Banana Hill - Prominent People From Banana Hill

Prominent People From Banana Hill

• Sr. Chief Fredrick Kiniti Njonjo (Rtd.), a renowned Karuri village Headman before he was promoted and transferred to Makuyu, Murang'a District.
• Geoffrey Gatama Geturo, a co-founder (with Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, MBS, OBE and Joseph Kamiru Gikubu, MBS) of Starehe Boys' Centre and School.
• Gideon Waweru Gathunguri, founder and owner of the Banana Hill Studios, with branches in various towns in Kenya. Many Kenyans
  have posed for their photos in one of his studios. Gideon made history in the dark days of the KANU party's monopoly on Kenya politics, when he challenged the then area MP (Member of Parliament), Mbiyu Koinange for the political seat, and ended up in detention.
• James Njenga Karume, a long-time area representative in the Parliament of Kenya and a renowned Kenyan businessman.
• Captain John Kiniti, an experienced airline pilot with Kenya Airways. A humble compassionate person who contributes generously to causes of people in need. He has great love for Banana Hill and its people, who have a lot of respect for him in return.
• Joseph Kamiru Gikubu, MBS, a co-founder (with Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, MBS, OBE and Geoffrey Gatama Geturo, MBS) of Starehe Boys' Centre and School.
• Bishop Margaret Wangari, a famous evangelist and faith healer who made Banana Hill her home, and became pioneer of the Pentecostal movement there. She is said to have received the gifts of healing in the 1970s. Many people came to know the Banana Hill area then, as they made pilgrimage in search of miracle healing. She is founder of the Anointed Christian Fellowship, a ministry credited with the founding of many Pentecostal churches in the area and around the country.
• Mbiyu Gakuura, Kiambaa Senator in Kenya's pre-independence era Legislative Council (LEGCO).
• Mbiyu Koinange, son of the former famous colonial Senior Chief Koinange wa Mbiyu who was the Kiambaa Constituency representative in the Kenya Parliament from 1963 to 1974. His fame is as a powerful government minister, and a very close confidante of Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta.
  Mbiyu Koinange was the first Kenyan African to receive a Master's degree. He is also the grandfather of Jeff Koinange, a prominent TV personality
  in Kenya and a former CNN employee.
• Mungai Kimari, a Commonwealth Games medalist who put Banana Hill on the world sports map.
• Naomi Wanjiku Kiniti, a well known educator, philanthropist and farmer.
• Bishop Obadiah Kariuki of Anglican Church of Kenya], Mount Kenya Diocese, who was among the very first Africans to be ordained as a bishop in the then largely white-controlled Anglican church in post-colonial Kenya.
• Salome Gaciku Mwaura (nyina wa Muthee), a prominent personality and businesswoman in Banana Hill town. Salome Mwaura and son Muthee are founder members of both ACK Emmanuel Church situated on Karuri High School road, and the ACK Banana Hill Church.
• Samwel Karuga Gathunguri and his spouse, Margaret Nyambura Karuga, respectably known as Nyina wa Alice have been household names in Banana Hill town. They were owners of the largest general provision store in the area for a long time. At the time, the store was Banana Hill's only distribution point for newspapers and magazines. The couple were the sole distributor of Coca Cola and agents of Mbuni Dry Cleaners, the only dry cleaner of repute then.
• Stanley Munga Githunguri, a successful businessman and current area MP (Member of Parliament).
• Stanley Ngatho wa Muthumu, a former church elder and lay leader who taught catechism to many people from the area. He served the church for 50 years and continued to offer his services even after his retirement. He died in 2010 and, in recognition of his selfless service, was buried at the ACK Thimbigwa Church compound.