At 110 years old, Lesa Muluki has lived through some of the most defining moments in Kenya’s history, from the colonial era to independence and the country’s transformation into a modern republic.
Born on August 22, 1916, in Mitaboni village, Machakos County, Muluki recently marked her 110th birthday, making her one of the oldest surviving people in the region.
Despite her advanced age, Muluki remains remarkably active. She can still walk on her own and retains memories of her childhood and younger years, including encounters with some of the prominent figures who shaped Kenya’s independence struggle.
Among the people she remembers is Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. She also recalls independence-era politicians Paul Ngei and Mbolu Malu, whom she accompanied during visits to Kenyatta in the early 1940s.
Her memories offer a rare personal connection to a period of Kenya’s history that is now more than eight decades old.
Muluki is a mother of 13 children, and her family has grown into a large extended household of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Only three of her 13 children have died, leaving 10 still alive. The longevity within the family has become a source of pride and curiosity among relatives, who attribute their good health partly to their way of life.
Her first-born son, Samuel Maweu Kilonzo, is 82 and a retired Kenya Defence Forces major. Like his mother, he credits a disciplined lifestyle and positive relationships with others for his long life and good health.
Kilonzo says his mother has spent much of her life eating organically produced food, a habit he believes may have contributed to her physical strength and wellbeing.
He also recalls that Muluki remained physically active throughout her life, often walking long distances rather than relying on modern means of transport.
“Living style remains a path to long life,” Kilonzo says, pointing to his mother’s diet, physical activity and approach to life as possible factors behind her longevity.
Muluki herself believes longevity is not only about food and physical activity. She says people should live with good intentions towards others, avoid corruption and wish their neighbours well.
Her philosophy has become part of the family’s understanding of what it means to live a long and meaningful life.
Her second-born generation has also embraced the same outlook. One of her younger sons is approaching 80, adding another remarkable chapter to a family whose story is increasingly defined by longevity.
For Muluki, however, reaching 110 is not simply a personal milestone. It is a living record of a century of change in Kenya.
She was born when Kenya was still under British colonial rule, lived through the struggle for independence and witnessed the birth of the Republic. She has seen generations come and go while raising a family that has now spread across four generations.
At an age when many people require assistance with everyday activities, Muluki continues to walk, remember and engage with those around her.
Her family sees her longevity as a combination of good living, natural food, physical activity and, perhaps most importantly, a lifetime of wishing others well.
