James Kanyotu (1936-2008) was Kenya’s longest serving spy chief. He headed the Directorate of Security Intelligence (‘Special Branch’), for 27 years, from 1965 until his retirement in 1991. Born in 1936 in Kirinyaga District, Kanyotu attended Alliance High School (Kenya) and Makerere University where he got a diploma in teaching. Kanyotu joined the police force in 1960. In 1965, he became the deputy head of intelligence and took over from Bernard Hinga who was Kenya’s first spy chief – and remained so until 1992.