This archive report was first published on 29 September 2019.
James Gichuru, Kenya's first Finance minister, was a man of humble beginnings. Born in 1914 in Thogoto, Kiambu, he came from a family of modest means. His parents were among the first Kenya Africans to become Christians, having been converted at the Church of Scotland Mission in Kikuyu.
Gichuru's early life was marked by a strong sense of family values. His siblings were all in steady professions, with one of his brothers, Dr Kimani Mbuthia, being among Kenya's first medical doctors. Gichuru himself trained as a teacher at Makerere, and later became the headmaster of Church of Scotland Mission School in Kikuyu.
It was during his time as headmaster that Gichuru became involved in politics, becoming the first President of the Kenya African Union (KAU) in 1943. He held the position until 1947, when he stepped down in favor of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, who had just returned from Britain.
Gichuru's career was marked by a series of ups and downs. He was appointed Chief of Dagoretti location in 1950, but was dismissed by the colonial government in 1952 due to his connections with KAU, which was being linked with the Mau Mau. Despite this, he continued to play a key role in Kenyan politics, joining 23 Kikuyu chiefs and elders to sign a declaration condemning the activities of Mau Mau in 1954.
However, Gichuru's good nature ultimately worked against him. He was arrested in 1955 and placed under restriction in Kiambu district, and his loyalty to Kenyatta was questioned by some of his colleagues. In 1960, he emerged from obscurity to assume the presidency of Kanu, but his easy-going demeanor made him a target for manipulation.
As Kanu's president, Gichuru initially tried to avoid ultra-nationalism and moderation, but his biggest weakness was his tendency to reflect the opinion of the person he last spoke to. This made him a target for manipulation by his colleagues, including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Tom Mboya.
Despite his efforts to stay out of controversy, Gichuru found himself at the center of a smear campaign by Jaramogi and others in the run-up to the 1961 elections. He responded by suspending Jaramogi from Kanu, but the move ultimately backfired, and Jaramogi's suspension was declared null and void.
Kenyatta returned from detention the following year, and Gichuru stepped down for him once again. After independence, Kenyatta had earmarked Gichuru as a possible successor, but his deteriorating health and lack of enthusiasm made him a non-starter. Gichuru died in 1982, having served as Finance and Defence minister.
