A political biography of Dr. Taaita Arap Toweett 1925-1999

Abstract

This study examines the political biography of Dr. Taaitta Arap Toweett who was bom in 1925 and exited politics in 1999.He attended Chepwagan Primary School in Kericho District and later Kabianga Mission School in 1943 for intennediate level. He studied at Alliance High School in Kikuyu from 1944 to 1949, and later proceeded to Makerere University and Jeans school for tertiary level from 1950 to 1956. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Public and Social Administration at the University of South Africa, and later earned his masters and PhD on ‘Kalenjin Noun and Their Classification’ at the University of Nairobi. Toweett is categorized, as Kenyan leader whose education was relevant and bestowed in the achievement of Kenya’s independence. He was one of first negotiators of the First Lancaster Constitutional Conference Round Table that gave independence to our country Kenya; nonetheless, his contributions have not been given merited recognition. Toweett was well known for his literary writings on the Kalenjin history, linguistic poems about colonialism and writings of his experiences in Lancaster House Conference. However, these books did not analyse his childhood background, education, leadership and his contributions to struggle for Kenya independence, therefore, it necessitated the study. The broad objective of this study was to examine the political biography of Dr. Taaita Toweett. The study applied the Great Man theory by Thomas Carlyle. The theory pointed out the features, which a leader should possess, and this included charisma, wisdom, intelligence and outstanding powers. These traits helped to demonstrate how Toweett propelled his leadership for many years and guided the study in examining the political career of Toweett particularly from 1958 to 1997 when he was a member of National Assembly and as minister in various ministries. The study also explored how he was elected to parliament in 1992-1997, and his exist of active politics in 2000. The study used primary and secondary sources; this involved carrying out oral interview, archival and secondary sources. Sampling of data was purposive thus led to snowballing. Data analysis was based on historical analysis to help decipher the political biography of Toweett. Interpretation and analysis was by transcription of data. The target of this study is to document the Political history of Toweett as well as enlighten historians, elites, scholars and Kenyans about Toweett who contributed immensely in the making of Kenya history and its development, moreso it will help develop the study of biographies in school and establish its importance.