Jomo Kenyatta /ˈdʒoʊmoʊ kɛnˈjɑːtə/ (c. 1889 – 22 August 1978) was the leader of Kenya
from independence in 1963 to his death in 1978, serving first as Prime
Minister (1963–64) and then as President (1964–78). He is considered the
founding father of the Kenyan nation.[1]
Kenyatta was a well-educated intellectual who authored several books, and is remembered as a Pan-Africanist. He is also the father of Kenya's fourth and current President, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,
Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi's main street and
main streets in many Kenyan cities and towns, numerous schools, two
universities (Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology),
the country's main referral hospital, markets and housing estates are
named after him. A statue in Nairobi city centre and monuments all over
Kenya stand in his honour. Kenya observed a public holiday every 20
October in his honour until the 2010 constitution abolished Kenyatta Day
and replaced it with Mashujaa (Heroes') day. Kenyatta's face adorns Kenyan currency
notes and coins of all denominations (save the 40 shilling coin), but
this is expected to change as Kenya's 2010 constitution bars the use of
the portrait of any person on Kenya's currency.
