Mwai Kibaki was born in Gatuyaini village in Othaya on November 15, 1931. He was the youngest in Kibaki Githinji and Teresia Wanjiku’s family. The young Mwai was often left in the care of his elder sister, Waitherero, as their mother busied herself in the garden. Born in a large peasant Kikuyu family, Mwai grew among his eight siblings.
Like many of his colleagues, young Mwai spent most of his early childhood assisting in the family chores. Due to the patriarchal nature of the Kikuyu society, Mwai’s chores tended to incline towards outdoor activities such as tilling land and taking care of the family livestock. During this time Catholic missionaries had established their base in the nearby Karima Mission. They started going into the villages looking for boys to attend school.
Young Kibaki was nominated to join to the mission school by his polygamous father, as he was not doing much in the garden.
Mwai Kibaki was born in Gatuyaini village in Othaya on November 15, 1931. He was the youngest in Kibaki Githinji and Teresia Wanjiku’s family. The young Mwai was often left in the care of his elder sister, Waitherero, as their mother busied herself in the garden. Born in a large peasant Kikuyu family, Mwai grew among his eight siblings.
Like many of his colleagues, young Mwai spent most of his early childhood assisting in the family chores. Due to the patriarchal nature of the Kikuyu society, Mwai’s chores tended to incline towards outdoor activities such as tilling land and taking care of the family livestock. During this time Catholic missionaries had established their base in the nearby Karima Mission. They started going into the villages looking for boys to attend school.
Young Kibaki was nominated to join to the mission school by his polygamous father, as he was not doing much in the garden.
