Charles Karuga Koinange (1920-2004), the son of a prominent colonial Kikuyu chief, served as key colonial chief in Central Kenya during the 1950s. After Kenya's independence in 1963, Charles Karuga served as a District Commissioner and Provincial Commissioner in the independent

Republic of Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. As a leading member of the prominent Koinange family, Charles Karuga Koinange held a prominent role in late colonial developments in Central Kenya, as well as politics in Central Kenya following Kenya's independence.

Family

Charles Karuga Koinange was the second son of

Koinange Wa Mbiyu Koinange wa Mbiyu (1865–1960) was a Kikuyu chief. Koinange played a stifling role in Kenya's fight for independence movement. He was a paramount chief who helped the Colonial powers to suppress Africans that were fighting for the independence. ...

, a leading colonial African chief among the Kikuyu people of Central Kenya.

Career

Charles Karuga Koinange civil service career began in 1951 and ended in 1980. Beginning as an assistant to local chiefs in 1951, he then served as chief of the Kiambaa District from 1955 until 1961. This district had formerly been overseen by his father,

, from c. 1920 to 1939. During Charles Karuga's tenure as chief, his father was detained, first in

Marsabit Marsabit is a town in the northern Marsabit County in Kenya. It is situated in the former Eastern Province and is almost surrounded by the Marsabit National Park. The town is located east of the centre of the East African Rift at an elevation o ...

and then in

Kapenguria Kapenguria is a town lying north east of Kitale on the A1 road in Kenya. Kapenguria is capital of the West Pokot County. Kapenguria forms a municipality with an urban population of 13,000 and a total population of 56,000 (1999 census). Kapenguria ...

as, according to the colonial government, a leader of the

Mau Mau Rebellion The Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960), also known as the Mau Mau uprising, Mau Mau revolt or Kenya Emergency, was a war in the British Kenya Colony (1920–1963) between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the ''Mau Mau'', ...

of the early 1950s. Charles then served a short stint as an African Administrative Officer from 1961-1963, before moving on to serve as District Commissioner of Muranga and Nyeri Districts. His final administrative posts, which he began in 1967, as Provincial Commissioner of the Central Province and Eastern Provinces of Kenya. In the early 1980s, Charles Karuga served as chairman of the Kenya Tea Development Authority.

References

1920 births 2004 deaths 20th-century Kenyan politicians {{Kenya-politician-stub