Henry Kosgey Kiprono is a seasoned Kenyan politician, lawyer, and businessman who has played a significant role in the country’s political and economic landscape for over four decades.
Known for his long tenure in public service, Kosgey has served as a Cabinet Minister in multiple administrations and as a Member of Parliament for Tinderet Constituency for more than 30 years.
Educational Background of Henry Kosgey
Henry Kosgey was born in 1947 in Nandi County, Kenya.
He began his secondary education at Kapsabet Boys High School, completing his studies in 1960.
In 1969, he joined the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972.
He later pursued postgraduate studies in the United States and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan in 1976.
In 2020, he attained a PhD, 48 years after his bachelor’s degree.
Political and Professional Career
Henry Kosgey began his professional career in 1977, when he joined the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, where he worked in the industrial coordination department until the community’s collapse in 1977.
Following his return to Kenya, he entered politics and was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Tinderet Constituency in 1979 under the Kenya African National Union (KANU).
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Henry held the Tinderet seat for multiple terms (1983, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007), making him one of the longest-serving MPs in Kenya.
Between 1979 and 2013, Kosgey served in various ministerial positions.
- Minister for Transport and Communications (1979-1985)
- Minister for Co-operative Development (1985-1987)
- Minister for Culture & Social Services (1987-1988)
- Minister for Environment and Natural Resources (1996-1997)
- Minister for Tourism (1998-1999)
- Minister for Science & Technology (1999-2001)
- Minister for Education (2001-2002)
- Minister for Industrialisation (2008-March 2013)
In addition to his ministerial roles, Kosgey also held key party leadership positions.
He served as Chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Elections Board during the 2007-08 election period, overseeing national party nominations and electoral strategies.
In 2011, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a summons for Kosgey in connection with the 2007–2008 post-election violence. He appeared voluntarily in The Hague on April 7, 2011.
On January 23, 2012, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber declined to confirm charges against him.
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In 2011, he faced domestic prosecution for authorizing exemptions for vehicles older than eight years. In June 2012, the Nairobi High Court dismissed the case.
Family Life
Henry Kosgey is married and has several children. His son, Alex Kosgey, served as the Member of Parliament for Emgwen Constituency from 2013 to 2022.
The Kosgey family remains politically active and influential in Nandi County and the wider Rift Valley region.
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