Simon Thuo Kairo (1930 – 30 August 2007) was a Kenyan diplomat and politician. He was one of the beneficiaries of the Kennedy Airlifts to America in 1959.[3] He was the first Kenyan ambassador to China and was elected to be the member of parliament of Nakuru East in 1974.[4]
Simon Thuo Kairo | |
|---|---|
| Kenyan Ambassador to China | |
| In office 1964–1965 | |
| Succeeded by | Henry Nzioka Mulli |
| Member of Parliament (Nakuru Town East Constituency) | |
| In office 1974–1978 | |
| President | Daniel Arap Moi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1930[1] Kikuyu |
| Died | 30 August 2007 (aged 76) Kileleshwa[2] |
| Spouse(s) | Nellie Wanjiro Kairo and Susan Wahu Kairo |
| Children | Nancy, Judy, Tommy, Betty, Chris, Wambui and Wanjiru Kairo |
| Alma mater | Budo College, Uganda Huron College Northeast State Teachers College |
| Occupation | Diplomat and politician |
Education
editKairo graduated in 1963 from Huron College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He also studied at Northeast State Teachers College, Missouri from 1959 to 1960 and Long Island University in New York from 1960 to 1961.[3]
Career
edit- He was Assistant Clerk in the Kenyan Parliament.[5]
- In 1963 he joined the Diplomatic Service.[6]
- From 1964 to 1965 he was Second Secretary and Charge d'Affaires in Beijing to open Kenya's embassy there.[7]
- In 1965 he became Private Secretary to Jomo Kenyatta.[8][9][10]
- In 1968 he founded the first Kenyan owned Tours and Safaris operation, Malaika Safaris.[11]
- On 1 November 1974 he was elected in the Constituency of Nakuru East as Member of the Kenyan National Assembly and was appointed Assistant Minister for Labour.[12]
References
edit- ^ Who's who in East Africa, 1967, p. 57
- ^ Kenya Gazette, [1]
- ^ a b Kenyan Student Airlifts to America 1959-1961: An Educational Odyssey by Stephens, Robert F.
- ^ Kenya Gazette 1 Nov 1974
- ^ Jim C. Harper, Western-Educated Elites in Kenya, 1900-1963: The African American Factor, p. 121
- ^ Harper, Jim C. (9 December 2005). Western-Educated Elites in Kenya, 1900-1963: The African American Factor. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-51280-4.
- ^ Sun, Jodie Yuzhou (2 January 2020). "'Now the cry was Communism': the Cold War and Kenya's relations with China, 1964–70". Cold War History. 20 (1): 39–58. doi:10.1080/14682745.2019.1602120. ISSN 1468-2745. S2CID 198821113.
- ^ Kenyan Student Airlifts to America 1959-1961: An Educational Odyssey, p.47
- ^ Western-Simon Thuo Kairo: Educated Elites in Kenya, 1900-1963 p.121
- ^ Kenya Gazette, 2 January 1998: Kenya High Commission, Lusaka. p.15
- ^ "Kenya Safari Operators Guide 2009-10". Issuu. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ Kenya Gazette 1 November 1974, [2]