Sons and daughters of Kitui

Willy Mutunga… is the Chief Justice. He has been one of Kenya’s leading reform activists.

He was detained by the Moi regime in the 80s as a law lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

After his detention, Dr Mutunga joined the struggle for what came to be known as the Second Liberation which fought for the return of multipartism.

He was one of the key figures in the 4Cs lobby group which pushed for constitutional changes.

Isaac Kalua… the veteran sports administrator, environmentalist and businessman is founder of Green Africa Foundation, an organisation that has won many global awards in environmental conservation.

He also chairs the Kamba Professionals’ Forum. In 2007, he spearheaded Kenya’s efforts to host the 35th World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.

Koki Muli… regarded as one of Africa’s leading experts on elections, she is dean of the School of External Studies at South Eastern University College.

She is a former executive director of the Institute of Education in Democracy, which has mentored many young MPs in the current Parliament.

Japheth Mwania… was a senior Deputy Commissioner of Police, now Director General of the National Youth Service.

A career detective who headed the police in several provinces, he led a special police unit that helped to end the notorious Kayabombo tribal clashes in Mombasa.

Kitili Mwendwa… became in 1969 the first African Chief Justice and was the first and so far only Kenyan to have served at the peak of the three arms of government when he became an MP in 1984.

Before heading the Judiciary he had served as Solicitor General – a senior Executive appointment.

Fredrick Mbiti Mati… put the county on the national map when became the first African Speaker of the National Assembly, taking over from Sir Humphrey Slade.

Nzamba Kitonga… the Nairobi lawyer rose to prominence when he chaired the Committee of Experts that drafted the new Constitution which was unanimously passed during last year’s referendum

Eliud Simon Mbilu… a major general was the first African commander of the Kenya Navy, also in 1969.

Geoffrey Muluvi… the principal of South Eastern University College, he was for many years a deputy Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University.

Makau Mutua… chairman of Kenya Human Rights Commission, he is dean of Buffalo Law School at the State University of New York.

Kitili Mbathi… is the chairman of Kenya Tourist Board and the CFC Stanbic Bank regional MD for East Africa and Mauritius, based in Nairobi.