This archive report was first published on 18 December 2021.
At 96, Duncan Ndegwa, a former Central Bank of Kenya Governor, has achieved a remarkable feat by publishing four books, a testament to his enduring legacy in Kenya's history and politics.
Published on Friday at the Continental Resort in Mombasa, the books include 'Moi's Kleptocracy and its Spillovers', 'Boy from Chorong'i', 'The Traditions, Culture and Beliefs of the Agikuyu', and 'The Lineage of Aceera of Ndegwa Wahome Clan'.
Ndegwa, a long-serving public servant, served as President Jomo Kenyatta's Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet. Born on 11 March 1925 in Nyeri County, he attended Alliance High School, Makerere University College in Uganda, and the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
With a distinguished career spanning over six decades, Ndegwa joined the public service in 1956 as an Economist/Statistician and rose through the ranks to become Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet, and Head of the Public Service in 1963. He later served as the first African Central Bank Governor from 1967 to 1982.
During the launch ceremony, Ndegwa emphasized the importance of learning from the past to avoid repeating mistakes. He said, 'For Kenya and Africa to make progress, we must purpose to learn from our past lest we keep taking certain wrong turns we have taken in the past time and again.'
Dr. Patrick Njoroge, the current CBK Governor, paid tribute to Ndegwa, acknowledging his contributions to the transformation and modernisation of the Central Bank of Kenya. Dr. Njoroge also highlighted the need for professionalism and proper vision in the management of the country.
