Mama Ngina: The power, silence... and rare word of the Kenyatta arch-matriarch

What always followed was the question; "How far is too far when it comes to her family?" we will debunk that at a later date but this week, former First Lady, a 'queen' in every Kenyan context, fired back at the government over what she termed pointless politicization of tax matters.

There has been political chatter that the Kenyatta family has not paid a shilling in taxes for their many businesses for decades and it is time for them to pay up.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has publicly said he wants an alleged law exempting Kenyatta, and Moi estates from paying tax deleted while Nyandarua Senator John Methu has written to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seeking a tax audit of businesses owned by former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s family.

Tired of all this chatter, Mama Ngina Kenyatta came out swinging daring the government to auction her property and belongings in order to settle any perceived debt if it is indeed true that she has not been paying to Caeser what belongs to him.

Her response caught many, mighty and low, by surprise, here is the force behind Kenya's most powerful family - politically and financially - responding to what some would call political gossip.

Even President William Ruto appeared to respond to her, another sign of just how powerful her presence and words are.

She has been called many things, and her name comes up in many conversations, positively but largely negatively, yet she never gives them credence by responding leaving many to wonder if such talks - false or factual - even get the privilege of her attention.

The last time the former First Lady and First Mother - a feat she shares with very few women globally, spoke in public was on March 22, 2022, during the burial of Nelly Wanjiku, mother of Bishop Ernest Karanja in Kiambu county. It was there when she censured those attacking her son, ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta, for supporting Raila Odinga's presidential bid.

“Those who are insulting others, we will let them be, maybe the insults are informed by how they were raised. Let us try to love one another in our country and drive the country’s affairs forward, and be aware of where you are headed,” she said.

“And your leader cannot lead you on the path that is not good for you. I tell you, he who sits on a tree stump knows what the ants eat. He (Uhuru) had no problem with his deputy, but if your deputy shows ill intentions would you bother with him or carry on. Where he (Uhuru) shows you, please follow that direction.”

Prior to that, she spoke in just under 60 seconds at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi after the memorial service of the late EABL chairman Jeremiah Kiereini in 2019, where she challenged the youth to be more patriotic and emulate the country’s past leaders.

Mama Ngina, 89, is a protective matriarch who takes care of the family and berates anyone trying to encroach into her home. She is known to be intensely private and operates more like the enigma that surfaces from the shadows only when her family's name is being drugged in the mud.

She has never been a politico since the days of Jomo Kenyatta and even after his demise, she has not dared wade publicly into the rough waters of politics. She has astoundingly remained very reclusive yet very much in control.

But also, there is a method to her workings. Whenever she breaks her silence, it is always in churches and burial ceremonies - she is a staunch member of the Catholic church.

Her latest foray into public debate happened during the opening of the Tewa Catholic Church which she helped build in Mpeketoni, Lamu County.

She sits at the highest echelons of the nation's history. She embodies the title 'Founding Mother of the nation' and whether in power or not, whenever she speaks, many sit up and listen.