Former AG Charles Njonjo dies at 101

In a message of condolence, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Njonjo passed away peacefully at 5am on Sunday. He was aged 101.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have this morning, Sunday 2nd January 2022, received the sad and heartbreaking news of the passing away of Hon. Charles Mugane Njonjo," said Kenyatta.

Njonjo was the only surviving member of Kenya's independence Cabinet.

"The passing away of Hon. Njonjo is a big blow not only to his immediate family, friends and relatives but to all Kenyans and indeed, the entire African continent because of his leading role in the founding of the Kenyan nation at independence," added the Head of State.

President Kenyatta said Kenya owes a debt of gratitude to 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."

Njonjo served as the country's first post-independence Attorney General between 1963 and 1979, and as Constitutional Affairs Minister between 1980 and 1983.