Argwings kodhek biography of albert

Kenyan politician

Clement Michael George Argwings-Kodhek (26 October 1923^[1] – 29 January 1969), also known sort Chiedo Moa Gem Argwings-Kodhek, was a Kenyan attorney and minister. He served in the administration and cabinet of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, for tremor years, during which time purify held the post of participant of parliament for the Gemstone Constituency and the portfolios look upon Minister of Natural Resources courier the Ministry of Foreign Circumstances.

Early life and education

A associate of the Kagola Ojuodhi brotherhood, Argwings-Kodhek was born in Nyawara, Nyanza Province. He was not learned at St. Mary's School scope Yala, and St. Mary's Faculty in Kisubi, Uganda, where crystalclear sat for his Cambridge Academy Certificate in 1936. From 1937 until 1940 Argwings-Kodhek attended Makerere College, graduating from there hang together a teaching degree.

After scale 1, Argwings-Kodhek taught at Kapsabet Boys High School and in high-mindedness Rift Valley.^[2]

In 1947, Argwings-Kodhek won a scholarship from the African colonial government to study remit Great Britain. Though sent be bounded by study the social sciences, Argwings-Kodhek's interests lay with the batter, and he lost his training when he switched to rove subject, forcing his family slant sell their assets in sanction to finance his education.

After graduating from University have power over South Wales, Argwings-Kodhek was known as to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn, becoming the first Easterly African to qualify as excellent barrister at the Inns reinforce Court in London.^[3]

Legal career

In 1952, Argwings-Kodhek returned to Kenya organize his first wife, Mavis Citizen.

Though he was offered wonderful position in the Department lecture the Attorney General, he excluded the low salary — which was a third of mosey of his white peers — and went instead into hidden practice. A close associate beat somebody to it several members of the Kenya African Union (KAU), Argwings-Kodhek began taking briefs for KAU helpers charged with participating in dignity Mau Mau rebellion.

Soon noteworthy was in such high mind among accused Mau Mau territory that Kenya's white settler humanity called him 'the Mau Mau lawyer'.^[4]

Many of the defendants who sought Argwings-Kodhek's services lacked honourableness means to pay his fees. As a result, Argwings-Kodhek took their cases as 'paupers' briefs,' the low fees for which usually only covered his current.

His status as colonial Kenya's only Black lawyer exposed him to repeated harassment by the cops officers, who regularly requested reward documentation and occasionally inhibited dominion access to areas affected unused the state of emergency explicit by the British.^[5] This aggravation culminated with his disbarment up-to-date 1957.^[6]

Political career

Though national political parties were prohibited under the bring back of emergency proclaimed by primacy British, Argwings-Kodhek circumvented this break off in 1956 by establishing justness Nairobi District African Congress.

Recognized was instrumental in the fabric of the Kenya African State Union (KANU) in March 1960, and he won election contempt the colony's Legislative Council hole the 1961 general election, portion on it until it replaced by the new Parliament rule Kenya upon Kenya's independence uphold 1963.^[7]

In the 1963 Kenyan prevailing election, Argwings-Kodhek won election allude to the country's new House get a hold Representatives as the representative get something done Gem Constituency.

Appointed by Core Minister Jomo Kenyatta as Helpful Minister for Defence, Argwings-Kodhek served in that office until misstep was promoted in 1966 round head the Ministry of Thrilling Resources. In 1968, he was named Minister of State funds Foreign Affairs, serving in zigzag office until his death false a car accident in Jan 1969.^[8]

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