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#HistoryKeThread: World War 1 Action In Kenya
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Many people believe that WW1 action in Kenya was primarily focused around Taveta.
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Many people believe that WW1 action in Kenya was primarily focused around Taveta.
However, there was arguably as much action in other parts of Kenya, including Victoria Nyanza, Kericho and Maasailand.
On Lake Victoria, for instance, the British sank the German armoured tug 'Mwanza'.
On Lake Victoria, for instance, the British sank the German armoured tug 'Mwanza'.
As the war raged in western Kenya, a British telecoms expert, Reginald Rice, was dispatched from the telegraph station at Mombasa up to Lake Victoria to establish a telegraph receiver on SS Clement Hill (pictured), a passenger and cargo steamer on the lake.
#HistoryKeThread: Sultan Fumo Bakari and The Witu Resistance
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In 1890 a group of Germans set up camp near Witu, Lamu, and started chopping down the forests that surrounded the town.
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In 1890 a group of Germans set up camp near Witu, Lamu, and started chopping down the forests that surrounded the town.
The fact that they were heavily armed and spent much of their spare time engaged in military exercises led the Witu Sultan, Fumo Bakari, to fear that the foreign force was about to stage a coup.
So he stole their weapons.
So he stole their weapons.
This obviously upset the Germans, so they marched on Witu and, with their remaining guns, opened fire.
In the battle that ensued between 15th and 17th September 1890, two Swahili and ten Germans lost their lives.
In the battle that ensued between 15th and 17th September 1890, two Swahili and ten Germans lost their lives.
#HistoryKeThread: Waruhiu’s Last Bow
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From September 1952, colonial chief of the Agikuyu in Kiambu, Waruhiu Kung’u - seen here addressing his last public rally at Kirigiti on 25th August of the same year, began transferring property to his wife and children.
📷:NMG
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From September 1952, colonial chief of the Agikuyu in Kiambu, Waruhiu Kung’u - seen here addressing his last public rally at Kirigiti on 25th August of the same year, began transferring property to his wife and children.
📷:NMG
The Kirigiti rally had been organized by local (Kiambu) and Kenya Africa Union (KAU) leaders led by Waruhiu and Jomo Kenyatta respectively, to denounce Mau Mau.
In the run up to the address, there had been an increasing spate of violence meted out on collaborators, notably crown witnesses or police informers, church leaders, headmen and chiefs.
#HistoryKeThread: Rawson Macharia: Bribed To Frame Jomo Kenyatta
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The colonial government was so short of evidence with which to convict Mzee Kenyatta, that they turned to a "frail little shopkeeper" - as described Rawson Macharia - the main prosecution witness.
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The colonial government was so short of evidence with which to convict Mzee Kenyatta, that they turned to a "frail little shopkeeper" - as described Rawson Macharia - the main prosecution witness.
During the trial, Rawson testified that Mzee was his Mau Mau oath administrator. He also gave detailed descriptions of how the oathing itself was carried out.
He described how he was stripped naked, made to drink human blood and make ritualistic movements on banana leaves.
He described how he was stripped naked, made to drink human blood and make ritualistic movements on banana leaves.
For his testimony and subsequent conviction of Mzee Kenyatta, the colonial government rewarded him with a return trip to England, and a scholarship to undertake a 2-year public administration course.
#HistoryKeThread 🧵: Two Forts
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In 1890, officials of the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) - which midwifed the colony that later became known as Kenya to the British government - led by Fredrick Lugard established a military frontier post at Kîawariûa.
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In 1890, officials of the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) - which midwifed the colony that later became known as Kenya to the British government - led by Fredrick Lugard established a military frontier post at Kîawariûa.
Today, this is the area we generally call Dagoretti.
Over a period of a few weeks, Lugard supervised the construction of a new fort here. He later left for Buganda, leaving George Wilson in command of the new garrison.
Over a period of a few weeks, Lugard supervised the construction of a new fort here. He later left for Buganda, leaving George Wilson in command of the new garrison.
It wasn’t long before the fort was besieged by a phalanx of Agîkûyû fighters. They were under the command of Waiyaki wa Hinga (pictured).
The siege lasted for a week and a half. The aim was to scare off Wilson and his force of a few Europeans, Nubian, Swahili & Somali fighters.
The siege lasted for a week and a half. The aim was to scare off Wilson and his force of a few Europeans, Nubian, Swahili & Somali fighters.
#HistoryKeThread: Feeling the tax bite?
A century ago, every male in Kenya aged at least 16, employed or not, paid 12/- poll tax per year.
If married, there was an additional 12/- annual “breast tax” for the man. It was tougher for polygamous men, who paid breast tax per wife.
A century ago, every male in Kenya aged at least 16, employed or not, paid 12/- poll tax per year.
If married, there was an additional 12/- annual “breast tax” for the man. It was tougher for polygamous men, who paid breast tax per wife.
Actually, the Agîkûyû had a name for this tax. They called it Igooti Rîa Nyondo, which literally translated to “Breast Tax”.
Africans unable to raise the tax were arrested and imprisoned. Younger ones who couldn’t pay….
Africans unable to raise the tax were arrested and imprisoned. Younger ones who couldn’t pay….
….were forcefully conscripted to serve in construction of roads, railways, schools, police stations and other similar projects.
#HistoryKeThread: Elijah Masinde
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Over the years, even way before ill-famed Pastor Paul Mackenzie became known, Bungoma has been synonymous with prophets and gods - Nabii Yohana, Yesu wa Tongaren, Jehovah Wanyonyi and Elijah Masinde among them.
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Over the years, even way before ill-famed Pastor Paul Mackenzie became known, Bungoma has been synonymous with prophets and gods - Nabii Yohana, Yesu wa Tongaren, Jehovah Wanyonyi and Elijah Masinde among them.
Let us focus on Elijah Masinde, who broke out earlier than the rest.
In his early years, he was employed as a court server, working at the Kabuchai African Court in 1937.
In his early years, he was employed as a court server, working at the Kabuchai African Court in 1937.
Masinde (pictured) did not like many things. For example, he hated the fact that his duties included arresting suspects and attaching their property.
#HistoryKEThread: Parties Here, There, Everywhere
In 1955, the colonial administration granted Africans the right to found political parties. The parties, however, were subject to the District Commissioner’s approval, and their activities allowed up to the district level.
In 1955, the colonial administration granted Africans the right to found political parties. The parties, however, were subject to the District Commissioner’s approval, and their activities allowed up to the district level.
According to veteran historian Prof. Bethwel Ogot, by causing the creation of political mouthpieces in the grassroots for Africans, the colonial administration hoped to isolate and undermine the Mau Mau movement.
Dozens of parties sprung up. Among them were the Abaluhya Peoples Association, Mombasa African Democratic Union, Nairobi District African Congress, the Abagusii Association of South Nyanza, Nakuru African Progressive Party and Taita African Democratic Union.
#HistoryKeThread Trophies Of War
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When the colonial government in Kenya in response to the Mau Mau insurgency declared a state of Emergency, Mervyn Cowie (pictured) was Kenya’s Director of National Parks.
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When the colonial government in Kenya in response to the Mau Mau insurgency declared a state of Emergency, Mervyn Cowie (pictured) was Kenya’s Director of National Parks.
Cowie offered the military from his team a significant number of rangers and professional trackers, arguing that they could far better than ordinary security forces track fighters hiding in the Aberdares and Mt. Kenya forests. The government took up the offer.
In the early stages of the Emergency, British Royal Air Force (RAF) jets bombed the forests. The authorities hoped the bombing would lead to mass surrenders or deaths of Mau Mau fighters.
#HistoryKeThread: Sharpened Senses Of The Mau Mau
Here is a photo of Gen. Kariba and an unknown female freedom fighter after he was captured together in Mount Kenya forest in 1954.
Here is a photo of Gen. Kariba and an unknown female freedom fighter after he was captured together in Mount Kenya forest in 1954.
Kariba was convicted and hanged by colonial authorities in 1955.
This next pic is of an oathing ceremony at an unknown location at the height of the emergency.
#HistoryKeThread: Sir Charles
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Soon after President Moi took over the reins of leadership of the Republic of Kenya in 1978, he released many detainees that his predecessor, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, had sent to jail.
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Soon after President Moi took over the reins of leadership of the Republic of Kenya in 1978, he released many detainees that his predecessor, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, had sent to jail.
In Parliament, outspoken Rift Valley MPs Koigi Wamwere and Jean Marie Seroney hailed the move by Moi to release the detainees.
In the same House, while demanding that landless former freedom fighters be compensated, Nyeri MP and Assistant Minister Waruru Kanja, once a Mau Mau himself, accused Attorney General Charles Njonjo and CID Chief Ignatius Nderi as the men behind the 1970s wave of detentions.
#HistoryKeThread: Glimpses Of The Northern Agîkûyû
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British-Canadian William Scoresby Routledge visited East Africa in 1902 and spent about a year living among the Agîkûyû.
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British-Canadian William Scoresby Routledge visited East Africa in 1902 and spent about a year living among the Agîkûyû.
He would make a return to central Kenya in 1904, this time accompanied by his wife, Katherine.
Thanks to Routledge’s early 1900 photos, we get visual glimpses of the way of life of his host community.
Thanks to Routledge’s early 1900 photos, we get visual glimpses of the way of life of his host community.
For example, this iconic photo of Karûri wa Gakure of Metumi, which is the area we now know to be Murang’a county today, was taken by Routledge.
#HistoryKeThread: Gama Pinto’s Murder Suspects
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Following the killing of Pio Gama Pinto in 1965, the country was shocked when the police presented young murder suspects to court.
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Following the killing of Pio Gama Pinto in 1965, the country was shocked when the police presented young murder suspects to court.
They were two teenagers, Kisilu Mutua (pictured in 2001) and Chege Thuo, at the time officially claimed to be aged 18 and 19 years respectively.
Those who followed Kisilu’s murder trial believe that he was the fall guy, and that the real killer was someone else more powerful.
It was also claimed that Chege Thuo must have been an undercover agent of the Special Branch, post-independent Kenya’s intelligence service.
It was also claimed that Chege Thuo must have been an undercover agent of the Special Branch, post-independent Kenya’s intelligence service.
#HistoryKeThread: Today marks 52 years since Thomas J. Mboya was assassinated in downtown Nairobi. He died aged only 39.
But even before he reached the age of 29, Mboya was a widely travelled leader. At the age of 28, and by virtue of being Chair of All-African People's Conference, Mboya visited the United States in 1959 on a five-week tour.
He criss-crossed the vast country addressing in some cases no fewer than five meetings a day. His audience was largely made up of students, civil rights leaders and labour officials.
#HistoryKeThread: The Kamba and Mau Mau
On 14th May 1954, the British newspaper Daily Telegraph ran a headline:
“Kenya Fears Mau Mau Has Won New Tribe”.
“Kenya Fears Mau Mau Has Won New Tribe”.
Citing concerns from certain quarters in the colonial government, the newspaper expressed fears that more and more members of the Kamba community were not only growing sympathetic to the Mau Mau, but were also joining the underground freedom struggle movement.
#HistoryKeThread
In 1907, Winston Churchill (pictured), Britain’s Under Secretary Of State For The Colonies visited several African colonies among them British East Africa (Kenya), a territory that had about 2,000 European settlers at the time.
In 1907, Winston Churchill (pictured), Britain’s Under Secretary Of State For The Colonies visited several African colonies among them British East Africa (Kenya), a territory that had about 2,000 European settlers at the time.
Perhaps looking for “safety in numbers”, the settlers pressured him to have the settler colony declared by London “White Man’s Country”.
Churchill had his reservations. He felt tropical diseases and hostile tribes would never make things comfortable for the white man in this particular colony.
In the photo above, which was taken in the late 1890s, the then Liwali (Governor) of Mombasa, Salim bin Khalfan, is seated third from left.
Majority of the Liwali at the East African coast that later became part of Kenya were Arabs of Omani descent.
They were answerable to the Sultan of Zanzibar.
They were answerable to the Sultan of Zanzibar.
#HistoryKeThread: Snippets Of Murang’a History
This is an early 1900s pic of Agîkûyû women from Fort Hall as Murang’a was known as in those days.
This is an early 1900s pic of Agîkûyû women from Fort Hall as Murang’a was known as in those days.
When the WW1 broke out, the colonial administration in Fort Hall, which is today Murang’a town, issued orders to help get people to join the military.
The instructions given were that some groups of people were to be exempted from the recruitment, nay, conscription: 1 - locals who worked at Christian missions, and, 2, farm labourers working in settler farms, and many of whom worked in or around Thika and Sagana.
#HistoryKeThread: Succeeding Kenyatta
In the second half the 1970s, Mzee’s health began to deteriorate.
In the second half the 1970s, Mzee’s health began to deteriorate.
Thus the matter of his succession took centre stage.
There emerged a group of powerful individuals who, opposed to Vice President Daniel arap Moi taking over the reins of leadership from President Jomo Kenyatta, called on the Constitution to be amended.
There emerged a group of powerful individuals who, opposed to Vice President Daniel arap Moi taking over the reins of leadership from President Jomo Kenyatta, called on the Constitution to be amended.
The media referred to the clamour by this group, which comprised of powerful leaders from Kiambu, as the Change-The-Constitution movement.
#HistoryKeThread: Mwangeka’s Blood
This first pic is of a view taken from high up in the Taita Hills.
This first pic is of a view taken from high up in the Taita Hills.
In the late 19th century, Mekatilili’s Giriama were not the only community from present-day Coast province that rose against imposition of white rule by gun-toting Europeans. The Taita of Mwanda, too, did.
At that time, the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) was the vessel through which Britain asserted its dominion over what would later become Kenya.
#HistoryKeThread: Kieleweke and Tangatanga Of The 1970s
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Kenya’s politics often have revolved around alliances and personalities.
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Kenya’s politics often have revolved around alliances and personalities.
In the late 1970s, when it was felt that President Jomo Kenyatta was aging and would leave the scene anytime, there were Kieleweke and Tangatanga movements.
Well, sort of.
Well, sort of.
There was a “Change The Constitution” faction whose leaders were powerful members of both KANU, the ruling party, and GEMA - the central Kenya tribal alliance that was the Gîkûyû, Embu and Meru Association.
#HistoryKEThread: Is History About To SAP Us Again?
In 1963, after more than a decade’s episode of violent struggle for freedom, Kenya attained her independence.
Then in 1991, roughly 28 years later, Kenya momentarily lost her independence.
Technically, somewhat.
In 1963, after more than a decade’s episode of violent struggle for freedom, Kenya attained her independence.
Then in 1991, roughly 28 years later, Kenya momentarily lost her independence.
Technically, somewhat.
The circumstances in 1991 and those of today were similar. The one thing Kenya didn’t suffer from in the 1990s was the effects of a worldwide pandemic. Otherwise, history is repeating itself.
Interestingly, 2020 is 29 years after 1991. And Kenya, the growing cacophony of “BBI” and “referendum” notwithstanding, is again about to lose her independence.
Technically, somewhat.
Technically, somewhat.
#HistoryKeThread: The Man Who Built Chiromo
Once there lived a man in Kenya - a man born to break rules. And norms. And records.
Once there lived a man in Kenya - a man born to break rules. And norms. And records.
He was as daring as he was rebellious to authority. Yes, a bully even.
His name was Ewart Scott Grogan, the 14th of 21 children of William Grogan.
His name was Ewart Scott Grogan, the 14th of 21 children of William Grogan.
One morning in March 1907, Grogan severely flogged three of his black servants - one of whom died of his injuries - outside the Nairobi courthouse for subjecting his visitors to a rough rickshaw ride.
#HistoryKeThread The Northern Frontier District
The above words were uttered in 1960 by Ahmed Farah, a member of the LegCo in Kenya, representing the Somali community.
Farah went on to claim that Somalis and other Muslims from Kenya’s north would “defect” to Somalia while the non-Muslim northerners would immigrate to Ethiopia.
