Before plunging into politics, former President Uhuru Kenyatta studied in Kenya and the United States, gained early banking experience, and later ventured into horticultural exports.
Born on October 26, 1961, Kenyatta began his early education in Nairobi. He attended Lady Northey Nursery School before proceeding to Loreto Convent Valley Road.
He later joined St Mary’s School in Nairobi, where he completed his A-Level studies in 1979. During his time at the school, Kenyatta played rugby as a winger and participated in drama and other school activities.
After St Mary’s, he moved to the United States for university.
What Did Uhuru Kenyatta Study?
Kenyatta enrolled at Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he pursued a degree combining Political Science and Economics.
His studies covered economics and political science, giving him an academic background in two fields that would later shape his professional and public career.
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Kenyatta graduated from Amherst College in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
After graduating, Kenyatta returned to Kenya and began his career at Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). He worked as a bank teller at the bank’s Kipande House branch in Nairobi before later venturing into the private sector.
How Uhuru Entered Business
One of Kenyatta’s early business ventures was Wilham Kenya Limited, a company involved in agricultural and horticultural produce.
The company sourced produce from farmers for export to international markets, with French beans among the products it traded.
Kenyatta was personally involved in sourcing produce from farming areas and establishing relationships with farmers and suppliers. In the early stages of the venture, he travelled to different agricultural areas using a pickup truck while looking for produce for the export market.
Wilham gained experience in agricultural supply chains, sourcing, and international trade before becoming more involved in other commercial activities.
Kenyatta later became involved in a broader range of business interests associated with the wider Kenyatta family.
The family’s commercial interests have included agriculture and horticulture, hospitality, media, property, and other sectors.
His business experience came before his transition into active politics in the 1990s.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s Entry Into Politics
Kenyatta made his first attempt at elective politics during the 1997 General Election, when he contested the Gatundu South parliamentary seat in Kiambu County.
He lost the contest to Moses Mwihia, but remained active in public affairs.
His political career gained momentum after former President Daniel arap Moi appointed him chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board in 1999.
In 2001, Moi nominated Kenyatta to Parliament and appointed him Minister for Local Government.
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Kenyatta became KANU’s presidential candidate in the 2002 General Election after Moi endorsed him as his preferred successor.
He was 40 years old when he led KANU into the election but lost to Mwai Kibaki, who ran on the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket.
Kenyatta remained active in politics after the defeat and later became Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament.
He subsequently rose to become chairman of KANU and continued building his political career.
From Cabinet to State House
Kenyatta later served in the Grand Coalition Government under President Mwai Kibaki, including as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and later Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance.
He went on to win the 2013 presidential election, becoming Kenya’s fourth President.
During his first term, his administration pursued major infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting Mombasa and Nairobi.
Kenyatta sought a second term in the August 2017 presidential election and was declared the winner. The Supreme Court later annulled the results and ordered a fresh election.
He won the repeat election held in October 2017 and began his second term.
His second administration promoted the Big Four Agenda, which focused on manufacturing, food security, affordable housing and universal healthcare.
Kenyatta completed the constitutionally permitted two terms and left office in September 2022.
He had backed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the 2022 presidential campaign, but Deputy President William Ruto won the election and succeeded him as Kenya’s fifth President.
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