AAA Ekirapa honoured as he launches memoir

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In his memoir, AAA Ekirapa reflects on his journey through Kenya’s formative post-independence years. He shares his firsthand account of the country’s turbulent transition, including the charged atmosphere after independence, dilemma in handling the Mau Mau, his interactions with President Jomo Kenyatta, and the widespread land grabbing.

The remarkable story then shifts to his life as a corporate leader before he became an elected MP and Assistant Minister in President Daniel arap Moi’s government. 

Mr Ekirapa said he had waited a lifetime for this moment, noting that the book was more than just a collection of stories — it was a symbol of resilience, unfinished dreams, quiet battles, deep reflection, and unwavering commitment.

“It has taken me 30 years of writing to finish this book. Not just thinking about it, not just planning it, but writing it. Draft by draft, line by line, year after year. It is a great honor, indeed, to be here with you, to share my memoirs, something I have been planning to do for quite a long time," Mr Ekirapa said at the event in Nairobi on Friday. 

To some, Mr Ekirapa was a statesman. To others, a mentor. But to those who stood beside him during Kenya’s most formative moments, he was something far more difficult to define — the quiet force in the background, shaping decisions and people with deliberate restraint and unwavering principles.

Ekirapa's humility 

At the launch of Wings of Ambition, friends, family and former colleagues offered glimpses into the character of a man whose influence, they said, was never loud but always lasting.

“He is not just a man of words he is a man of action. What he has done for this country cannot be written on a single page,” said Kenya’s former Attorney General Amos Wako, long-time friend of Mr Ekirapa.

“He is a mentor, a statesman, and above all, a servant of the people. He carried authority without drama. If Ekirapa gave you advice, you listened — not because you were afraid, but because you trusted it came from a place of deep thought.” 

Mr Wako, a former Busia senator, spoke of the author’s ability to command a room without ever appearing to dominate it. And yet, for all the praise, those who knew him best said that Mr Ekirapa remained humble.

“He wasn’t interested in being the smartest in the room. But in the end, most of us were just trying to catch up to how far ahead he already was. He was suspicious of flattery. He preferred results. Not recognition,” Mr Wako added.

In December 1963, Ekirapa had just assumed the position of District Officer I in Meru under the Provincial Administration. It was during this time that former Mau Mau fighters began reappearing from the forests. 

Their rugged, militant demeanour unsettled his superior, who viewed them as unpredictable and intimidating. Unable to cope with the situation, the officer abandoned his post and never returned to Meru. Handling the various crisis during transition from a colony prepared him for decades of service. 

“He didn’t sit us down to give lectures. But we knew what he expected just by how he lived. He was the same at home as he was in public consistent, fair, and always watching more than he spoke,” said his daughter, Akaco Ekirapa.

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Teso North MP Edward Oku Kaunya described Mr Ekirapa as a man of rare foresight and unwavering commitment to his people, noting how his no-nonsense leadership style and moral clarity shaped the character of those who interacted with him.

“He was a man ready to slam if you didn’t follow values, you could be sure he’d hold you to account. If you came to him unprepared, the door was shut,” said Mr Kaunya.

His legacy is particularly felt in the education sector. From mentoring young professionals to personally financing learning, Mr Ekirapa's commitment was unmatched.

“In one stroke of the pen in 1991, six University of Nairobi graduates found jobs through his efforts. He would simply ask, ‘Do you have a purpose? Then go out and pray,’ and the next minute, he was making a call to help place them,” Mr Kaunya said.

Beyond education, Mr Ekirapa is credited with championing the fight for the recognition and rights of the Iteso people—even before and after he served as Amagoro MP between 1997 to 2002. 

“It was not just a local grievance; it became a national conversation. With his connections and conviction, Ekirapa facilitated the fastest compensation,” said Mr Kaunya.

According to the MP, Ekirapa once spent Sh36 million from his personal resources to support education in the region a testament to his unmatched generosity and belief in empowerment through knowledge.

“He was an African eagle who soared high, but always returned to uplift the community,” Mr Kaunya said.

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