Appolo Ohanga
Encyclopedia
Appolo Ohanga was the first black Kenyan cabinet minister in the Colonial
Period.
Born in 1913 at Got Regea in Siaya
, Nyanza Province
, the late Benaiah Appolo Ohanga was the son of the late Ongewe Okelo
and Alicia Obura.
in 1928. At Maseno, the late Carey Francis recognized his unique ability and within two years, Mr Ohanga had taken his final exams for Secondary and teacher training education.
He then proceeded to Alliance High School in 1931 for Senior Secondary education and qualified for entrance to University in 1933.
However, he was prevailed upon by Carey Francis to join him in training teachers at Maseno Central School. He, therefore, returned to Maseno as a tutor and consequently taught some of his classmates.
He was a keen musician and an accomplished organist. In 1943, he was elevated to the same rank as graduate teachers in recognition of his outstanding ability. Whilst at Maseno, he got married in 1943 to Truphosa Margaret Okinyo, a school teacher, and they had ten children, Veronica, Victor, Jerusha, Hudson, Mildred, Catherine, Patricia, Christopher, David and Eric.
.
In 1947 he was nominated to the Kenya Legislative Council. He became the first African in Kenya to hold
a Cabinet post when he rose to the position of Minister for Community Development and Rehabilitation
in 1954, a post he held until 1957.
He then joined the Civil Service as an Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, and later moved to
the Ministry of Home Affairs where he was in charge of approved schools. During his tenure in the Civil
Service, he was very active in the Trade Union Movement and served as President of the Civil Servants
Union and first President of Central Organization of Trade Unions(COTU).
Upon his retirement from the Civil Service in 1972, he became the Chief Executive of the Kenya Senior
Civil Servants Association.
In the course of his career he visited many foreign countries including India
, Germany
, United States of America and, severally, Great Britain
. In his various capacities he traveled extensively all over Kenya and East Africa
, and, until his death, he could still recall vividly by name the various personalities he met
in those areas.
He retired from the Senior Civil Servants Association in 1975 and dedicated his time to his family, farming, church and community matters.
In 1986, he was honoured by His Excellency President Daniel Arap Moi
who conferred on him the distinguished Order
of the Grand Warrior of Kenya.
Mr. Ohanga died at 12.25 a.m. on January 23, 1992 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
.
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
Period.
Born in 1913 at Got Regea in Siaya
Siaya
Siaya is a town in Nyanza Province of Kenya. It is the capital of Siaya District. It is located 50 kilometres Northwest of Kisumu, the provincial capital. Siaya forms munipical council with population of 41,174, of whom 13,787 are classified urban ....
, Nyanza Province
Nyanza Province
Nyanza Province of Kenya, is one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces. It is located in the southwest part of Kenya around Lake Victoria. Nyanza includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes such as the...
, the late Benaiah Appolo Ohanga was the son of the late Ongewe Okelo
and Alicia Obura.
Education
After passing his Common Entrance Examination in 1927 he joined Maseno SchoolMaseno School
Maseno School is one of the oldest schools in Kenya. It was established in 1906 by the Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society as a school for the children of African chiefs. The first administrator of the school was Rev...
in 1928. At Maseno, the late Carey Francis recognized his unique ability and within two years, Mr Ohanga had taken his final exams for Secondary and teacher training education.
He then proceeded to Alliance High School in 1931 for Senior Secondary education and qualified for entrance to University in 1933.
However, he was prevailed upon by Carey Francis to join him in training teachers at Maseno Central School. He, therefore, returned to Maseno as a tutor and consequently taught some of his classmates.
He was a keen musician and an accomplished organist. In 1943, he was elevated to the same rank as graduate teachers in recognition of his outstanding ability. Whilst at Maseno, he got married in 1943 to Truphosa Margaret Okinyo, a school teacher, and they had ten children, Veronica, Victor, Jerusha, Hudson, Mildred, Catherine, Patricia, Christopher, David and Eric.
Political life
From 1946 to 1947, he was Secretary to the Language Committee of all Nilotic languagesNilotic languages
The Nilotic languages are a group of Eastern Sudanic languages spoken across a wide area between southern Sudan and Tanzania by the Nilotic peoples, particularly associated with cattle-herding...
.
In 1947 he was nominated to the Kenya Legislative Council. He became the first African in Kenya to hold
a Cabinet post when he rose to the position of Minister for Community Development and Rehabilitation
in 1954, a post he held until 1957.
He then joined the Civil Service as an Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, and later moved to
the Ministry of Home Affairs where he was in charge of approved schools. During his tenure in the Civil
Service, he was very active in the Trade Union Movement and served as President of the Civil Servants
Union and first President of Central Organization of Trade Unions(COTU).
Upon his retirement from the Civil Service in 1972, he became the Chief Executive of the Kenya Senior
Civil Servants Association.
In the course of his career he visited many foreign countries including India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, United States of America and, severally, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. In his various capacities he traveled extensively all over Kenya and East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, and, until his death, he could still recall vividly by name the various personalities he met
in those areas.
He retired from the Senior Civil Servants Association in 1975 and dedicated his time to his family, farming, church and community matters.
In 1986, he was honoured by His Excellency President Daniel Arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
who conferred on him the distinguished Order
of the Grand Warrior of Kenya.
Mr. Ohanga died at 12.25 a.m. on January 23, 1992 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi is part of the Aga Khan Health Services . Established in 1958, the Hospital is a 254-bed long-term care facility offering quality general medical services, specialist clinics and high-tech diagnostic services....
.