Category Archives: Freedom Fighter

KENYA: VETERAN JOURNALIST MOURNS WARURU KANJA

2 Replies

LEO ODERA OMOLO MOURNS THE LATE NYERI POLITICIAN WARURU KANJA

May take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt profound condolence to the family and friends of the late Nyeri fierce politician Waruru KANJA.

I Knew the late Waruru Kanja way back in 1957 when he led a group of hard-core Mau Mau detainees on Mageta Island, Bondo district, now Siaya County, who were involved in jailbreak after killing the European prison commander who was in charge of the camp.

After killing the prison boss, the group escaped MAGETA Island using a makeshift raft and swam across the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kavirondo Gulf and landed at Ulugi, near Lihanda beach on Rusinga Island in what was then known as South Nyanza distric after swimming for more that 14 hours.

The fugitives were given shelter by the LUO Elders who gave the them accomodation and food inside hideout houses, but only after separating them in four groups. The colonial police launched an elaborate search for the jail breakers both aerially using the police air-wing and motor-boats. The search also went on into the villagers on the mainland locations of Yimbo, Sakwa and Uyoma.

The colonial authorities used motor-boats and even sent their agents to the twin fishing islands of Rusinga, but all in vain, Warurur Kanja and his friends had been issued with new clothes and were living safely in the villages.

I met the late ex-Mau Mau detainee in the 1980s while he was serving in the cabinet as a Minister and Nyeri Town MP in Parliament Building over a cup of tea, and I found his memory to be very fresh. He could easily recognize me, though many years had lapsed because in 1957 I was a young man of 18 of age. Mzee Kanja was a true nationalist and freedom fighter apart from being detribalized person and humanist

May Almighty God give his soul eternal peace.

LEO ODERA OMOLOO
veteran journalist-cum-Author

WHY KENYAN PRESS IS FOND OF DISTORTING THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL HISTORY?

1 Reply

Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo

ANYONE reading through the columns of the Kenyan newspapers will not escape from reading malice and deliberate distortion and concoction of the the country’s political history, especially in regards to the role of those gallant freedom fighters of the past. I was so disgusted, perturbed and dismayed when I read the stories of Kenyan heroes of the yester-years

The photographs which were lined up as those of the freedom fighters during the hero’s day celebrations were mostly of former Home-Guards and boot lickers of the colonialists. I am particularly concerned with the several supplements carried out by some of the dailies.

Our papers showed only those who were well-known as the blue-eyed agents of the colonialists and white settlers, and the photos with dubious contributions to the real task for liberation war.

The list of the pseudo heroes were published either by design or malice that excluded the portrait of Mzee Harry Thuku, the fonder of the Kikuyu Central Kenya Association, which was later to became the mother of the defunct Kenya African Union {KAU}

The late Thuku, is arguably is the father of African nationalists uprising against the British colonial rulers in this country and their associates, the white settlers, Indian business moguls, and the Arabs. In the list of the past heroes of the independent struggle,the writers deliberately excluded the photo and name of Ronald Gideon Ngala, James Smuel Gichuru,Ex-Senior Chief Koinnange Wa Mbiyu, Wokesha Mengu of Taita/Taveta, Fred Kubai, Makan Singh, Walter Fanuel Odede,Daniel Ojijo Oteko of Karachuonyo, John Paul Olola from Alego, Jalmaya Okaka Rabala of Seme, of the Kavirondo Taxpayers Association { Piny Owacho}, John Kebaso of Kisii, JOHN andala of Bunyore, Lumadede Kisala of Maragoli, Elijah Masinde of Bukhusu, Rev Canon Awori , W.W.W.Awori, Eliud Wambu Mathu, Benard Mate , J.jeremiah Nyagah and Francis J.Khamisi.

Other freedom fighters who had the colonialists and their white settlers friends sleepless nights included Arap Koilagen the head of laibons in Kericho and the descendant of Kipnyige and Koitalel Arap Samoei. Arap K Mfangano Island after his entire Talai Laibon clan} Talai were forcefully evicted from their fertile ancestral land to pave thew way for the white settlers tea plantation in Keriucho and Bomet aregions and driven to the remote Gwassi Hills in the then South Nyanza in 1934. Koilagen died in 1956 and was buried on Mfangano Island while his two other cousins died in Nyeri prison where they were detained by the colonial government

The second regent generation of freedom fighters included Lawrence Gerald Oguda,Taaitta Araap Toweett, John Marie Seroney Josef Stanley Mathenge of Nyeri, Ambalal Patel [Ambu} , V.V. Patel.Daniel Moss oF Mt Elgot Congress, Kondit Ole Tiis, Dr Julius Gikonyo Kiano, J.D. Kali

Back to JAMES Samuel Gichuru, it was the latter who prior to the return of Jommo Kenyatta from Europe in 1948 became the first President of KAU. He relinquished this position and stood down for Kenyatta to resume the party leadership.,.

Again for the second time in 1941 Gichuru stood down as the President of KANU to give way to Commn Kenyatta to resume the party”s leadership after the latter”s release from the colonial jails in 1961,

About ODEDE, The Makerere trained veterinarian had stepped into Kenyatta shoes and resumed the presidency of KAU late in October 1951 only a week after Kenyatta and other top leaders of the party were rounded up by the colonial security personnel on the night of October 20. Kenyatta and five other were vanished in the remotest part of the NORTHERN Kenya before they were charged before a court in Kapenguria and jailed with hard labour on the framed charges of managing Mau Mau. Before the end of the same month, Odede hiukself was arrested while visiting South Nyanza and vanquished into detention camp in Maralal, Samburu from where he remained in the colonial detention and restriction camps until 1960s.

It would be good for the young writers to visit libraries before penning about history and they should stop sycophantic outbursts in which people whose contributions to the independence struggle are very insignificant.

The younger journalists must stop turning the history of this country upside down

– LEO ODERA OMOLO –
IN KISUMU.

KENYA: SIAYA ODM MP IS HECKLED BY YOUTHS DURING MASHUJAA RALLY

Leave a reply

From: LEO ODERA OMOLO

Shouts of Alego ni nono oonge Mjumbe rent the air during the Mashujaa rally in SIAYA town last Sunday when a group of ODM youths made an attempt to heckle and evict the ALlego-Usonga MP Omondi Muluany at a well attended rally held at Siaya Stadium to commemorate the heros day. The party youths and security personnel intervened and ejected the rowdy youths out of the meeting venue.

It later emerged that the MP who the Mardh 14th general on the Whiper ticket had skipped all the campaign meetings which were held all over the County during the recent by-election campaign for Siaya governor,including the one which was attended by the party leader Raila O Odinga.

The MP who appeared to have been shocked and shaken described the group as hired political goons

THOSE who attended the Siaya rally were stunned when speaker after speaker heaped a lot of praise at politicians previously aligned to the late Jaramogi IOginga Odinga showering them as The only heroes who fought for freedom.

They deliberately excluded the names of other LUO freedom fighters who were known to have differed with the Jaramogi leadership style. Observers and pundits were, however quick in pointing out that those whose names had been mentioned prominently at the really included those who are known to be Raila sycophants and political surrogates whose contribution to the liberation war and anti colonialists activities are very insignificant.

THESE names represented only the residents of Siiaya County THEY INCLUDED Achieng Oneko, Jaramogi, Argwings Kodhek, Wasonga SijeyoBut even in SIAYA county, the names of political giants and heroes like Walter Fanuel Odede, DO Makasembo were deliberately omitted and replaced by some characters of some former boot lickers of the colonialists.

Odede who later was to become the father in-law of atom Mboy WALKED INTO THE SHOES OF THE Jomo KENYAT immediately after the latter and five other leading nationalists were rounded up and arrested by he colonialists following the declaration of the STATE OF emergency in Kenya by the colonialists. He too was arrested and placed in detention in the remote Northern Kanya district of Samburu and was detained for eight year because he had taken over as the acting President of KAU. Odede like Oneko hails from Uyoms in Rarieda within Bondo district.

Other uncompromising freedom fighters whose names were missing at the Siaya rally included Tom Mboya, Elijah Omolo Agar, Lawrence Gerald Oguda,Daniel OJijo Oteko,John PAUL olola,BARRACK Owuor,The latter two were the founder of the Kavirondo Taxpayers ,which collaborated well with the Harry Thuku led Kikuyu Central Association that gave the colonialists sleepless nights.

THE Siaya rally clearly portrayed an attempt by Siaya leaders as trying at the distortion of the Nyanza region’s political history.

The history of the past should be told as per its true perspective for the interests of the present and future generations.

Ends

ARCHIVES – 1st Tanganyika Rifles Mutinie 1964

1 Reply

From: Yona Maro

(Please note that we will cover the Kenya and Uganda Mutinies at a later date)

The alarm bells started to ring on the 12th January 1964: there was trouble in Zanzibar. It was a rising against the Sultan. The 2nd Scots Guards, who had made a previous visit to the island in the August of 1963 to supervise the elections, stood by to fly to the Sultan’s aid. The British Government was against intervention and the Scots Guards flew instead to Aden. The Sultan was at the mercy of the triumphant revolutionaries. The safety of the British community was in jeopardy, The Staffordshire Regiment, standing by in place of the Scots Guards, flew a company to Mombassa, where they embarked in the frigate H.M.S. Rhyll just to wait and see what happened. As it turned out the Sultan made his escape by air, to Tanganyika, thence to be transferred to the safety of the UK.

The next call for help came from President Nyerere himself. The first alarm came from Kenya on January the 20th. The men of the 1st Tanganyika Rifles, quartered near the capital Dar-es-Salaam, had risen up against their British officers, had locked them up, seized the airport, and arrested the British High Commissioner. With the mutineers holding the airport at Dar-el-Salaam, they released the British officers and NCOs from both the 1st and 2nd Battalions-some 30 from each-complete with their families and sending them to Nairobi where they arrived safely. Nyerere retained control of the government and formally made an appeal to Britain for help. It had already been decided at HQ Middle East Command at Aden that it was a task for 45 RM Commando. Hastily embarked on the carrier H.M.S. Centaur with 815 Naval Helicopter Squadron, they set sail at midnight Jan 20th and on the 24th lay off Dar-es-Salaam. At first light on the 25th, Z Company made a helicopter lift to the football field next to the mutineers’ barracks, while a gunboat put down diversionary fire to a flank.

With all weapons blazing, the Commandos rushed and seized the barrack entrance. The mutineers were then called upon to surrender. The answer was a burst of firing, to which the Commandos retaliated by demolishing the roof of the guardroom with an anti-tank rocket. It produced a sad stream of Askaris emerging with hands up. The helicopters meanwhile were completing the lift of Commandos, so that the town could be dominated and the remnant of the mutineers rounded up. Since many of the mutineers had broken out of barracks this latter task called for extensive searching. One civilian Englishman, with total disregard for his own personal safety, brought back to the guardroom one fully armed Askari festooned with ammunition and grenades. Despite his menacing attire the Askari was only too delighted to surrender to the civilian. X Company was despatched to secure the airfield and the broadcasting station, while Y Company was sent into Dar-es-Salaam. This was designed to be a two-pronged advance, with X Company’s move by helicopter. However it turned out to be a parade rather than an attack.

Vic Balsdon writes:

I have read several accounts of the suppression of the Dar es Salaam mutiny by 45 Commando but nowhere have I come across the mention of the fact that 45 took BLANK ammunition with them. The story that went around the Corps at that time was that the RSM was told that it was going to be an “exercise” and, quite understandably, assumed that the unit would only need blanks. Only later, when the unit was well under way on board HMS Centaur, did the error emerge. Lee Enfield No 4 rifles, together with the appropriate .303 ammunition (either 5 or 10 rounds per man) were hastily scrounged from the ship’s company (seamen) to prevent what might have been a monumental disaster. The passage that states that ‘the commandos went in with all guns blazing’ seems, if the rumour was true, a trifle exaggerated! The rocket that hit the roof of the Guardroom, was a practice round, not HE, and dislodged some tiles, one of which hit a mutineer on the head, killing him.

The story goes that the RSM carried the can for the @#%$! up but whether it was a misinterpretation of an order, or the wrong order from the Adjutant, was never revealed.

I can understand why the story was hushed up. We all love to rant on about our “victories” but are a little less inclined to publicise our mistakes.

Anyway, job well done, Royal, blanks or no blanks!

The cover picture of the February 1964 edition of LIFE shows a Royal Marine conducting a small group of Africans and he is clearly holding a Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle. These weapons had been replaced by the 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR) in either late 1958 or early 1959, depending on the operational committments of the various branches of the armed forces. Some branches, such as the Royal Navy, were still using the No.4 much later. Hence, 45 Commando were able to borrow some from HMS Centaur’s ship’s company to avert a near disaster and many red faces.

Our thanks to Mr Balsdon for providing this piece of the story.
If anyone has a copy of this edition and can provide us with a scan of the Tanganyika piece from the edition we would be grateful.

The Europeans, Asians and many Africans gave the Commando an unexpected tumultuous welcome as they thronged the pavements. Elements of Y Company secured Army House whilst the remainder carried out local patrols. The second-in-command of 45 was to take command of Dar-es-Salaam. Z Company was to remain at Collito Barracks and the support company was landed soon after 12 noon. The Royal Marine detachment from H.M.S. Centaur landed by lighter with the Ferret armoured cars of 16/15 Lancers. A show of force was made through the town where again they received a great welcome.

Tabora is some 400 miles west of Dar-es-Salaam and the 2nd Battalion of the Tanganyika Rifles stationed there had already mutinied, and after hearing of the events at Collito Barracks had agreed to hand in their rifles. All was quiet but this, however, was not confirmed and there was a distinct possibility that they could break out again and secure the airfield. Y and X Companies were earmarked for this task. In addition four Sea Vixens, armed with rockets, were attached to H.M.S. Centaur to provide air cover should the landing at the air strip be opposed. Personnel of Y Company, accompanied by the CO of 45 with his tactical HQ, arrived at Tabora at about five-fifteen; a flight of just over two hours. Lt-Col. Stevens remembers his arrival at Tabora as one of light comedy, despite being deeply concerned at the possibility of armed opposition. As the DC-4 came in to land, an Argosy suddenly appeared at the other end of the runway with the intention of also landing.

The Argosy won and the DC-4 hauled off to land a few moments later. The Argosy contained an Air Commodore and some men of the RAF Regiment, who had flown in from Nairobi. At six-fifteen that evening, the Beverleys arrived with the remainder of X and Y Companies. The mutineers’ barracks, being about seven miles away, the Commando’s commandeered some public works department vehicles to ferry the two Companies within two miles of the barracks. The Marines arrived at the barracks in the early hours of the morning and with great rapidity the guard room and weapons were secured. The contents of the stores and weapons of the mutineers were loaded on to the vehicles and the next stage was to arouse the sleeping battalion. This task fell to a Tanganyika Rifles officer, who with a bugler, the general assembly was sounded. The mutineers, informed that they were surrounded, fell in quietly and the ringleaders were marched off. The Tanganyika Rife mutiny was ended. Looking back on the whole operation from the start on the 25th, the operation had gone extraordinarily smoothly.

The final days were spent in consolidating positions and restoring the confidence of the population. The Royal Marine Band from H.M.S. Centaur was landed and concluded a heavy program by marching through the streets. The operation had been described as a classic and had been a resounding success. 45 RM Commando had virtually assumed military control over a country the size of Britain with a population of some six million all within 24 hours. 41 Commando flew out for Britain on Thursday the 30th January; H.M.S. Centaur had sailed for Mombassa the previous day, and 45 CDO embarked in H.M.S. Victorious to be transferred to H.M.S. Albion the Commando ship nine days later, prior to disembarkation at Aden later in February

Kenyans Celebrate Mashujaa Day

Leave a reply

from Dr. Barack Abonyo For Kisumu Governor 2012

20th Oct. 2011
http://www.barackforgovernor.com/
Mashujaa Day

Today, Kenyans celebrate the first Mashujaa Day to honor the heros andheroins who made significant contriutions to our nations liberation struggle. Now is the time to move Kenyha forward with great velocity, free from oppression

~ Dr. Barak Abonyo for Ksumu Governor 2912

www.barackforgovernor.com
The People’s Candidate
Dr. Barack Abonyo

Kenya: Will Raila Odinga be our Gandalf?

2 Replies

Arrows and shields
BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA

In the Prof J.R.R Tolkien’s fantasy trilogy; The Lord of the Rings, the role of one character Gandalf the grey, who later becomes Gandalf the white is very conspicuous. Gandalf belongs to the group of wizards, the wisest and most knowledgeable creatures in the middle earth.

Unlike Saruman; another wizard who attempts to get the ring of power for himself, Gandalf sticks to his mission of helping the middle earth rid itself of the ring of power by helping in assembling and leading the team to destroy the ring of power in the same chasm inside the crack of Mount Doom where the ring was forged. The ring of power has a history of bringing down great leaders and kings including Isildur; whose heir is Aragorn camouflaged as Strider carries the duty of reinstating Isildur’s lost glory. Gandalf’s efforts to inform Saruman about The whereabouts of the ring turns out to be a calamity for its later discovered that Saruman has defected and joined Sauron; the dark lord to claim the ring.

The ring is in the shire, the land of the Hobbits. Gandalf is faced with the challenge of ensuring that the ring is destroyed before his former ally Saruman or the main antagonist Sauron land their hands on it.

Kenya is a county at the crossroads now. The political challenges that face us to day are akin to the conflicts that bedeviled the middle earth. Kenyans have attempted for long to bring about change. All efforts have been futile because of the greed of the leaders that have hypocritically come together in the name of destroying the establishment of impunity and corruption have ended up being corrupt and unreliable. They have always instead just like Saruman been converted and become allies of impunity and subjects of the same ills they purported to oppose.

Kenya has gone through turbulent waters since the days of colonialism. Every political step in Kenya has been a make believe to the Kenyan masses that time for national redemption has finally come. The chronology of the Kenyan leadership starting from colonialism has always been a disappointment. In Kenya’s war for independence, the freedom fighters fought to return the land that had been taken away by the British colonialists. When freedom was finally granted, the country was optimistic that with an African leader all Kenyans were going to have better lives with equal opportunity to access education and resources compared to the previous regime which had been oppressive, racist and discriminatory against Africans.

It emerged that their celebrations were in vain for the new African establishment became no different from the practices of the British colonialists. Fertile lands that had previously been taken by the colonialist were then taken over and shared among the African leaders that had taken over the reigns of power.

The ordinary Kenyan who had fought so hard for independence became a disappointed person. It emerged that those who were landless during the colonial period remained landless; those who were lucky got small portions of land where they stayed as squatters. It was not forgotten that those who had taken power led by Jommo Kenyatta had claimed that they wanted change for an ordinary Kenyan African who was lacked opportunities because of racism and other forms of discrimination. It was evident that the African government substituted terms but continued with the oppressive ways of the colonialist.

It was not lost to Kenyans that terms like racism were replaced with tribalism. Settlers were replaced by African land grabbers. It’s known to Kenyans that it was under the African regime that those who spoke out their mind like Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya, Argwings Kodhek and JM Kariuki had their lives cut short because of having alternative views on governance.

In 1978, Moi became president and people who had witnessed Kenyatta’s misuse of power and practices of tribalism thought that with change in the leadership, things were going to be different. It however turned out to be more disappointing that Moi declared that he was going to ‘fuata nyayo’(follow Kenyatta’s footsteps).Under the nyayo era, Moi perfected the art of tribalism, corruption and impunity. Under Moi’s leadership, democracy was crushed and detention without trial; a law that had been put in place under Kenyatta’s regime became more effective than ever.

It’s during the Moi era that many pro democracy activists and university student leaders like Tito Adungosi and Wafula Buke were jailed over trumped up charges. Many activists disappeared without trace. It’s during this same regime that saw Kenya’s first Vice President and doyen of opposition Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was put under house arrest. Under the same regime more political assassinations and mysterious deaths occurred. It was during this regime that Bishop Alexander Muge, Dr.Robert Ouko and many others died under suspect circumstances.

The atrocities committed under the Nyayo regime saw progressive politicians like Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Ahmed Salim Bahmariz, George Nthenge, Masinde Muliro, Philip Gachoka and Martin Shikuku to team up and form the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD).It was a new dawn for Kenya when after pressure from the international community Mr.Moi repealed section 2(a) of the then constitution of Kenya which ushered in multiparty politics.

Greed engulfed the country, for every politician saw an opportunity to ascend to power since Moi was very unpopular. Many opposition parties were formed. After the mysterious death of Masinde Muliro at the Jommo Kenyatta International Airport three months to the general election,

Ford split into two factions Ford Kenya which was led by Jaramogi with headquarters at Agip House and Ford Asili that was led by Kenneth Matiba that moved their headquarters to Muthithi House (now Occidental plaza), the Democratic Party (DP) and the Social Democratic Party were formed and registered. Young people like Ruto and Jirongo saw an opportunity to become politically relevant. They formed Youth for Kanu 92’ thereby saving Moi’s regime from extinction by mobilizing the youth vote.

The divided opposition driven by greed for power lost to Moi. The same situation was repeated in 1997.The opposition fielded many presidential candidates who included Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic Party, Michael Kijana Wamalwa of Ford Kenya,Raila Odinga of National Development Party and Charity Ngilu of the Social Democratic party. The opposition lost again and the country continued wallowing in the culture of impunity.

With new wisdom acquired from lessons in the past election losses, in 2002,the opposition united to defeat Moi and his ‘project Uhuru’.The optimism of Kenyans was renewed.Most Kenyans believed that with the exit of Moi, the country had been saved from all the ills that we had fought against.

That was never to be for after one year, the government was grappling with corruption allegations. A mega scandal akin to the Goldenberg that had occurred during kanu’s dark days happened; the Anglo Leasing. It dawned to Kenyans that the greed for power and wish to occupy Moi’s shoes was the driving force for the opposition unity. Kenyans discovered that it was greed for power and money and not good governance that had caused the opposition to unite to defeat Moi and ‘project Uhuru.

In 2007, it emerged that both the incumbent led by Mwai Kibaki and the opposition led by Raila Odinga had been in government. It was declared to be the mother of all battles. The tight race between the two presidential candidates led to a disputed result.

I contend that Kenyans didn’t know what the post election violence was all about. It was about greed for power. 2012 is beckoning and we face the same challenges that Kenyans don’t have a leader who wants to create a respectable state. Kenya needs a Gandalf like figure who will not get entangled into power struggles. Kenya needs someone with an opportunity to be president but because of being selfless will choose not to seek presidency, but will assemble a new generation of leaders who will ensure the country has a new beginning. Kenya needs someone to sacrifice, someone who is above temptations for power, someone with the interest of the nation at heart.

If Moi and old Kanu establishments represent Sauron and Kibaki is Saruman, is Raila going to sacrifice his presidential ambitions and be our Gandalf?

Kenya: A Poem from a friend

1 Reply

From: odhiambo okecth

SABA SABA DAY

We didn’t want to stand in line

To vie ’gainst friends on village green

‘THEY’ told us then just what was what

“ You’ll have what you get…like it or not. “

A few took part…results were rigged

The rest stayed home…jiggerty jigged

Dissension brings detention in the Kanu Pot

We’d got whom we’d got…That’s our lot

Democracy’s for others made…

Until a few stood up and braved

The wrath of those in powerful seats

“ Detain them !” ‘THEY’ called…and searched the streets

A sign, evolved in Churchill’s day

Became the Multi-Party’s way

To demonstrate the need for Change

Who’s advocates were soon detained

“Cut off their fingers and send them to

Kanu Headquarters !” What a stew….

Those violent words and vicious threats

And author…stayed in back of heads.

Arrange a Kamukunji…yes

No license given. Ok…No stress

But Mwenje advertised it “ON”

Our own Sharpville had just begun.

Saba Saba Saturday

1990…Meeting day

Saw empty ground but people round

Were shot or beaten. Lesson sound?

Don’t play it down, it happened there

At famous Kamununji Fair

The Law moved in…teargas and gun

To keep the peace …or have some fun.

The message spread. The bubble burst.

Outraged villagers freedom thirst

The tide broke loose for Liberty

For Justice,Truth…for you…for me

Enough’d enough of subjugation

Now to wake the Kenya nation

No right to ask, nor meet nor speak

What else to do but run the street

By Monday morning all was calm

Except we heard with some alarm

Just after schools began their classes

The streets of many towns found masses

Of people out on foot ..irate

Their wish…to speak…to demonstrate

Against the ones who’d have us blind

And deaf…and dumb…without a mind.

Police and GSU moved in

By four o’clock they’ed quelled the din.

In Kawangware, Satellite,

Innocents suffered policemen’s might

Husbands bludgeoned, women raped

The way out forces operate

And soon we all knew someone dear

Who’d suffered and been filled with fear

Of Law Enforcers…uncontrolled.

Government numbers…the death toll

Twenty dead and and sixty injured

Cooked up, played down “official” figures

Scared politicians met…took stock

Their nests to save and all ‘THEY’ED’ got

“ Take up your pangas … kill them all…

No two ways about it !” the clarion call.

These rigged in men of greed and power

Began their last and final hour

We thought. But nay..a politician

Only gets mild admonition

Ev’n for inciting anarchy

Power war, no less on you and me

We people in the Market Place

Look on with pride to those who faced

Detention without trial…or worse

Have to leave their place of birth

Just because no-one will hear

Their call …our call…for what is dear

Our need for Truth and Liberty

Justice, Our Rights…Democracy .

‘

Sam. Early July 1990.

Tanzania & Uganda: The late Dr Julius Nyerere is to be promoted to the sainthood by the Vatican

Leave a reply

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni and his Tanzanian counterpart, Jakaya Kikwete, have supported the crusade to declare former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere a saint.

Kikwete, Museveni, Mama Maria Nyerere and Archbishop Lwanga after the special prayers at Namugongo yesterday

The two presidents yesterday attended a special service for Nyerere at the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine and testified to his goodness, which they said should qualify him for sainthood.

The Catholic Church in Tanzania started the campaign to to make Nyerere a saint.

The process, which will end with Rome declaring or rejecting the petition, is currently at the stage where people who knew Nyerere come forward to give testimonies of his goodness.

According to the Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, there will also be another side which will come up to try and dispute that Nyerere was good.

Lwanga was the main celebrant at the service, which attracted many Tanzanians, including Nyerere’s widow and family.

The Tanzanians were led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba, Method Klaini.

Pilgrims from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda also attended the service.

Museveni said Nyerere was a devoted Christian and his principles made Tanzania a united and peaceful country.

“I am a witness to Nyerere’s devotion. The Bible is clear. It says we shall know them by their fruits not by their words. Tanzania is a country of Christians, Muslims and animists but Mwalimu (Nyerere) was able to unite them by demonstrating that they are all children of God,” Museveni said.

He said he had discussed with Nyerere’s wife the possibility of inviting the presidents who worked with Nyerere to Uganda for special prayers, but regretted that this could not be possible this year because the country is hosting the AU summit in July.

“We shall arrange for all the freedom fighters to come and witness,” Museveni said, thanking Kikwete for attending the service.

“We should continue praying that Nyerere reaches the next stage of being declared blessed of God, and then saint,” he said.

Responding to a request for assistance to build a perimeter wall around the church, Museveni pledged sh229m.

The Rector of the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Fr. Nennis Ssebugwaawo, had earlier said thieves, drug addicts and murderers had invaded the place, adding that sometimes dead bodies are dumped in the lake at the shrine.

Museveni also pledged sh900m for the construction of a hotel at the shrine, which will accommodate visitors and generate income.

Kikwete said if Nyerere is canonised saint, it will make Tanzania proud.

“Anything that elevates the name of Tanzania, as president, I will be part of. We gave Nyerere the title of Father of the Nation because of the good things he did.

“For 23 years, he led the process of building a nation of several nationalities, 120 tribes and different races. He succeeded in building a united peaceful country. Tanzanians will always be grateful,” Kikwete said.

In his sermon, Lwanga urged Christians to promote peace, goodness and righteousness.

He expressed concern that Africans today are espousing strange ideologies, including homosexuality.

Lwanga said Africans should learn from the martyrs who stood their ground when they refused to be forced into sinfulness and stuck with Christ even as they faced death.

Ends

Kenya: Mau Mau suit against British government is not an economic issue per se -but a moral one !

1 Reply

Mau Mau suit against British government is not an economic issue per se -but a moral one !
From: Mary Gakere

Recently, in Meru, Prime Minister Raila Odinga charged the Kenya government with a responsibility of pursuing the British government on behalf of the Mau Mau (Kenya Freedom Fighters), in their quest for a measure of justice for atrocities that were committed against them during the Mau Mau era.

Such a move by our government must be praised by all who value our freedom, democracy and self determination.
However, care must be taken in these proceedings rest we buckle up everything in a hurry and rather than bring justice, restitution and honor to our Mau Mau heros, we may instead provide the British with a quiet and an easy way out. This was not and is not a question of minor dereliction of duty by British officers and their collaborators (home guards) or an isolated case. It was not a question of a few injuries, a few broken limbs and scratches here and there- this was a massive, grand campaign, to dehumanize, oppress, torture, subjugate – untold pain and suffering was committed against a people who were previously free in their own land. This was a crime against humanity of the first order and if Raila and our government want to help, like they ought to have done almost 50 years ago, they must devise a genuine program, a renewed struggle with British for atonement, restitution and reparations, for our people so that both parties; Kenyans and British can begin a healing process.

The uneasy and hypocritical relationship of denial that endures today- on both sides is temporal and potentially dangerous. We must face each other and revisit those painful moments and struggle, yet again. This time, to bring honor to those who perished, restitution for those still surviving and their children, redemption for the British, reparations for our country and healing for the masses.

This program; a movement, if you will, cannot be accomplished by quick and hurried law suit brought against the British government ; namely, to pay money to Mau Mau victims. In my opinion, it’s not as simple as that. In fact, British might very well agree with your claim for their self interest -pay money and have our people sign a disclaimer, probably as follows:
“ Without accepting any wrong doing, and knowing that this suit might have no merits- Britain agrees to pay so much millions pounds—- and – Mau Mau people and Kenya government, hereby release and indemnify British people and government, their heirs–bra– bra– bra— of any wrong doing and future claims whatsoever relating to Mau Mau claims and or colonial episodes in Kenya——–”

Only a fool would venture for such a quest. If we are not careful we will sell our freedom fighters, their children, their honor and sufferings for a few million pounds and shall be ashamed in future, for betraying our country and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

In fact, how much is it all worth, how can we begin to quantify in dollars or pounds the pain, suffering and agony that was endured? Let us start with a dialogue. Let us open the dark chapters of our history so as to shed some light on them and ourselves.

If we make it an economic issue, who is to say the British cannot come tomorrow, take our land, put people into reserves and internment camps and colonize us all over again- after all, whatever amount of money we shall sue them for – say 50 years from now, they can again pay just as they will pay this time around. May even pay us with the same money that they got from enslaving our people, taking our land and labor- taxing us without representation.

Prime Minister Raila, must be praised for changing the course of this quest for justice- from a claim laid by a few surviving Mau Mau people against British, to our country’s quest for reparations, restitution, healing and redemption.

As such, we must do it right. It should never be an economic issue per se. This is first and foremost a moral issue. As for our hurting Mau Mau victims still alive, I would propose that a bill be moved in our parliament and law passed that sets aside funds to assist them ( like we should have done many years back), then proceed against British government in a meaningful and effective way that will not only end our history chapter of shame, but guarantee that British or any other nation will not prey on our people- resources, and freedoms ever again.

Prime minister and our government should summon a public dialogue in Kenya. Have the people openly define the struggle that our people and country went through. Define the crimes and evils that were committed against our people culminating into a crime against humanity. People must be allowed to see what those who claim to be champions of freedom and democracy – the Western countries, are capable of doing in denying or taking away that same freedom and democracy from fellow men. This way we make our people appreciate their freedom more and know that sometimes the only way to keep it is by firmly holding on to it. And letting another take away your freedom and dignity have dire consequences.

The wrongful acts committed against our people must be tabulated in an open dialogue: Land stolen, labor stolen, enslavement, forced taxation, forced labor, putting people in reserves, hunger, poverty, confiscating their livestock, restriction of movement, denial of education, banning our culture and traditions, mass arrests of innocent people, mass punishments (like taking peoples livestock in Nyeri and Murang’a under the guise that they were Mau Mau sympathizers) collective punishment, throwing people; including women and children into internment camps. Detentions without due process, brutal interrogations and torture, sadism by British soldiers and subjects. Anarchy by letting loose all British settlers in Kenya to dehumanize, maim even rape, kill and even murder our people. Land crown act; taking our land away by the British Crown. Curtailing our freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of movement, banning our political organizations- frustrating our political voice and leading our people into desperate measure in search of ways to regain their freedom and liberty. Mau Mau was our people’s last result. Our self defense. Their resolve to fight British against such insurmountable odds is the best testimony of a man’s claim to his God given unalienable right to freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

We should strive for British’s public admission of all the atrocities that colonization perpetrated against our people. There should be a public apology. British should enact a law in their parliament that issues a public apology to the people and nation of Kenya for colonialism. They should take responsibility for all the pain and suffering and murders and deaths that were a result of their alien and uninvited presence in our country. New Zealand has apologized to the Samoans for the atrocities they committed against them.

Justice should come to our people and country from Britain. British government should be held accountable and pay reparations to Kenya for all the atrocities of colonialism. And they should pay restitution to Mau Mau freedom fighters and their children for the injustice they committed against them. ( Italy paid Lybia; Germany paid Jews ; U. S. paid Japanese people) .

There should be a pledge – a bill enacted and law passed in British parliament that they will never again colonize, dominate or forcefully impose their will on our people and country.

Njau Njembura Njoroge. : 04/02/2010

To all Kenyans and friends of Kenya, please add your voice to this cause. Now is the time to stand with those who were denied freedom in their quest to guarantee our freedom. If yours is a different view from the one advanced in this article, please air it too because, we need to dialogue before our politicians mess up this important milestone of our country’s history in their attempt to score some political points using mau mau victims. I like what they’re saying so far but we must watch them closely we cannot just trust them. Mau Mau was a people’s natural response to an unbelievable nightmare that had engulfed their lives, their space and their dignity.

Since it was a grass root movement with no elites prompting or external help whatsoever, we must make sure that our government does not run with the ball, collude with the British and bring us half baked solutions that fail to answer the great question:-Why did so called civilized and christian people (British) treat our people worse than they would animals without any provocation or justification whatsoever?

Kenyans should be fully involved and informed of every step that is taken in making British people and government answerable and accountable for the atrocities here-mentioned. Help in educating our people. Give your own views.