| Intro | Former Attorney General of Kenya |
| Is | Lawyer |
| From | Kenya |
| Type | Law |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 1 January 1920 |
Charles Mugane Njonjo (born 23 January 1920) is a former Attorney General of Kenya (1963 – 1979), and Minister of Constitutional Affairs (1980 – 1983). Charles Njonjo is also popularly referred to as “The Duke of Kabeteshire”.
Early Life and Career
Njonjo was the son of Josiah Njonjo, and received a degree in law from the Fort Hare University in South Africa. After Kenyan independence in 1963, Njonjo was appointed Attorney General. Njonjo registered the G.e.m.a. association, but would soon become an opponent of the group; in 1976, he charged some of its members including Kihika Kimani and Njenga Karume with treason. The order was soon overturned, however, by the president, Jomo Kenyatta. Njonjo held the Attorney General’s post until April 1980. The same year he was elected Member of parliament for Kikuyu Constituency and in 1980 he was appointed Minister of Constitutional Affairs in the government of Daniel arap Moi. In the early 1980s he was the chairman of the East African Wildlife Society.
Miller Inquiry
In 1983 he was forced to resign and left public life, after a judicial inquiry concluded he had abused his office, amid allegations that he was trying to take over the presidency from Moi.
Return to Public Life
In 1998 he returned to public life, and was appointed chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service. In October 2006 there were indications that Njonjo was attempting a comeback in Kenyan politics, including his show of support for Raila Odinga.