Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies

Date: 10 Jun 2012
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies

George Saitoti was born in Maasailand where he grew up herding cattle. He is of Masai and Kikuyu descent which would prove to be a disadvantage in his future political career. He studied in the US where he specialized in mathematics and economics. On his return to Kenya Saitoti entered the political arena and held several ministerial positions. He was appointed Vice President in 1988 by President Daniel arap Moi. He however lost out on the presidency when Moi chose Mwai Kibaki as his successor. Saitoti’s lack of ethnic support base due to his dual ancestry was seen as a problem. He died on 10 June 2012.

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01Washington Times Kenyan security minister among 6 dead in copter crash [online] Available at: https://www.washingtontimes.com [Accessed on 31 May 2013]
02The Independent Kenyan minister George Saitoti's death in helicopter crash fuels terrorism fears [online] Available at: www.independent.co.uk [Accessed o 31 May 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, June 7). Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095839

South African History Online (2013) 'Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies', South African History Online, 7 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095839 (Accessed: 24 July 2026).

South African History Online, Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095839, (accessed 24 July 2026).

"Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies." South African History Online, 7 June 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095839. Accessed 24 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Kenyan politician, businessman and mathematician, George Saitoti dies." South African History Online. June 7, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095839.