Josephat Karanja

Who was Josephat Karanja?

Dr. Josephat Njuguna Karanja was a Vice-President of the Republic of Kenya between 1988–1989. He resigned to avoid an ongoing vote-of-no-confidence in the Kenyan Parliament. He was accused by the now late Hon. David Mwenje Member of Parliament for Embakasi Constituency of wanting to overthrow President Daniel arap Moi's government by soliciting help from foreign nations. His large network of friends from the west – mainly US and Britain – where he had been a High Commissioner Ambassador. The speculation was fuelled by his wife being from a foreign country. He was accused of displaying the stunning beauty at a time when political wives were never seen nor heard. Few people failed to understand his western ideological thinking.

He was a member of parliament for Mathare Constituency during his VP years, but later moved to Githunguri Constituency, which he won in 1992 after two previous failed tries against Arthur Magugu. Previously, between 1964 and 1970, he had been the youngest to serve as High Commissioner to Britain, which was and still is one of the most important economic partners to Kenya; and had, beginning at age 40, served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi. He is probably more remembered for his tenure there between 1970–1979, a period referred to as the hey-days of the university whereby black student enrolment increased by large numbers for the first time in the country's history, than for any other aspects of his public service career. His liberal & western ideology opened the university to many changes, especially the encouragement of women to acquire higher education.