Simon Nyachae, born on February 6, 1932, was a distinguished Kenyan politician, businessman, and a pivotal figure in Kisii’s history.
The son of colonial chief Musa Nyandusi, Nyachae received his early education at Nyanchwa Seventh-day Adventist School and Kereri Intermediate School. He later advanced his studies abroad, attending Torquay Academy and Churchill College, Cambridge, where he specialized in public administration.
Nyachae began his career in the civil service in 1954 as a district clerk. Over the years, he climbed the ranks to become Chief Secretary, serving under Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi. His administrative acumen and leadership skills were widely recognized during this period.
In 1992, Nyachae transitioned into politics, successfully vying for the Nyaribari Chache parliamentary seat. Over the years, he held various ministerial portfolios, including Agriculture, Finance, Energy, and Roads. In 2002, he made a bid for the presidency under the Ford–People party, finishing third in the race. Despite not clinching the presidency, his party gained substantial parliamentary representation. After losing his parliamentary seat in 2007, Nyachae retired from active politics.
Nyachae was a polygamous man with six wives and over 35 children. His third wife, Martha Mwango, is the mother of several prominent children, including Charles Nyachae, a judge at the East Africa Court of Justice.
In addition to his political career, Nyachae was a successful businessman with investments spanning real estate, agriculture, and banking. He was a major shareholder in NCBA Group and co-owned Credit Bank alongside his fifth wife, Grace Wamuyu.
Nyachae passed away on February 1, 2021, at the age of 88. His family disclosed that he had been battling cancer since 2012 and had sought treatment both in Kenya and the United Kingdom.
His children fondly remembered him as a hardworking, disciplined, and music-loving family man. His son, Moses Nyachae, described him as “the hardest working man I’ve ever known.”
In November 2024, legal disputes emerged within the family. Michael Moragia Nyachae, one of Nyachae’s sons, along with two business partners, faced court action over the management of Associated Auto Centre, a family-owned company. Eureka Holdings, a shareholder in the company, sought to bar them from acting as directors, citing allegations of mismanagement and financial improprieties.
