NAIROBI — 1969 · Murder
The Assassination of Tom Mboya
Tom Mboya, trade unionist, Minister for Economic Planning and one of the leading figures of Kenya's independence, was shot dead on 5 July 1969 as he left a pharmacy on Government Road (now Moi Avenue) in central Nairobi. One man was tried, convicted and executed for the killing. After his arrest, however, he reportedly asked police, 'Why don't you go after the big man?', a remark that kept alive suspicions that powerful political figures were behind the assassination. His death triggered unrest in several Kenyan cities. The question of who ordered it is still debated.
- Date
- 1969
- Place
- Moi Avenue, Kenya, Nairobi, KE
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- -1.2830, 36.8230 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 5 July 1969Tom Mboya was shot dead in Nairobi.
- July 1969His death triggered unrest across the country.
- 1969The gunman was tried and sentenced to death.
- November 1969Four months after the murder, his execution was announced.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Tom Mboya en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Daily Nation — New revelations raise fresh questions about Tom Mboya's killing nation.africa ↗
- SAHO — Kenyan politician Tom Mboya dies sahistory.org.za ↗
- Wikipedia
- Daily Nation
- SAHO
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.