Popular media has rightfully positioned Prof. Julia Auma Ojiambo’s stock among that of immortals. For us in Mulembe, she seats at the table with the likes of the late Joseph Otiende, Francis Imbuga and Calestous Juma. As the subject of a Master of Arts in Literature thesis by Marciana Nafula Were, Prof . Julia Ojiambo, dotingly Nadongo, if you prefer ‘ the lioness of Funyula’ is encapsulated as one of a “Youthful Spirit for All Times“.
Allow us to set the tone of this ode by terming the gentle, steely mien of Kenya’s first Professor in Nutrition as borne of the spirit of mulembe. For there are others with comparable if not superior achievements – but as revealed in A Youthful Spirit of all Times, the culturalization of one of mulembe’s finest daughters sets her apart. The spirit of mulembe has to be the reason why Marciana Were in her scholarly work subtly chides this pioneer Kenyan woman as being too modest in her achievements. We must, however, educate Marciana Were that humility is a virtue that we the people of Mulembe wear with honor.
Under Appreciated
For the good teacher, Prof. Julia Ojiambo , her unpretentious manner has turned out to be her Samson’s yoke. In spite of her momentous achievements across politics, academia and women empowerment, Ojiambo remains somewhat unheralded. M.Were in her brilliant effort offers daktari’s grounded nature as reason for “the mountain of change she has affected through society” being under appreciated.
Recently, as it emerged that Prof. Julia Ojiambo was to be the next University Of Nairobi Council Chairperson, true to typical of Kenyan cynicism, loud murmurs dismissing her credentials prevailed. Isn’t she too old? Too political? Too un-scholarly?
Yet the truth to her suitability to lead the body that’s essentially a university’s equivalent to the board of a blue chip company, couldn’t be more apparent. Over decades and through the trenches, Nadongo Ofwokha Syongo (the fierce petite woman) has built an unmatched lifetime worth of competencies. We look at the trailblazing work of this daughter of Samia from Bukhayo that has earned her the moniker: ‘a woman of firsts.’
JULIA OJIAMBO, THE ACADEMIC GIANT
1950, eight girls from eight provinces all over Kenya were selected as the first beneficiaries of the African Girls High School pilot project. Thus they were to start the first form one class at the African Girls’ High School. Together with Julia were seven other girls from other parts of the country namely: Eddah Gachukia, an acclaimed professor and academician; Winnifred Wanyoike, the first Africa state trained nurse and the first to qualify to Kenyatta National Hospital; Charity Kamaga Wairimu Wamuyu, the first chief of Nairobi Municipal Education Department. The others are Grace Aketch Aluoch Odhiambo, Margaret Muhombe Alividza, Lois Muthoni Waruhiu, and Sarah Lukalo.
Marciana Nafula Were on Prof. Julia Ojiambo in Youthful Spirit for All Times: a Biography of Julia Auma Ojiambo
A 20 year old Julia Ojiambo became the first African Kenyan woman to be admitted to the Royal Technical College (Later became University Of Nairobi)
True to her penchant for turning her glass roof shattering success as a platform for further awesomeness. Did you know that as a university student, Julia Ojiambo worked as a mule for freedom fighters ferrying their messages across roadblocks mounted by colonialists? Did you know that she was part of a group of university students who staged a sit in at then white only Nairobi Norfolk Hotel demanding service challenging apartheid?
On 26th April 1956, Julia joined the Royal Technical College becoming the first African female student to be admitted at the college. She was however the second female student at the college after Shada Sharma, an Asian student who had enrolled to undertake a degree in architecture. Together they became the first female students to set foot in the Gandhi wing of the now University of Nairobi.
Marciana Nafula Were on Prof. Julia Ojiambo in Youthful Spirit for All Times: a Biography of Julia Auma Ojiambo
First Kenyan woman to attend Harvard University.
Following in the footsteps of her one time mentor at Alliance Girls High School, Hillary Ng’weno – the first Kenyan to attend Harvard University – Juila Ojiambo left for Harvard University School of Public Health in late 1968. She went on a scholarship having spent months writing and applying for positions in various North American Universities. Her son Jack was born in late July of the following year, five weeks to the beginning of the semester at Harvard.
“The struggle is interesting and much as it’s fraught with challenges, some that have proved insurmountable, in overall terms, it has been satisfying. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. It has been worth it,”
Eve Woman, We Have Fought A Good Fight: Dr Julia Ojiambo
First African fellow of the Harvard Centre for International Affairs
First to receive PhD degree at the University of Nairobi
Dr. Julia Auma Ojiambo Was The First black African Woman Appointed lecturer at the University of Nairobi
First woman to be appointed Chairperson of Council at University of Nairobi
JULIA OJIAMBO PIONEER IN KENYAN POLITICS
Dr Julia Ojiambo, Mentor to Dr William Ruto
As a young man learning his way in politics, William Samoei Ruto would spend time at KICC, where he interned at the Kanu Women and Youth Office. There, his boss was none other than Dr Julia Ojiambo.
First woman to defeat a man in mulembe politics
Make that five men. What’s more? She entered the race late in July of 1974, only six months to the election. All she had was the unwavering support of her husband Dr. Hillary Ojiambo – the first cardiologist in Africa outside Egypt; a Datsun 1200 which she’d bought from her retirement benefits having quit her teaching job at the university; and the desire to emulate her idol Grace Onyango who had been elected in 1969.
“Julia is one of these women who wear trousers”
Marciana Nafula Were on Prof. Julia Ojiambo in Youthful Spirit for All Times: a Biography of Julia Auma Ojiambo
The 1974 general elections in Kenya were special for it was the only other time in Kenyan history that a woman was elected to parliament. To represent what was then known as Busia Central, Julia Ojiambo had to defeat none other than the mighty Arthur Ochwanda. Hon. Ochwanda was not only the sitting MP but also a freedom fighter, trade unionist, assistant minister for Forestry and Wildlife; he was also an in-law to then president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Julia served the people of Funyula until 1983 when she lost the seat to a chopper powered Moody Awori campaign. She was then serving the second president Daniel Moi as assistant minister for Basic Education. The snap elections had been called after the failed 1982 coup.
First female assistant minister in the Kenyan cabinet
Following her annihilation of Arthur Ochwanda and the four other men, in 1974 President Jomo Kenyatta appointed Julia assistant minister for Housing and social services. In 1982, under Moi she begun serving the nation as assistant minister for Basic Education.
The impact of her triumph can be better understood in the context of a highly patriarchal society, at a time when politics and male dominance were highly intertwined especially when she had no political godfathers.
Marciana Nafula Were on Prof. Julia Ojiambo in Youthful Spirit for All Times: a Biography of Julia Auma Ojiambo.
First woman chairperson of the Labour Party of Kenya.
Like many KANU orphans in the former Western Province, Julia found a home in the Kutalang’i party, Ford Kenya, during the second multiparty elections in 1997. She was to however later found The Labour Party of Kenya in 2007.
I have clearly no soft words for ODM-Kenya. I did a lot for Kalonzo, campaigning for him countrywide but he could not even consider a single LPK member for parliamentary nomination. Even if I was not his favored choice, he could have gone for any other party member even from his own Ukambani region,
The Standard in a 2010 article: Kalonzo Misused and Dumped Me, Says Ojiambo.
First woman to contest for a Presidential seat in Millennial Kenya.
The distinction of being the first woman presidential candidate in Kenya belongs to Hon. Charity Kaluki Ngilu. The second governor of Kitui glass ceiling shattering exploits in Kenya’s 1997 general elections are legendary. In a way, Julia Ojiambo’s stab for the presidency in 2007 was the culmination of the workings of a sisterhood of sorts. Grace inspired Julia. Together, they inspired the likes of Charity ‘Mama Masaa’ and Martha Karua ‘The Iron lady’. Then precocious Charity went a step further and shattered yet another ceiling for her sisters to come through. First came Julia, her presidential bid was grounded on seven pillars.
The establishment of a new social and ethical order
Based on the values of utu, uhai and uraia wema and the restoration of our sense of nationhood and patriotism. Dr Ojiambo’s conviction is that unless we build a proper foundation for the nation, whatever edifice of economic growth we may build, is built on sinking sand. The social evils of ethnicity, corruption and insecurity are growing even faster than our economy. Her vision proposes a foundational course at every level of the education system entitled; Education for Responsible Citizenship.
Investing in people
Dr Ojiambo details what she will do for the women, the youth, in education, healthcare and for workers. The focus is on a quality education system that deals with wastage at all levels from primary to secondary to university, the promotion of research and use of ICT, and the economic empowerment of rural communities.
Acceleration of economic growth
Through providing a conducive environment for investment and establishment of business. This will involve reducing the amount of time it takes to get a licence, reducing the cost of investment in Kenya and providing tax breaks for newly-established businesses.
Focusing on regions as the engine of economic growth
Dr Ojiambo gives a detailed blueprint for each region centering around ensuring that each district has a major industry developed there to create employment and stem rural-urban migration. This will be preceded by development of the road, rail, energy and ICT infrastructure.
Accountable and responsive governance
Centering around constitutional reform to create a lean, central government, devolution of power to the regional and district assemblies and promotion of a parliamentary system of government. Critical to governance is the promotion of the “Citizens Right to Know,” which will expose all major plans and transactions that may involve the use of public resources to public scrutiny, save for information that has a bearing on national security.
Conservation of our environment and sustainable use of national resources
Through the establishment of conservation authorities for natural forests and promotion of re-using and recycling through provision of incentives to companies investing in waste management.
Dr Ojiambo will promote beneficial international and regional partnerships
That put Kenya’s interests first. Such partnerships will focus on opening up avenues for new export markets, removal of trade barriers for Kenyan goods and marketing of our tourism potential.
PROF JULIA AUMA OJIAMBO CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Mwalimu Julia Auma Ojiambo
Like most peri independence African education luminaries, Prof. Julia Auma Ojiambo first served the nation as a teacher. She taught alongside great Kenyans such as: Muthoni Likimani, Ruth Habwe, Priscilla Abwao, and Jemima. Among the schools Julia Auma Ojiambo taught in include bastions of education in Mulembe Nation namely: Friends School Kamusinga, Butere Girls and Vihiga Teachers Training College.
Notable students she taught include Grace Onyango, the first woman mayor and woman to be elected mp in Kenya. Industrialist and entrepreneur Dr. Chris Kirubi. Former Vihiga legislator and inaugural chair IIEBC Hon Andrew Ligale. A Mr. Japeth Lijoodi a one time national treasurer of KANU.
First woman to work with the Kenya prison department at a senior level
Julia served as an Assistant Commissioner of Prisons. There, she was instrumental in establishing Lang’ata Women’s Prison, and later on Nakuru Women’s Prison, Kodiaga Women’s Prison, and Nyeri Women’s Prison.
First African woman warden of University Women’s Halls of Residence.
Held this posting, then a high position of leadership in university setup, from 1965 to 1968.
OTHER NOTABLE ASSIGNMENTS
She was the Chair of the board of KEPHIS from 2009 to 2012. this was during Kibaki’s second term. Julia had served as nominated member of parliament during the first NARC government.
AWARDS
Alongside numerous awards in academia, the state also rewarded Julia for her work in women liberation and social service with an Order of the Burning Spear, 1st Class, Chief Of The Burning Spear (CBS).
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