Simeon Nyachae, who passed away in early February at the age of 88, was among the men who shaped Kenya and made it one of Africa’s leading economies. For Kenya’s first 40 years of independence he was highly visible in government and helped to craft an economy oriented to the private sector that also was favourable to both large and small-scale agriculture.
Nyachae held senior leadership positions under all three of Kenya’s first presidents – Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki – from 1963 to 2007.
Nyachae was among the favourite sons of Musa Nyandusi, who was the senior chief in Kisii District in western Kenya and supervisor of its other chiefs. This was the highest government post an African could hold in the colonial government. As independence approached Nyandusi was able to influence an appointment for Nyachae as district assistant (or officer) – which had been the entry grade for British colonial officers – in Kisii. He then moved to Machakos district
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW about Mzee Simeon Nyachae, the former powerful cabinet minister
History of Mzee Simeon Nyachae
Former Moi era Chief Secretary Mzee Simeon Nyachae’s early years were spent with his mother. He was later to remark, “In a polygamous home the women tend to take hold of the children [especially when they are young], leaving the father nowhere.” As Nyachae grew up he became unusually close to his father, but in the years before his schooling he belonged to his mother. Pauline Bosibori had but two children, and James Oiruria was only two years older than Nyachae. The two brothers were very close.
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He was treated at a private hospital in Migori where the boil was lanced and drained. A skin sample was taken for further tests but he never got the results.
In August 2010, a similar boil appeared on his left foot and quickly enlarged. The father of five visited Kisumu County District Hospital where he was examined and had a skin biopsy test done.
He was diagnosed with an ‘incompletely excised atypical capillary haemangioma’, underwent chemotherapy for eight months at Kisii District Referral Hospital and the swelling disappeared.
The following year, the growth recurred and he was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital where he was diagnosed with an ‘early lesion of Kaposi sarcoma’, which is a type of cancer.