Bernard Mate (1922 – 6 January 1994) was a Kenyan politician and one of the first group of Africans to be elected to the Legislative Council of Kenya (LegCo), the legislative arm of government in the British Colony of Kenya, representing what was the black constituency of Central Kenya. He served three terms in the LegCo until he lost his seat in 1979. He died on 6 January 1994, after a short illness. As a politician, he was part of the KADU's delegation to the Lancaster House conferences, which set the framework for Kenyan independence. He was described by Oginga Odinga as a philosopher.[1]
Bernard Mate was born to M'Thura wa Rware and Ruth Igoji, who hailed from Mutuguni (near Nturiri). He was their fourth-born child and the first to survive childhood.
Educationedit
Bernard Mate enrolled in Ndiruini (now Kiereni) Primary School for his early primary education and sat his K.A.P.E and Chogoria Junior School. He entered Alliance High School in 1939, graduating in 1945 to pursue a diploma in teaching at Makerere University. He spent four years teaching at Chogoria High School, before enrolling for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the University of North Wales Bangor. He then pursued a postgraduate diploma at the University of Edinburgh.
Teaching careeredit
Bernard Mate again returned to Kenya in 1954 and taught at the Alliance Girls High School for one year, before being transferred to the Government Teachers Training College Meru (now Meru Teacher's Training College). From 1957 to 1964 and 1970 to 1974, he taught at the Kilimambogo Teachers Training College, and was the founding headmaster of Ikuu High School, Chuka.
Political careeredit
In 1957, while continuing to teach, he ventured into elective politics when Africans were first allowed to elect their own representatives to the Legislative Council.[2][3] Mate ran in the 1957 election, winning the Central Kenya seat[4] against former nominated MP Eliud Mathu as well as politicians such as Jeremiah Nyagah.[5] Mate won 51 per cent of the vote compared to Mathu's 30 per cent and Nyagah's 12 per cent.[6][7] During Mate's term in office, he served in the minority KADU government of Ronald Ngala in various capacities including Minister of Health, Education and Social Services.[8]
He is credited with contributing to the abolition of the discriminative Common Entrance Exam, and the establishment of Kaguru Farmers Training Centre during this time. He lost his parliamentary seat contesting what was then Meru Central Constituency (since split into North Imenti Constituency, Central Imenti Constituency and South Imenti Constituency) in the 1963 elections that elected Kenya's first independent government. He recaptured the Meru Central seat in a 1965 by-election. He would lose the seat in the 1969 general election, after which he moved to Meru South to serve one final term in the general election of 1974.[9] He was an avid debater and a political philosopher. The Ena-Ishiara-Ciakariga-Tunyai-Meru road is named after Mate.
Familyedit
Bernard Mate was married to Edith Gatakaa and with her had eight children. Four daughters: Anne Keeru, Amy Kagendo, Ivy Kathanje, and Alice Kanyua and three sons: Arthur Njage, Munene Mate, and Nelson Njeru.
Referencesedit
^Not Yet Uhuru: The Autobiography of Oginga Odinga By Ajuma Oginga Odinga Published by Heinemann, 1967 Original from the University of Michigan
^Kenyan blacks had been on the Legislative Council since 1947 when Appolo Ohanga was appointed. Okoth, Assa (2006). A History of Africa: African nationalism and the de-colonisation process. Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers. p. 85. ISBN978-9966-25-358-3.
^Maxon, Robert M. (2011). "Chapter 4: Multiracialism in Practice, 1954–1957: African Elections and the Assault on the Lyttleton Constitution". Britain and Kenya's Constitutions, 1950-1960. Amherst, New York: Cambria Press. pp. 161–183. ISBN978-1-60497-776-9.
^Branch, Daniel (2006). "Loyalists, Mau Mau, and Elections in Kenya: The First Triumph of the System, 1957-1958". Africa Today. 53 (2): 27–50. doi:10.1353/at.2006.0069. S2CID 154783897. Project MUSE 207694.
bernard, mate, 1922, january, 1994, kenyan, politician, first, group, africans, elected, legislative, council, kenya, legco, legislative, government, british, colony, kenya, representing, what, black, constituency, central, kenya, served, three, terms, legco, . Bernard Mate 1922 6 January 1994 was a Kenyan politician and one of the first group of Africans to be elected to the Legislative Council of Kenya LegCo the legislative arm of government in the British Colony of Kenya representing what was the black constituency of Central Kenya He served three terms in the LegCo until he lost his seat in 1979 He died on 6 January 1994 after a short illness As a politician he was part of the KADU s delegation to the Lancaster House conferences which set the framework for Kenyan independence He was described by Oginga Odinga as a philosopher 1 Contents 1 Early childhood 1 1 Education 2 Teaching career 3 Political career 4 Family 5 ReferencesEarly childhood editBernard Mate was born to M Thura wa Rware and Ruth Igoji who hailed from Mutuguni near Nturiri He was their fourth born child and the first to survive childhood Education edit Bernard Mate enrolled in Ndiruini now Kiereni Primary School for his early primary education and sat his K A P E and Chogoria Junior School He entered Alliance High School in 1939 graduating in 1945 to pursue a diploma in teaching at Makerere University He spent four years teaching at Chogoria High School before enrolling for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the University of North Wales Bangor He then pursued a postgraduate diploma at the University of Edinburgh Teaching career editBernard Mate again returned to Kenya in 1954 and taught at the Alliance Girls High School for one year before being transferred to the Government Teachers Training College Meru now Meru Teacher s Training College From 1957 to 1964 and 1970 to 1974 he taught at the Kilimambogo Teachers Training College and was the founding headmaster of Ikuu High School Chuka Political career editIn 1957 while continuing to teach he ventured into elective politics when Africans were first allowed to elect their own representatives to the Legislative Council 2 3 Mate ran in the 1957 election winning the Central Kenya seat 4 against former nominated MP Eliud Mathu as well as politicians such as Jeremiah Nyagah 5 Mate won 51 per cent of the vote compared to Mathu s 30 per cent and Nyagah s 12 per cent 6 7 During Mate s term in office he served in the minority KADU government of Ronald Ngala in various capacities including Minister of Health Education and Social Services 8 He is credited with contributing to the abolition of the discriminative Common Entrance Exam and the establishment of Kaguru Farmers Training Centre during this time He lost his parliamentary seat contesting what was then Meru Central Constituency since split into North Imenti Constituency Central Imenti Constituency and South Imenti Constituency in the 1963 elections that elected Kenya s first independent government He recaptured the Meru Central seat in a 1965 by election He would lose the seat in the 1969 general election after which he moved to Meru South to serve one final term in the general election of 1974 9 He was an avid debater and a political philosopher The Ena Ishiara Ciakariga Tunyai Meru road is named after Mate Family editBernard Mate was married to Edith Gatakaa and with her had eight children Four daughters Anne Keeru Amy Kagendo Ivy Kathanje and Alice Kanyua and three sons Arthur Njage Munene Mate and Nelson Njeru References edit Not Yet Uhuru The Autobiography of Oginga Odinga By Ajuma Oginga Odinga Published by Heinemann 1967 Original from the University of Michigan Kenyan blacks had been on the Legislative Council since 1947 when Appolo Ohanga was appointed Okoth Assa 2006 A History of Africa African nationalism and the de colonisation process Nairobi East African Educational Publishers p 85 ISBN 978 9966 25 358 3 Maxon Robert M 2011 Chapter 4 Multiracialism in Practice 1954 1957 African Elections and the Assault on the Lyttleton Constitution Britain and Kenya s Constitutions 1950 1960 Amherst New York Cambria Press pp 161 183 ISBN 978 1 60497 776 9 Okoth 2006 p 85 Maxon 2011 pp 129 130 Kenya National Archive 1955 1961b Branch Daniel 2006 Loyalists Mau Mau and Elections in Kenya The First Triumph of the System 1957 1958 Africa Today 53 2 27 50 doi 10 1353 at 2006 0069 S2CID 154783897 Project MUSE 207694 Government formed with KADU Co operation Mwangi Mburu 8 January 1994 Veteran Politician Mate Dies Daily Nation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bernard Mate amp oldid 1213846149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
