonge and Mary Mbiro.
Educated locally and at the select Alliance High School between 1936 and 1940 before going on to Makerere University College (1940-3) for his teacher's diploma. Starting as a teacher at the Teachers’ Training College at Kahuhia in Fort Hall he went on to become headmaster (1944-7) and then headmaster of the Government African School at Embu (1952-3) before going to Oxford for a teacher’s diploma. In 1956 he became an assistant education officer.
Elected to the legislative council for Embu in 1958 in the second wave of African elected members, he stood and was returned again in February 1961. His moderate views and the respect he engendered in other members led to his appointment as Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Council in I960, but after a further electoral victory for Embu South in May 1963 he was chosen as a Junior Minister in the Ministry of Works, on formation of the independence cabinet. Junior Ministries in Lands and Settlement and in Home Affairs followed in 1964. Then in 1966 the former schoolteacher and university councillor was promoted to become Minister of Education. Other ministerial appointments followed: Natural Resources (1968), Information and Broadcasting (1969) and finally the important Agriculture Ministry (1970) in the retirement of the European, Bruce McKenzie.
Legis. Council 1958-1960, 1961-1963. House of Representatives since 1963. Boards of Govs, of many schools, University College Council, Nairobi, E. African University Council, Boy Scouts’ Training Team.
A devout Christian and keen education¬ist, scout leader and family man; he was never particularly favoured for high office, coming from the Embu people, who are closely allied to the Kikuyu but not near to the centre of political power. One of the first African elected members and a moderate by nature, he was appointed as a junior minister in the independence cabinet in 1963 and rose to be full minister in 1966. Since then his self-discipline, hard work and devotion to duty has led to his appoint-ment in progressively more important ministries.
Married Eunice Wambere in 1947.
