Thread by @HistoryKE

#HistoryKeThread

In this 1982 pic, Kenyan athletes to the Commonwealth Games mingle with the burly frame of Culture & Social Services Minister Stanley Oloitiptip in Brisbane, Australia. Among them is one of Kenya’s most celebrated middle distance runners, Rose Tata Muya (left).

Way before mathematics professor the late Prof. George Saitoti surfaced on the Kajiado political scene, two colossi dominated politics in that county in post-independence Kenya.

They were the late Oloitiptip, who, according to some sources, was wont to feast on a whole goat by himself, and the late John Keen.

These two however had a frosty relationship between them. Their rivalry began sometime in 1961.

At the time, Keen (pictured) was the Organizing Secretary of KADU - Kenya African Democratic Union, the pro-Majimbo (federal state) party that was formed to rally support of minority tribes in the run up to independence.

Oloitiptip, who was also in KADU, was angered when Keen demanded that all KADU-affiliated tribal organizations be disbanded so the party could devote its efforts towards the attainment of uhuru.

In response, Oloitiptip lodged his protest with KADU’s President Ronald Ngala. He then led his supporters in declaring a vote of no confidence in Keen, who shortly afterwards decamped to KANU, a party that was dominated by members of the Gîkûyû and Luo communities.

Keen would later in 1962 rise to become KANU’s Organising Secretary.

Seen here in 1961 standing behind the late John Osodo and the late Tom Mboya at Ruringu Stadium in Nyeri, John Keen was born in 1929 in Laikipia. He was the son of a German father and Maasai mother.

After studies in Narok, Alliance High School and the United States, Keen returned to Kenya and immediately plunged himself in Kajiado politics. Indeed, he was among KADU delegates like Daniel arap Moi....

...and Ronald Ngala who took part in the Lancaster House talks for Kenya’s independence.

On several occasions, his caustic tongue got him in trouble with the authorities.

In 1967, for example, Keen was detained for criticizing the heads of state of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for doing little to achieve East African federation.

Eight years later, days after the debate in parliament on flamboyant politician J.M. Kariuki’s (pictured) murder, he was sacked as an Assistant Minister.

During the debate, Keen reportedly led furious MPs in castigating the Kenyatta administration over the murder. Speaking from the floor of Parliament during that stormy debate, Keen is reported to have remarked “The hyenas have eaten one of their own”.

In 1978, Keen was at it again, this time accusing powerful individuals of grabbing land in Maasailand, although he himself was accused of assisting his close friends in acquiring land in Ngong division of Kajiado.

At one time, he caused a stir in Maasailand when he tore at members of his own community for their “backward” cultural practices. He urged them to take their kids to school and eschew moranism.

Indignant councilors and prominent leaders from Kajiado charged back at Keen, accusing him of not using his position to “bring development”.

In contrast, Keen’s nemesis, Stanley Oloitiptip, promoted traditional Maasai customs and was hailed for his development initiatives in the district.

When in the mid-1970s Mzee Kenyatta appointed Oloitiptip the first Maasai cabinet minister (responsible for natural resources), Keen kept up his criticism of the burly minister.

In 1976, Keen demanded that Oloitiptip be thrown out of KANU, criticizing plans by the minister to revive a 1960s movement, Maasai United Front (MUF). The Front had been created in the early 1960s to agitate for Maasai land rights and affirmative action...

...in the period before independence. Oloitiptip was its founding Chairman.

Even with Moi as President, the rivalry between Keen and Oloitiptip continued.

The latter was re-appointed into the (Moi) cabinet, managing to shrug off opposition by Keen to win the KANU elections of 1983. Keen wasn’t as lucky, losing his Kajiado North seat to newcomer Phillip Odupoy, an Oloitiptip ally.

1983 was the same year when a little known Professor, George Saitoti, was plucked by Moi from his faculty job at the University of Nairobi, nominated as an MP, and named new Minister for Finance.

But if Saitoti’s Star was on the rise, that of Oloitiptip began dimming. The latter was dropped by Moi from the cabinet.

In late 1983, the Weekly Review Magazine linked the sacking to an alleged plot by Njonjo to overthrow the government of President Moi. The Magazine, citing unnamed sources, said that had the plot succeeded, Oloitiptip would have become Njonjo’s Vice President.

But the so-called “Njonjo Affair” was not the only thing that troubled Oloitiptip.

Weeks after his sacking, the Kajiado politician faced various court charges ranging from beach plot scandals to fraud. Olkejuado County Council, banks and other private businesses were among entities that went after the former minister’s properties.

Interestingly, among members of the Maasai community that helped save Oloitiptip’s properties from being auctioned was John Keen.

Oloitiptip was later arrested, charged in court, detained for a day before he was released on bail. Ahead of full trial, he died of illness in January of 1985.

Oloitiptip’s 13 widows are today battling for control of his vast estate, over 30 years since the politician died.

In late 2016, John Keen also died of illness, aged 86, and was buried at his Namanga ranch.

Photos credit: The Standard, courtesy.

In this other pic, Vice President Mwai Kibaki receives visiting Ethiopian leader Col. Mengistu Hailemariam at Jomo Kenyatta Intl. Airport. He is accompanied by among others, Minister Oloitiptip and Nairobi Mayor Nathan Kahara.

James Osogo, not John Osodo. Pardon typo.