In the annals of history, some stories remain veiled in mystery, revealing only fragments of a life lived in the shadows. Such is the tale of Peter Magana, the least known child of Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Amid the luminous figures that shaped Kenya’s destiny, Peter Magana emerges as an enigmatic figure, shrouded in obscurity and marked by a remarkable absence from the limelight and family gatherings.
Peter Magana’s lineage is intertwined with the intricate tapestry of Jomo Kenyatta’s life.
Born to Kenyatta and his second wife, Edna Clarke, in 1943, Peter’s existence was clandestine. The marriage between Kenyatta and Edna was formed during his sojourn in the United Kingdom, where he worked as a nursery worker at AG Lindfields Nurseries in Thakeham Parish.
However, Kenyatta concealed his prior marriage and family in Kenya from Edna, thus rendering Peter’s birth into a world of secrecy.
The story takes an unexpected turn with Peter’s sporadic visits to his homeland. His appearances in Kenya have been few and far between, the most recent one dating back to 1979, when he returned for his father’s memorial.
Since then, Peter has refrained from setting foot on Kenyan soil, adopting a reclusive lifestyle that sets him apart from his prominent family.
The most perplexing facet of Peter Magana’s life lies in his conspicuous absence from significant family gatherings and momentous events. When his half-brother, Uhuru Kenyatta, ascended to the presidency in 2013, a historic moment that drew his family together, Peter was conspicuously absent from the inauguration ceremony.
The pageantry and celebration that marked this juncture in Kenyan history did not bear witness to Peter’s presence.
Tragedy, too, failed to bridge the gap that separated Peter Magana from his family. The Westgate terror attack, a horrifying chapter in Kenya’s recent past, saw the Kenyatta family uniting in grief and solidarity. Yet, amid the mourning and shared anguish, Peter remained a distant figure, his absence poignant and perplexing.
Similarly, family deaths failed to coax him from his seclusion. In 2018, when his sister Margaret Wambui passed away at the age of 89, the Kenyatta family convened to mourn their loss.
But once again, Peter’s absence cast a shadow over the proceedings, a testament to his steadfast commitment to a reclusive life.
Even events on his own doorstep failed to stir Peter from his self-imposed isolation. The achievement of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who completed the London Marathon, served as an opportunity for family unity.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere on home turf, Peter chose to remain unseen, defying the expectations that he would emerge from the shadows to partake in the joyous occasion.
