A U T O B I O G R A P H Y

My Passion For Change

With Masinde Kusimba

First Published 2024 by
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Nairobi, Kenya
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© Juma Mukhwana

Cover and book layout design by:
Simpaul Design Limited
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Photography: Family collection and courtesy

ISBN: 978-9914-736-33-5

CONTENTS 

Chapter 1: In The Wilderness                                                                                            1
Chapter 2: A Miraculous Escape                                                                                      10
Chapter 3: My Father                                                                                                       23
Chapter 4: At The Beginning                                                                                            34
Chapter 5: A Solid Foundation                                                                                         48
Chapter 6: The Masterstroke                                                                                           65
Chapter 7: The Comrade                                                                                                 73
Chapter 8: Among The Nomads                                                                                     117
Chapter 9: My Family                                                                                                     130
Chapter 10: Dream Deferred                                                                                          144
Chapter 11: Standing Up For Farmers                                                                            153
Chapter 12: Scholarly Works And Awards                                                                      215
Chapter 13: Political Leadership                                                                                     221
Chapter 14: Three Times Unlucky                                                                                  226
Chapter 15: Life In America                                                                                            240
Chapter 16: Strengthening Univ ersity Education                                                           251
Chapter 17: Untangling Our Education                                                                           260
Chapter 18: Industrial Revolution                                                                                    270
Chapter 19: Reflections                                                                                                   279
References                                                                                                                      284
Index                                                                                                                                285

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Producing a book is a tedious process that requires input from several indivi duals and groups. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this publication in one way or another. Without their invaluable insights, support and dedication, this book would not have been possible.

Special thanks to His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, the President of the Republic of Kenya, for believing in me and appointing me as the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industrialization. I will forever be grateful to him for givi ng me the opportunity to serve my country. It is on the basis of this appointment that I have been able to contribute positiv ely to the development of this nation; an experience that is contained in this book. 

I also appreciate my elder brother and friend, Rt. Hon. Dr. Moses Masika Wetang’ula, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, and the Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi (the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs), among others, for their moral and ideological support.

Before writing this book, a number of my friends and members of my family had encouraged me to document my life story. Initially, I was reluctant to share my experiences and the lessons I have learnt over the years but, eventually, I realised the importance of sharing my thoughts and life experiences.

I wish to thank Masinde Kusimba for walking with me throughout this journey. He listened to my story and conducted further research and intervi ews with some key informants, and helped me to write this book. I thank Kwendo Opanga and Patrick Kyunguti for editing this volume and preparing it for publication.

I am also grateful to my wife Lucia and our children Ian, Tony, Polly and Alex, for the support they gave me as I worked on this book. They are the pillars of my life. They have always provi ded me with a conduciv e envi ronment to try out different ideas without prejudging me.

I appreciate the larger Mukhwana family (my brothers and sisters) and members of our Basakali clan for the unconditional love that they have always shown me. Special thanks to my big sister Jordina Naliaka, my cousin Fred Situma (we call him a walking encyclopedia), Rudolf Masika,and my brothers Engineer John Situma and Isaac Opicho, just to name but a few. I am also indebted to many friends and relativ es for their invaluable input.
Along the journey of life, I have met many people who have giv en me opportunities to excel. They have also contributed to the success of this story. Key among them is my mentor and friend, Prof. Davi d Some, the former Vice-Chancellor of Moi Univ ersity and later Chief Executive Officer of the Commission for Univ ersity Education. He believed in me and supported me unconditionally. I cannot thank him enough.

I also appreciate the Late Prof. Jay Norton of the University of Wyoming, USA, for opening up the world for me. He made me think widely and deeply, and, therefore, I ended up a better person. I also appreciate the professional support of Prof. Adrian Mukhebi and Dr. Paul Woomer, and other colleagues in the research and scholarly world.

Ultimately, I cannot forget to thank the people of Bungoma County where I was born and bred. This is their book. They gave me many lessons that provi ded the bedrock for this publication. They showed me that all that glitters is not gold and that God’s timing is the best. This book mirrors them, it is about them, and it also talks to them. This is the story of my passion for change. May you find this publication useful. God bless you all.

Download My Passion For Change by Juma Mukhwana, PhD, CBS book here.