Veteran Kenyan Journalist Hilary Ng’weno is Dead

Seasoned Kenyan journalist Hilary Boniface Ng’weno (HBN) has passed away at the age of 83.

Ng’weno, a distinguished journalist, editor, publisher, broadcaster, and documentary filmmaker with more than 50 years of experience, died at his home on Wednesday after a long illness.

He was the founder and proprietor of the defunct Weekly Review magazine that dominated political journalism from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Ng’weno was known for producing documentaries on Kenyan history, among them The Making of a Nation, Makers of a Nation, Kenya’s Darkest Hour, and Kenya at the Olympics.

He is said to be the first Kenyan to attend the prestigious Harvard University in the US in 1957. 

In 1965, 25-year-old Ng’weno became Kenya’s youngest editor-in-chief at Nation. Three years later, he enrolled back at Harvard to study Film Production and Television. 

In 1977, Ng’weno received the Rockefeller Award in recognition of his contribution to journalism.  He also authored a number of novels including Men from Pretoria, With a Light Touch, and The Day Kenyatta Died.

Ng’weno leaves behind his French wife Fleur Grandjouan Ng’weno, and two daughters Amolo and Bettina Ng’weno.

President Kenyatta has eulogized Ng’weno as a distinguished Kenyan whose contribution to the growth of the country’s media industry shall be remembered for generations.

“Hilary Ng’weno is a Kenyan household name because of his immense journalistic achievements as an editor, publisher, broadcaster, and documentary filmmaker,” Uhuru said in a message of condolence to family, relatives, and friends.

“His documentary videos on Kenyan history have been a source of information on how our country has grown both politically, socially, and economically over the decades. Indeed, his creative works have continued to inspire generations of Kenyans to work hard and achieve the best for our wonderful nation.”