Sogallo

The Koinange name has a long background in Kenya's history. We had colonial chief Koinange Wa Mbiyu,then his son Mbiyu Koinange who was a minister during the Jomo and Moi government. The ''Koimange Street'' is named after Chief Koinange wa Mbiyu,the older Koinange. Senior Chief Koinage wa Mbiyu was born in 1865 and played a stifling role in Kenya's fight for independence movement. He was a paramount chief who helped the Colonial powers to suppress Africans that were fighting for the independence. He later made his home available for meetings and was involved in providing support for the Mau Mau-Hemains one of the most misunderstood colonial chiefs there were those who revered and respected him as chief and political leader, and there were those who despised him as a collaborator. Although he never learnt to read or write, he was an articulate man, politically active and influential. He led his clan from 1905, and was appointed “headman” by the Colonial administration in 1921, and Senior Chief of Kiambu District in 1938. By 1942 he was Senior Chief without location. He was then to become an adviser on African affairs to the District Commissioner who once described him as “the evil genius of Kiambu”. He retired in February 1949 as Senior Chief but remained active retaining the role of African deputy vice-president of the Kiambu Local Native Council. However in 1952 he was detained by the colonial government for eight years, being released on July 1, 1960. by this time he was 95 years of age and was quite frail. He died 19 days later. He had six wives and 34 children including Mbiyu Koinange.Celebrated news anchor Jeff Koinange is also from his lineage. One of Jomo Kenyatta's wife,Grace Wanjiku was his daughter