Mwai Kibaki
Kenya
Mwai Kibaki is the President of Kenya. He has held many other positions in government in a long political career.
Professional Information
Professional Areas:
Government
Employer:
Government of Kenya
Position:
President
Working primarily in:
Kenya
Description of Work:
Mwai Kibaki was born on November 15, 1931. Although he was baptized by Italian missionaries, he rarely, if ever, uses that name. He is from Nyeri District in the central highlands of Kenya.
Kibaki studied at Makerere University College in Kampala, Uganda, considered one of the best universities in East Africa, and the London School of Economics in London.
After a short career in academics, he entered politics, joining the Kenya Africa National Union (Kanu) in 1960. In 1963, he was elected to parliament, and has been there ever since. In 1969, he became Minister of Finance.
After the death of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, Kibaki was elevated to the vice-presidency under President Daniel arap Moi in 1978. The two had a falling out a decade later, and when multi-party politics were introduced in 1991, Kibaki left Kanu to start his own political party - the Democratic Party. He ran unsuccessfully for president in both 1992 and 1997, finishing third in 1992 and second in 1997.
Finally, in 2002, with the backing of wide coalition, Kibaki defeated Kenyatta's son Uhuru to win the presidency under the National Rainbow Coalition. He was sworn-in a wheelchair because he was still suffering injuries from a 2002 car accident.
Kibaki's coalition quickly crumbled and he lost a constitutional referendum in 2005.
Kibaki did recover to win re-election in 2007, but his victory has been widely questioned due to observers questions over the tallying of the vote.
Biographical Information
Mwai Kibaki
(At a Glance)
Date of Birth: Nov/15/1931
Interests: Politics, Economics, Golf
Location:
City: Nairobi
Place of Origin: Kenya
Mwai Kibaki was born on November 15, 1931. Although he was baptized by
Italian missionaries, he rarely, if ever, uses that name. He is from
Nyeri District in the central highlands of Kenya.
Kibaki studied
at Makerere University College in Kampala, Uganda, considered one of
the best universities in East Africa, and the London School of
Economics in London.
After a short career in academics, he
entered politics, joining the Kenya Africa National Union (Kanu) in
1960. In 1963, he was elected to parliament, and has been there ever
since. In 1969, he became Minister of Finance.
After the death
of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, Kibaki was elevated to the
vice-presidency under President Daniel arap Moi in 1978. The two had a
falling out a decade later, and when multi-party politics were
introduced in 1991, Kibaki left Kanu to start his own political party -
the Democratic Party. He ran unsuccessfully for president in both 1992
and 1997, finishing third in 1992 and second in 1997.
In 2002, with the backing of wide coalition, Kibaki defeated Kenyatta's
son Uhuru to win the presidency under the National Rainbow Coalition.
He was sworn-in a wheelchair because he was still suffering injuries
from a 2002 car accident.
Kibaki's coalition quickly crumbled and he lost a constitutional referendum in 2005.
Kibaki
did recover to win re-election in 2007, but his victory has been widely contested by international observers.
Mwai Kibaki is the President of Kenya. He has held many other positions in government in a long political career.
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