Tom Mboya: One of Kenya's Founding Fathers

“Kenya’s independence would have been seriously compromised were it not for the courage and steadfastness of Tom Mboya.”
President Jomo Kenyatta

Born in 1930, Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya, referred to as Tom Mboya, was instrumental in the fight for Kenya’s freedom. A self-made man, Tom Mboya was an astute Pan-Africanist and was committed to the full liberation of Africans in Africa as well as in the diaspora. 

Tom Mboya was a trade unionist, educator, Pan-Africanist, author, independence activist, and statesman. He was Secretary-General of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and headed the Kenyan delegation in negotiating Kenya's independence from the British.

Kenya gained its independence from Britain on 12 December 1963, with Jomo Kenyatta becoming President. Tom Mboya served as Minister of Justice from 1963 to his untimely death in 1969. 

Tom Mboya initiated the famous Airlift programme. This initiative sponsored the education of some of Kenya’s most promising young minds between 1953 and 1963 at universities across the United States.

Tom Mboya was also instrumental in designing Kenya's national flag. It includes the shield and spears, and the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) and Kenya African National Union (KANU) party colours. 

“There were few African leaders so well-known and so much admired abroad. At ease with the Nehrus and Kennedys of the world, his presence was eagerly sought at important international conferences … In the end, he should be remembered as a man of the world.”
Prof. Dharam Ghai

“We will never, never sell our freedom for capital or technical aid. We stand for freedom at any cost.”
Tom Mboya