Kenyatta family
| Kenyatta family | |
|---|---|
| Current region | Gatundu, Kiambu, Kenya |
| Place of origin | Kenya |
| Members | Jomo Kenyatta, Ngina Kenyatta, Uhuru Kenyatta, Muhoho Kenyatta |
The Kenyatta family is the family of Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya and a prominent leader in the country's independence. Born into the dominant Kikuyu culture, Kenyatta became its most famous interpreter of Kikuyu traditions through his book Facing Mount Kenya.
Jomo Kenyatta was born Kamau Wa Muigai at Ng'enda village, Gatundu Division, Kiambu to Muigai and Wambui. He was Kenya's first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and later its President (1964–1978). His date of birth, sometime in the early to mid 1890s, is unclear. In 1914, he was baptized a Christian and given the name John Peter which he changed to Johnstone. He again later changed his name to Jomo in 1938. He adopted the name of Jomo Kenyatta taking his first name from the Kikuyu word for "burning spear" and his last name from the masai word for the bead belt that he often wore.
His son, Uhuru Kenyatta, who he fathered late in life, served as the fourth President of Kenya from 2013–2022.