Dawson Mwanyumba would not have been appointed to Kenyatta’s first Cabinet as Minister of Public Works, Communications, and Power if reference checks were necessary to get a Cabinet seat.
Mwanyumba was a professional math teacher who, after attacking a colonial education officer in 1953, was physically boxed into politics. He was quick to become angry and even faster to use his fist against anybody he considered to be too sluggish for his taste.
Eliud Mcharo, a former Taveta MP and Mwanyumba’s pupil at Maynard Intermediate School, credits his ascent to the day he disobeyed a district education officer’s summons.
DEO Delany, stationed at Wundanyi, had gone to Mbale to meet with Mwanyumba. He dispatched Ayub Mwaluma, one of the teachers, to call Mwanyumba from class when he did not see him at the office.
In class eight, Mwanyumba was in charge of getting students ready for the Kenya African Primary Examination (KAPE). He instructed Mwaluma to instruct the DEO to hold off until after the lesson.
The DEO is reported to have been taken aback by the remark and promised to reprimand the “insolent” instructor.
Mwanyumba was going to follow in the footsteps of his colleagues, Ronald Ngala, Julius Gikonyo Kiano, and Robert Matano, who had already begun their undergraduate studies in America after securing a scholarship for more education.
It was not to be, though. The scholarship awarded to Mwanyumba was revoked under strange circumstances. He soon found that the DEO he had betrayed had destroyed his hopes of becoming a professor.
After discovering this, Mwanyumba—who had a hard time keeping his cool—went to Wundanyi and barged into the DEO’s office. According to Mcharo, “He physically attacked the colonial educationist for revoked his scholarship.”
In turn, Mwanyumba quit his job as a teacher.
Mary Ndigha, his eldest daughter, states: “I knew my father had quit as a teacher, but I didn’t know why. Furthermore, I’ve never understood why he never pursued higher education overseas, even though almost all of his classmates easily continued their study after Makerere. I know now.
Mwanyumba, true to his nature, had no regrets about taking affairs into his own hands; he even urged his wife, a teacher, to resign.
“He was afraid that resentful colonial education authorities would attack her. Mary remembers, “She started a new life as a peasant farmer and clothes maker.
With no job and a small family to provide for, the former math teacher turned to his business acumen to get by. He established a butchery in Moshi, Tanzania, as well as a store in Wundanyi town selling a variety of home items.
Benjamin Mwashumbe, 56, a native of Wundanyi, says the store quickly became into a gathering place for political discussion.
“His store resembled an intellectual bazaar. Many would go only to be up to date on the most recent political events. Older people who were involved in politics at the time taught me this,” he remarked.
However, the family paid a heavy price for politics. Mwanyumba paid less attention to the store the more engrossed he became in politics. He grew disoriented and stock-outs started to happen often. Mary said, “It was a busy, large store.” It offered a variety of goods, including food and clothing. My father gave his clients unrestricted credit to purchase stuff. He frequently offered free stuff. The company struggled and ultimately failed.
