Tom Mboya | Kenyan Trade Unionist and Political Leader | Meet The Press | April 1959

April 12th 1959.

Audio of Tom Mboya's appearance on NBC's "Meet The Press".

Tom Mboya (1930-1969), the Kenyan trade union and political leader of international repute, was a key figure in Kenya's transition from a British colony to an independent country. His debating and oratorical skills earned him widespread admiration in his country and abroad, including the United States where he spoke on national TV and addressed civil rights rallies.

He was intrumental in founding Africa's first continental labour organisation.

He worked with both Senator John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King jr. to create educational opportunities for African students. Among the beneficiaries were future Nobel Laureate, Wangari Maathai and Barack Hussein Obama Snr., the father of the future U.S. President.

A contemporary of Kwame Nkrumah, Mboya came to public prominence at a relatively young age. He was perceived as a protege of Nkrumah's within the Pan-Africanist movement, and later as a rival.

In Kenya, where he later served as Minister for Economic Planning and Development, he was highly esteemed but was seen as a rival to key figures within the Kikuyu establishment.

His assassin was identified as Nahashon Isaac Njenga Njoroge.

But controversy and conspiracy theories endure over his murder.

Many Luos believed at the time had Mboya's murder was organised by members of Kenya's Kikuyu dominated elite. Many were convinced of Jomo Kenyatta's responsibility on the grounds that Mboya presented a threat to his leadership. Njoroge's words of "Why don't you go after the big man?" helped to fuel this.

An alternate theory lays the blame for Mboya's murder on the supporters of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who it is claimed feared that Mboya's appeal was taking support away from him among the Luo.

The photograph is dated June 4th 1963.

Photo Credit: Top Foto.

Original Credit for Audio Broadcast: NBC.