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THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE HON 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 ot Ribe Primary
School, Hon. Robert Matano transfered to Ribe Primary School in 1933. In 1935, he transfered to Kaloleni Primary School. He
transfered yet again in 1939 to Methodist Mission School - now Kaaga Boys Secondary School in Eastern Province - where he
sat for his Intermediate Examination.
Hon Rober Matano joined Alliance High School in 1941 where Carrey Francis was
the Headmaster. At Alliance High School, he was elected Senior House Prefect He was also Scout Leader, a member of the School
choir and the overall School Captain, leader of the Sunday Services in local schools and a member of the Dramma Club.
His
Schoolmates included the late Hon Paul Ngei, and the late Timothy Ramtu, who later became his brother-in-law. At Makerere.
Hon Robert Matano met and made friends with, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the late Kabaka Mutesa, Milton Obote, the late Aboud
R. Jumbe, and Ronald Ngala'
In 1945, Hon. Robert Matano passed the Makerere University Entrance Examination
and joined what was then the premier college of Higher education in East Africa, in 1946.
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 transfered to his old school, Alliance High School, where he taught Maths and Geography.
In
1953, Hon Robert Matano was promoted to the position of Assistant Education Officer in Naivasha town, in the Rift Valley Province
The
Hon. Robert Matano 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
transfered to Mombasa in 1958.
In 1959, Hon Robert Matano 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 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.
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