Draft:Robert Stanley Matano

Hon Robert Stanley Matano -simply called Matano by many who knew him - was born on 29th April 1925, at Mazeras. He was the first son of the late Stanley Kupata Mwenda and the late Alice Dzame Mwenda. He was a Duruma by tribe and was indeed blessed by God, and lived to a ripe old age of 83 years. He was a loving man, and a family man committed to family values and sanctity of marriage. Hon. Robert Stanley Matano married Ruth Kwekwe, first daughter of Chief Elijah Rupia in 1951. He later married Susan Nrori. He has sons and daughters, as well as grandchildren by his first marriage and sons, daughters and grandchildren from his second marriage. He also has great grand children.

Educational Background
Hon Robert Matano started education at the age of 6 at Mazeras in 1930, under his father, the late Stanley Kupata Mwendar, who was a teacher. Upon the transfer of his father to Ribe Primary School, Hon. Robert Matano transferred to Ribe Primary School in 1933. In 1935, he transferred to Kaloleni Primary School. He transferred yet again in 1939 to Methodist Mission School - now Kaaga Boys Secondary School in Eastern Province - where he sat for his Intermediate Examination.

Work Experience
After 3 years of University education, he qualified as a teacher and was posted to Ribe Boys School in 1949, where he taught until 1952. In 1953, he was transferred to his old school, Alliance High School, where he taught Maths and Geography.

In 1953, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Education Officer in Naivasha town, in the Rift Valley Province. The Hon. Rob secured a British Council scholarship in 1956, and travelled to Britain where he joined the Technical College, Cardiff, and toured Educational institutions in Wales. Hon. Robert Matano returned to Kenya in December of the same year. and was posted to Kwale District in Coast Province, where he carried out the supervision and inspection of all schools in the district. He was also the Manager of the District Education Board Schools in the district. Hon Robert Matano was transferred to Mombasa in 1958. In 1959, he resigned to join politics.

POLITICAL CAREER
Hon Robert Stanley Matano was elected to the Legislative Council as a member for Kwale North in the General elections held in February of 1961. In 1962, Hon Robert Matano was appointed Prliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education. He ratained the position on the formation of the Coalition Government in April 1962.

Hon Robert Matano was elected to the House of Representatives as KADU Member for Kwale North and was at the same time elected the Vice-President of the then Coast Regional Assembly. On the dissolution of KADU in 1964, he joined KANU and was later appointed Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs before moving to the Ministry of Health.

Hon Robert Matano served in different Ministries between 1963 to 1988. Hon Robert Matano was appointed Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs on January 1966 to June of the same year, when he was transfered to the Ministry of Health in the same capacity. Between 1966 to 1969, Hon Robert Matano was appointed Acting Secretary General of KANU.

From June 1967 to September 1968, he served as Assistant Minister in the Vice-President's Office.

Hon Robert Matanoi was appointed Minister for Information and Broadcasting in March 1973 to February 1975, when he moved to the Ministry for Co-operative Development. In August 1975, he once again moved the Ministry of Local Government

In March 1980, Hon Robert Matano moved to the Ministry of Housing and Social Services. In June of the same year, he returned to the Ministry for Co-operative Development

In November 1983, he once again moved back to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting until August 1985, when he was dismissed as a Minister.

In 1988, Hon Robert Matano lost his Parliamentary seat.

HIS ACHIEVEMENETS
Hon. Robert Stanley Matano was the longest-serving Secretary-General of the Kenya National African Union, the then ruling political party in Kenya

As a Minister in the Government of Kenya, Hon Robert Stanley Matano travelled to various countries, to represent Kenya in different fora.

Hon. Robert Stanley was a member of the Kenyan delegation to Lancaster House, to discuss and prepare the pre-independent Kenya Constitution.