Presidents Pressman

by Lee Njiru

After president Daniel Moi's retirement in 2002, many were not surprised that Lee Njiru, the long-serving head of Presidential press service (PPS), was retained as his Press Secretary.
They had walked together through the highs and lows of his Presidency, weathering storms, including the attempted 1982 coup and strong waves of multi-partyism. Earlier, Lee was among the few pressmen Moi inherited from Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's regime. He was loyal, passionate, and delivered on this challenging assignment.
A household name, Lee's grasp of historical subjects and current affairs are impressive, partly explaining Moi's firm confidence in him. He employed an optimistic approach and a persuasive technique to every task assigned, allowing him to influence positively as Mzee's advisor. He helped the government to affirm or nullify an idea, belief or attitude to create progress or preserve the nation State.
As Head of PPS, he used his knowledge and skills to pave the way for others, helping them to achieve big dreams, and went beyond the call of duty to give back to society. A number of individuals, schools, churches, self-help groups and communities can attest to his philanthropy and relief efforts.
The book, therefore, gives a rare glimpse of happenings in the corridors of power and illustrates efforts made at the Presidency to advance project Kenya. It is a useful read for everyone, but more so scholars, historians, policymakers, public policy experts, and politicians in Kenya and beyond.

365 pages

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed by the book. There were several grammatical and spelling errors and sometimes the author's thoughts were all over the place.

That said, this was a very important book hence my 4 ⭐ rating.

Given that none of our 4 former presidents have personally contributed to authoring their autobiographies, this is an insightful account by Lee Njiru into the lives and incumbencies of former presidents, Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi.

Granted, sometimes the author could only assume the workings of the former presidents' psyche and we can never get to experience their individual personal accounts, emotions, ideas or reasoning. Still, it grants an opportunity to assess and understand some of the past historical events in a new light.

I did feel like Lee would sometimes try to paint Moi's administration in a positive light, yet we all know that it was a dictatorship and that there was a lot of impunity, assassinations and corruption going on that Moi was well aware of.

I do wish that more of our political figures, especially former heads of state, would record their autobiographies and memoirs. It's sad that we can never know J Kenyatta's, Moi's and Kibaki's experiences during their tenures. Hopefully, UK can make it happen.

[Wendy Emali · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I commend and appreciate Lee Njiru for sharing his personal account on his 40+ years in the Jommo Kenyatta and Moi administrations respectively. He was clearly loyal and dedicated to Moi and for those reasons, we only see the side of Moi that he chose to share. I however found the author jumped between events and thoughts with often no clear direction on what the intended message was. I found the stories interesting and I learned a lot about Moi, but, I did not gain perspective on the impact he had in Kenya, it’s people, the economy, and the current political landscape in which he had a great influence in shaping. There were also a few grammatical and sentence errors throughout the book, the publishers/editors should surely not have overlooked this. I am giving it a 4 star as I felt much more educated in understanding Moi but I recommend that readers supplement their knowledge of Kenyan history with many other books.

[Nelliey Makena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite an interesting read in the sense that there were sections which gave an aha moment while in equal measure there were sections which were so annoying. Overall, though, reading this book made me understand why our government is the way it is.

[Molebatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Njiru's President's Pressman offers a fascinating, intimate look behind the scenes of Kenyan politics. Njiru's straightforward style provides a candid account of his years serving under Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi, revealing both the triumphs and the tribulations of the presidency. The memoir is a valuable historical record, shedding light on key events and personalities.

The book excels in its detailed portrayal of the daily workings of the presidency, from press conferences to private meetings. Njiru's perspective, as a trusted confidant, offers unique insights into the decision-making processes and the personalities of Kenya's early leaders. While sometimes relying on anecdotal evidence, the memoir effectively conveys the atmosphere and challenges of the era.

Ultimately, President's Pressman is a must-read for anyone interested in Kenyan history or political memoirs. It's a compelling narrative that balances personal reflection with historical context, offering a rich and engaging read. While perhaps not overly analytical, its strength lies in its personal immediacy and historical significance.

[L. Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this just opens up your mind to how skewed democracy is skewed. The idea of choice is a mirage, the decision was already done for you. Deep history of Kenya and how dark it is. Wonderful read. I