Kenya glitters with a rich history, but few enjoy the tag of being trendsetters by achieving feats that have defined our history.
Kenyans.co.ke has delved into some of the Kenyans who made interesting achievements in the past including the first man to ever bank a Billion shillings.
1.Philip Ndegwa
Mr Ndegwa was reportedly the first Kenyan to bank a Billion shillings.
Ndegwa, an alumnus of Alliance High School and Makerere University, joined the government in 1965 as an advisor on economics and planning.
After several years as the chairperson of various banks including Kenya Commercial Bank, he in 1982 became the second Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya replacing Duncan Ndegwa.
The Billionaire at one time operated Africa’s largest dry shipping dock between Cairo and Cape Town when he owned Inchcape Shipping.
By 1999, he had accumulated property worth Sh9 Billion.
2. Dr Julius Gikonyo Kiano
Former lecturer at the University of Nairobi (UoN), Julius Gikonyo, was the first Kenyan to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.
In February 1948, aged 22, Kiano, went to Antioch College in the United States (US), where he obtained a BA degree in Economics.
By 1953, he had earned a Masters in Political Science from Stanford University. He later received the PhD from Stanford, Palo Alto, California.
After Stanford, Kiano returned to Kenya and joined the UoN, then known as the Royal Technical College, to become its first African lecturer.
3. Fred Mbiyu Koinange
Mr Koinange, the father to Citizen TV and Hot 96 host Jeff Koinange, was the first Kenyan to open a petrol station.
In 1946, Koinange, the son of Senior Chief Koinange, opened Koinange Petrol Station at Kariokor area at the age of 41.
Koinange was also the first African Kenyan to operate a car dealership business in 1948.
4. Chiedo More Gem Arwings Kodhek
The former Gem Member of Parliament (MP) was the first African in Kenya to be admitted to the Bar as an advocate.
According to the Standard, Kodhek IN 1956 became Kenya’s first black lawyer in the then racially segregated Judiciary.
He later married a white woman, Mavis Tate, who was an Irish nurse.
Kodhek died in a mysterious car accident on January 29, 1969 in Nairobi's Kilimani area along the Argwings Kodhek Road which bears his name.
5. Gerald Gikonyo Kanyuira
Gerald Gikonyo, the Nairobi tycoon who is now 104 years old, was the first African to own a car in Kenya.
The car is said to have cost him Sh300 despite earning a meagre Sh4 as his monthly salary.
He is the remaining member of the legendary Rwathia group of entrepreneurs.
6. Grace Onyango
Grace Onyango, a former politician, was the first woman Member of Parliament in post-independent Kenya.
The teacher-turned-politician was also the first woman councillor of Kisumu Central Ward.
She was eventually succeeded by former Cabinet Minister, the late Robert Ouko.
7. Naftali Nabiba Temu
Renown athlete. Naftali Temu, will also go down history books as the first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal.
He achieved the feat during the 1968 Olympic Games held in Mexico City.
He not only won the gold medal in the 10000-metre race but was also the very first athlete to win a gold medal at that Olympics.
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