Fredrick Mbiti Gideon Mati was the first African and longest serving Speaker of the

Kenyan Parliament The National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya is one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Kenya. Between 1966 and 2013, it served as a unicameral house. In 2013 ( 11th Parliament), it became the lower house when the Senate was reestablis ...

, having been elected speaker on 6 February 1970, taking over from Humphrey Slade, and serving until April 1988.Colony and protectorate of Kenya, 12th council, 1961–1970. Mati was the Minister for Health and Housing in the coalition government prior to Kenya's independence in 1963. He was also a member of the Legislative Council of Kenya from 1961 and the first MP for Kitui North, now current Kitui County, serving from 1963 to his election as Speaker in 1970. He was one of the first two people from

Ukambani The Kamba or Akamba (sometimes called Wakamba) people are a Bantu ethnic group who predominantly live in the area of Kenya stretching from Nairobi to Tsavo and north to Embu, in the southern part of the former Eastern Province. This land is ...

to receive a university degree.

References

Year of birth unknown Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) Speakers of the National Assembly of Kenya Members of the Legislative Council of Kenya Kenya African National Union politicians Government ministers of Kenya {{Kenya-politician-stub