In a heartfelt tribute during his father's funeral in Kamale village, Kilifi County, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi recounted a poignant childhood memory that points to the depths of his family's poverty.
Addressing a gathering that included President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Friday, February 21, Kingi shared an anecdote from his early school days.
Kingi vividly described attending his first day at Kamale Primary School wearing only a shawl, as his family could not afford a school uniform. To participate in sports, he had to fashion a pair of shorts from his shawl. “There is a way we could make shorts from our shawls; they were always tight,” he said.
While illustrating how dire the situation was, Kingi recalled a particular incident during a football match in Class Four when he was forced to choose between winning the game or preserving his dignity.
Recalling the moment, Kingi said that when he was in Class Four, he was playing with his team, and the game was on a knife’s edge at 2-2. As the team's number seven, Kingi received the ball in the air.
He then found himself in a dilemma—his shawl had fallen. He had to choose between scoring while naked or abandoning the ball to pick up his shawl.
“It was about one minute to the end of the game. I chose to score naked, Mr President,” he narrated, prompting laughter from the crowd. “My team surrounded me, celebrating without a care in the world that I was naked,” he added.
Born in 1974 in Kamale village, Kingi was the seventh child of his father’s children from three wives. His father, Mzee Kingi Mwaruwa Mkweha, was determined to educate his children despite their dire circumstances.
The family often endured days with only one meal and lacked basic necessities. Kingi's father resorted to various means, including selling water and hunting, to provide for his large family.
Despite these adversities, Kingi excelled academically. After completing his primary education, he attended Alliance High School from 1989 to 1992. He then pursued a law degree at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 1998. Kingi's journey from a humble village boy to a prominent national leader is a testament to his unwavering commitment to education and personal growth.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Kingi expressed gratitude to his father for prioritizing education above all else. "I have no idea what drove our dad, but no matter what, if you wanted to study, you would study," he remarked, highlighting his father's relentless dedication to his children's futures.
Kingi would go on to explain the nature of his father asserting he was as mysterious as he was dedicated to his family.
“I remember one time when Mzee had an interview with KTN and Citizen TV. And I watched and heard my father say he has more than 40 children. But as you can see, we are barely 20. I don’t know where the others are,” he said to some laughs in the background.
Kingi’s father is set to be laid to rest today, February 21.
