The Koinange family has received special attention in the media recently following the death of the late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange who is a cousin to Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange.
Despite Jeff being the most popular in the family given his career, he also shares the media expertise with his relative Machua Koinange.
Machua, who is the late MP’s brother, was a former editor at the Standard Media Group.
He currently works as the Director of Public Relations and Communication at Kenyatta University.
In addition to being a communication specialist, Machua is also an entrepreneur and award-winning film producer.
His short film, Flat Tire, which he wrote and directed, scooped the Excellence Award at the IndieFest Film Awards in 2011.
The Indiefest is an avant-garde worldwide competition that gives talented directors, producers, actors, creative teams and new media creators the positive exposure they deserve.
It discovers and honours the achievements of filmmakers who produce high-quality films and new media.
Flat Tire follows the story of three friends who stumble on a stranded woman on the side of the road leading to an unthinkable twist of fate.
Before the death of the Kiambaa MP, there were plans to put up a statue at Nairobi’s Koinange street to immortalize the family patriarch, Senior Chief Koinange wa Mbiyu.
The Koinanges have been a critical part of Kenya's history, occupying positions of power in government and in the private sector.
Senior Chief Koinange had six wives and a number of children. One of his daughters, Grace Wanjiku, got married to Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta in 1946, becoming the third wife.
