‘Nation’, NTV to feature Mzee and Moi stories from an insider’s view
Salim Amin (right) interviewing Lee Njiru. In an exclusive four part-series of A Life Behind the Scenes, Mr Njiru sheds light on the relationship between Mboya and Mzee. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Mr Njiru sheds light on the relationship between Mboya and Mzee.
- This is the first time such information is coming to the public limelight.
A stern face stared out at Kenyans for more than 24 years.
It was framed on office and shop walls, pictured on every banknote and coin and was ever present in news bulletins.
His eyes seemed to say, “Do not question the chief, I’m everywhere.”
The chief was President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.
A phone call out of the blue got me working on this four-part series, researching Kenya’s history and understanding the political events that unfolded during the Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Moi administrations.
I thought I was well read on our country’s history and the events that happened in the last 50 years but soon realised there was so much more than what Kenyans knew of these two men.
INTIMATE MOMENTS
I then took the decision to take this journey to reveal our former presidents’ habits, obsessions and intimate moments.
More importantly, I wanted to tell the story of the life and experiences of a man who worked around the clock with two of the country’s most powerful men.
I also discovered how closely my father, Mohammed Amin, was linked to this country’s past and present and how the images he shot sync with this story.
From tomorrow (Sunday), and for the next four Sundays, I will be bringing you this story exclusively on NTV, with a transcript of the interview to be published every Monday in the Nation for the next four weeks.
FOUR-PART SERIES
Join me on this exclusive four part-series of A Life Behind the Scenes with Mr Lee Njiru, who served as press secretary during the Mzee and Moi years and learn more about the history and politics of Kenya.
Besides digging into Kenya's quest for independence, we will delve into the problems that bedevilled the country in the early years of the independence, including the assassination of charismatic minister and trade unionist Tom Mboya.
Mr Njiru sheds light on the relationship between Mboya and Mzee.
This is the first time such information is coming to the public limelight.
He also delves into the relationship between Mzee and his vice-president and why their cozy relationship made many in central Kenya apprehensive to the point of trying to change the Constitution in an attempt to stop Moi from taking office.
