KARIUKI, JOSIAH MWANGI
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PHOTO CAPTION: Josiah Mwangi Kariuki. SOURCE: EA Library.
Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (March 21, 1929 – March 2, 1975) was a Kenyan politician and a vocal critic of the government during his time. His fearless stance against government wrongdoing earned him both admiration and enemies within the political establishment. J.M. Kariuki was a champion of the poor and marginalized in Kenyan society. He advocated for land reform and social justice, particularly for landless peasants and those living in poverty-stricken areas.
Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, known, he was born in 1929 at Nyandarua District, Kenya. J.M. Kariuki came from a humble background in rural Kenya. He grew up in Nyandarua District, a predominantly agricultural area. His educational background was not extensively documented, but it was known that he attended local schools during his youth. He didn’t have the opportunity to pursue higher education due to financial constraints, which was a common challenge for many African youths during that time. In his early working life, Kariuki engaged in various jobs to make ends meet.
He worked as a laborer, clerk, and eventually ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing himself as a successful businessman. His experiences with poverty and witnessing the struggles of the ordinary Kenyan people deeply influenced his later political career. Kariuki rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s as a fierce advocate for social justice and the rights of the poor.
He became a Member of Parliament and was known for his outspoken criticism of government corruption and his calls for equitable distribution of resources. Before his entry into politics, Kariuki was involved in various business ventures. He was known to have operated a successful transport business, which contributed to his financial stability and enabled him to support his political activities later on.
Kariuki nearly died on 1 March 1975 when a bus he was supposed to travel in to go to Mombasa was bombed. On 2 March 1975, Kariuki’s remains were found in Ngong Forest by a herd boy; his hands had been chopped off, his eyes gorged out, his face burnt with acid and left on an ant’s nest.
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