Ki jana wamalwa biography definition

Friends and supporters of Michael Kijana Wamalwa described him as a gentleman who liked to read Shakespeare, listen to classical music and watch cartoons on television.

Kijana was his nickname - meaning a young person in Kiswahili - because he was thought to be too young for politics when he first attempted to enter parliament at the age 30 in

But his ill-health was to become the metaphor for the new government after his opposition coalition swept to power in elections last December, ending 24 years of rule under President Daniel arap Moi.

Over the last six months, Kijana Wamalwa was repeatedly admitted to hospital in London, suffering from various ailments.

And the end came on an English summer morning at the Royal Free hospital in London where he was undergoing treatment.

'Kenya's Englishman'

Wamalwa, born in , studied law and once practised as a barrister before establishing himself as an opposition stalwart du