what jomo told moi about uhuru kenyatta
TRANSCRIPT
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What Jomo Told Moi About Uhuru
By Chris Kumekucha
WhatWhatWhatWhatWhatJomo ToldJomo ToldJomo ToldJomo ToldJomo ToldMoi AboutMoi AboutMoi AboutMoi AboutMoi About
UhuruUhuruUhuruUhuruUhuru
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What Jomo Told Moi About Uhuru
DEDICATION
To my dear generous understanding raw notes subscribers
who have financed the research and writing of this book. I
greatly value each and every one of you. I salute you!!!
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What Jomo Told Moi About Uhuru
IntroductionAsk anybody the story of founding father Jomo Kenyatta and
you will almost certainly hear the same old mostly fictional
version of his life story.
It goes something like this;
The old man fought for independence and used the Mau Mau
for an armed struggle. He was jailed by the colonialists for
being part of the terrorist Mau mau but finally came out of jail
and victoriously led Kenya to independence.
This is pretty far from the truth but it is what is being taught to
our kids in school now, even as you read this. Amazing how
Jomo Kenyattas handlers did such a brilliant job of re-writing
history and today nobody wants the facts to get in the way ofthis romantic lies and fairy tale that is firmly in our history
books, probably forever.
When you do not know the real Jomo Kenyattas story the very
idea of him having told then Vice President Moi anything
about his son Uhuru will sound extremely far fetched. To start
with what would have been the possible motive?
And so in this book we shall start by telling the real Jomo
Kenyatta story. This is the only way that everything will make
sense.
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It is no accident that there are so many uncanny similarities
surrounding the way both father and son ascended to the
presidency of the republic of Kenya.
Amazingly when you know Jomos real story everything falls
into place and even the actions of certain individuals close to
Uhuru Kenyatta over the years begins to make so much
sense.
Indeed you will also be able to read Uhuru like a book and
anticipate most of his moves.
And so I kindly urge you to be patient as I start this story where
every story should begin at the beginning.
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One of the earliest photographs taken of Johnstone Kamau(Jomo Kenyatta) when he was a acrpentry apprentice. He was
about 20 years old and had just received a basic education.
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Chapter One
Orphaned at
a tender ageJomo Kenyatta was born to Muigai wa Ngengi and his wife
Wambui at Ngenda village, Gatundu Division, Kiambu in
extremely poverty stricken surroundings. Both his parents
were illiterate as was the norm in those days (especiallyamongst the Kikuyu who were seen as a serious threat to the
colonialists). His true date of birth is therefore not known for
sure but Jomo later estimated that he must have been born
around 1889. At birth he was given the name Kamau.
We are shaped for life by what happens in our first few crucial
formative years on earth and it is therefore worth taking careful
note of an extremely traumatic event that took place when
young Kamau (later to be known as Jomo) was barely 7 years
old. His father and the sole breadwinner of the family suddenly
died. Again it is estimated that this took place around 1896.
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As was the custom in those days a widow would be inherited
by a brother of her deceased husband or another close
relative. Wambui must have been an extremely attractive and
hot woman because Muigais younger brother did not waste
any time in inheriting her. The union was fruitful within the first
few months and Wambui was soon heavy with child after a
dry spell of 7 long barren years with her late husband. Lonely
Kamau was going to finally have a younger sibling. But
tragedy struck yet again and this time it was even more
devastating for young Kamau. His mother Wambui diedshortly after delivering a son.
It is not clear why this event was followed his step father/uncle
abandoning the two youngsters or at the very least he did not
fully fend for them anymore. Young Kamau at that tender age
was therefore forced to take the responsibility of looking after
his young step brother and at times even fending for him.
It was at this time that he made the decision to move to
Muthiga where his rather famous grandfather lived. The nameof his grandfather and the main character in this story was
Kungu Wa Magana and he was the most famous medicine
man of his time making many astounding predictions and
successfully treating all manner of serious diseases. He was
consulted by clients from far and wide.
For the first time in his young life, Kamau not only had a stable
and happy home to live in but also experienced immense
exposure as he daily came into contact with all kinds of
people who came calling on Magana with their problems.
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Magana is said to have loved young Kamau dearly beyond the
normal love a grandfather has for their grand child. But there
was something more than that which he would impart to the
young child. Fairly early on he revealed to the youngster that
he was very special and would one day become a very
famous leader, greater than even Magana himself. Leadership
was not only in him but in his seed as well, Magana repeatedly
told him. This is what was to drive Kamaus life until his death
albeit with a lot f frustration and suffering because he seemed
to aspire to something that was unreachable. Maganas
influence also caused him to take great interest in the culture
and customs of his people from an early age. Kamau assisted
Magana in sourcing and preparing herbs for the treatment of
patients amongst other duties. This was Kamaus earliest
education and would have a major impact on the youngsters
life even as he travelled far and wide across the globe later in
life. Unlike many of his compatriots he never abandoned his
roots and culture.
By the time Magana died he had deeply imprinted in theyoung mans mind the prophecy that he was destined for
greater things and would be a great leader one day.
At the age of about 20 years the young illiterate Kamau
decided that he needed the White mans education after all so
as to increase his earning prospects. And so he made his way
to the church of Scotland Mission at Thogoto (which still
stands today and is right next to the PCEA Kikuyu hospital not
far from Alliance Boys School).
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It is said that the missionaries found Kamau extremely
intelligent and able to quickly grasp what he was taught. He
studied amongst other subjects: the Bible, English,
mathematics, and carpentry. The education was not free and
Kamau had to also learn how to work as a houseboy/cook for
a white settler living nearby. By 1912 (just 3 years later) he had
obtained a fairly good basic education and became an
apprentice carpenter.
Actually he first worked as an apprentice carpenter on a sisal
farm in Thika, under the tutelage of John Cook, who had been
in charge of the building program at Thogoto and had
befriended Kamau. It was Cook again who would be
instrumental a few years later in getting him a very prestigious
job in those days as a water meter reader for the Nairobi City
Council.
But back to 1914 and again his life was disrupted by events
beyond his control and his carpentry career was cut short by
the First World War. The colonial administration startedforcefully enlisting Africans into the war effort. And so to avoid
this Kamau fled into the land of the Masai and got a job as a
clerk for an Asian trader in Narok close to where he first
started living with some relatives. He lived and worked there
until the end of the war in 1918.
He married Grace Wahu in 1920 and together they had two
children, Peter Muigai and Margaret Wambui who went on to
be the first African woman mayor of Nairobi after
independence.
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Kamau photographed with his very first son Muigai
with the motorbike he used at work to read water
meters. This photo was taken around 1923
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In 1922 Kamau began working, as a store clerk and water-
meter reader for the Nairobi Municipal Council Public Works
Department, once again under John Cook who had recently
been appointed the Water Superintendent. Meter reading
helped him meet many Kenyan-Asians at their homes who
would become important allies later on. It was an Asian press
that printed his political newspaper some years later.
Kamau worked at the Nairobi City Council water department
between 1921-26 on a salary of about Kenya shillings 250.00per month, a small fortune in those days and even had a
motorbike to move around with in the course of his work which
was a very big deal for an African.
Though by this time Kamau owned a small shamba (farm) and
a house at Dagoretti, he preferred to live closer to town at
Kilimani in a hut and cycled home during weekends.
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Chapter Two
Frustrations of
waiting for the
Magana prophecyPatterns in Kamaus life suggest that he never forgot the
Magana prophecy over his life. Indeed he made every effort to
get involved in some kind of leadership position in an effort to
assist the prophecy to come to pass as quickly as possible.
But alas the years rolled on and although he soldiered on in all
likelihood he continuously despaired as he rapidly aged with
no sign in the horizon that he was ever going to be the great
leader that Magana had talked about so often. Even his faith
in the fact that it is said that Magana prophecys never failed
must have been severely tested.
Kamau had stopped taking alcohol in 1920 (when he was
already 31 years old and announced his decision before
witnesses. Actually he was accused by the church led by his
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close friend John Cook of two sinful crimes, namely marrying
without Church rites and drinking liquor. He pleaded guilty to
both sins and solemnly promised to reform. He was further
ordered to get married before a European magistrate. The
strict church then finally accepted him back in 1923 (after
about 3 years of carefully observing him) and in being
accepted back at a ceremony Kamau promised (before
witnesses) to refrain from liquor for the rest of his life.
It would appear that his life looked up considerably after he
stopped taking alcohol. For instance he turned part of his
Dagoretti home into a provision shop which he called Kinyata
Store and is said to have been fairly successful with that. Then
in 1922 he went on to secure his famous job at Shs 250 per
month working as stores clerk and water meter reader with
Nairobi Municipal Council where John Cook his protg at the
church was Water Superintendent. The colonials profiled all
Kikuyus as thieves and murderers in those days and this
prevented many of them from securing jobs that required
trustworthy people like a stores clerk or meter readers. And soKamau was extremely fortunate to have secured his
prestigious job. There is little doubt that the only reason he got
this opportunity was because of the influence with John Cook
and his link with the church at Thogoto for a long time.
Years later when Jomo became president there was a mood
of constant celebration in the corridors of power more so in
the early months. More like the ancient court of Kings where
every day was a day of celebration and entertainment.
Kenyatta loved traditional dances and alcoholic drinks flowed
freely from the State House bar to the kitchen cabinet and their
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regular visitors. Kenyatta loved to trade stories with his
brother-in-law Mbiyu Koinange (brother to his third wife Grace
Wanjiku who died while giving birth in 1950) about the good
old days when they were younger. The younger members of
the inner cabinet would sit around listening attentively.
So clearly somewhere along the line Jomo had started
drinking again.
But back to the 1920s. Kamau also built a house at Dagorettiin the same year (1922). He then went on to make his debut in
politics by becoming a member of the Kikuyu Central
Association in that same year.
Interestingly the meter-reading job gave him considerably
influence and contacts and he met many Asians who would
later be key allies and supporters including the owner of the
printing press who went on to print his newspaper,
Mwigwithania.
With this kind of background it is not surprising that in many
recorded speeches Kamau gave over the years before his
incarceration in 1952, he spoke out very strongly against the
taking of alcohol and its impact on development.
When Kamau started taking interest in the political activities of
the Kikuyu Central Association its leaders were James
Beauttah and Joseph Kangethe. By 1926, he was the
secretary of the KCA (mainly due to his education at a time
when most were illiterate). He was also chosen to represent
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the Kikuyu land problems before the Hilton Young
Commission in Nairobi.
Publication of his Gikuyu weekly newspaper, Muigwithania
which mainly focused on the Kikuyu culture and new farming
methods commenced in 1928.
In 1929 a once in a lifetime opportunity presented itself for
Kamau. The Kikuyu Central Association sent him to England
to influence British opinion on tribal land in Kenya. It was his
first trip out of the country and he went by ship on a sea
journey that lasted weeks.
Posed photograph by a UK photographer for his book Facing
Mount Kenya.The book was above everything else a desperate
effort to revive his financial fortunes but never really sold well
until years later when he became president.
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After touring some parts of Europe, including Russia in 1930,
Kamau briefly returned to Kenya before leaving the country
again in 1931. He was destined to stay abroad for 15 long
years. This time he went to present a written petition to
parliament in England. It is also during this time that he met
Indias Mahatma Gandhi in November 1932. After giving
evidence before the Morris Carter Commission, he
proceeded to Moscow to study Economics at the invitation of
George Padmore, a radical West Indian. He was forced toreturn to Britain by 1933 when Padmore fell out with the
Russians and Kamau then lived in the United Kingdom for
many years working as a gardener.
But the brief visit to Russian and the fact that he briefly joined
a British communists organization in the UK (out of frustration
when the petitions he was sent to deliver on land issues bore
no fruit) were to haunt him for years as the local settler
government back home dubbed him a communist and it was
this mis-trust that partly drove the tramped up charges that ledto the Kapenguria trial and his jail sentence.
While in the UK Kamau taught Gikuyu at the University
College, London and also wrote a book on the Kikuyu
language in 1937. Under Professor Malinowski, he went on to
study Anthropology at the famous London School of
Economics (LSE). In 1938, he published his famous book
Facing Mount Kenya.
It was also during this period that he married Edna Clarke who
is said to have been a maid in the same house where he
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regularly worked as a gardener. Edna ended up being the
mother of his son, Peter Magana who was born in 1942. It is
instructive that he named his son in such a far away land after
his witchdoctor grandfather. Clearly he had not forgotten the
old man even as his sensational prophecy stubbornly
remained unfulfilled.
Edna Clarke jetted into the country shortly after Jomo became
President to be briefly reunited with her husband. She was
warmly received at the airport by Mama Ngina Kenyatta (his
fourth wife) and Margaret Kenyatta his daughter. Seen here
dancing with the president.Her visit was fully financed by the
government of Kenya.
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When he returned to Kenya in 1946, he married Wanjiku,
Senior Chief Koinanges daughter and sister to Mbiyu
Koinange. In 1947, he took over the leadership of KAU from
James Gichuru.
On October 20, 1952, Sir Evelyn, Baring, newly appointed
Governor of Kenya, declared a state of emergency in the
country. Jomo Kenyatta and other prominent leaders were
arrested. He was tried at Kapenguria on April 8, 1953 for
managing Mau Mau. He was then sentenced to 7 years inprison with hard labor and to indefinite restriction thereafter.
On April 14, 1959, Jomo Kenyatta completed his sentence at
Lokitaung but remained in restriction at Lodwar. Later, he was
moved to Maralal, where he remained until August 1961. It
was in Maralal that his first son with his fourth wife Ngina
Muhoho was conceived. That son was Uhuru Muigai.
On August 14, 1961, Kamau (by now widely known as Jomo
Kenyatta) was allowed to return to his Gatundu home. On
August 21, 1961, nine years after his arrest, he was freed
from all restrictions.
What Violent struggle?===================
The early 50s were a time of unprecedented turmoil and
violence in Kenya. The wind of change that was sweeping
across much of Africa did not spare this previously peaceful
terrain. Many people even at the time suspected quite rightly
that these were the birth pangs prior to the birth of a new
order, a different Kenya, and this included those who did not
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want to imagine in their worst nightmare of a government run
by the natives as they called them.
Violent struggle has happened in Kenya many times through
its short history but it has never worked out too well or even
proved to be that effective. The events that took place at
around the time of the state of emergency being declared in
1952 saw many Kenyans lose their lives but the uprising was
successfully defeated by the Colonial government and the
country went back to life as it was before the troubles. It must
Famous photo of Dedan Kimathi captured and in pain afterbeing wounded by gun shot wounds to the feet but still in
handcuffs. He was caught after being betrayed by one of hisown. Kimathi had been a gallant soldier for the British during
the second world war. He sent several death threats to JomoKenyatta whom he considered too moderate and a collaboratorwith the Colonialists. Kenyan history gives the false impression
that Jomo Kenyatta was part of Mau Mau.
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have been really sad because it looked like all those who had
died had died in vain. Probably the most dramatic death at the
time was the hanging of Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi at
Kamiti Maximum security prison. Ironically he had been caught
because he was betrayed by one of his own. More recently the
saba saba riots that hit the country during the 1990s clamour
for multipartyism were quickly crashed by Moi security forces.
In both cases the deaths served to attract more attention from
the International community who exerted more pressure for the
change that inevitably came. Thank God that all those gallantpatriotic Kenyans did not die in vain.
Still the vast majority of Kenyans cling onto the mirage that our
independence was won from a violent freedom struggle. Very
romantic but unfortunately it is NOT quite true. Yes the gallant
Mau Mau warriors spread terror in everybody. Indeed they
even inspired others in far away lands most notably Nelson
Mandela in South Africa and this led to the formation of the
armed wing of the ANC, the dreaded Umkonto We Sizwe
(spear of the Nation). In fact the influence of the Mau mau
spread as far away as to the streets of New York where atleast one
notoriously violent street gang called itself the Mau Maus.
But back home in Kenya it was ineffective in winning
independence for the country. The Mau mau uprising reached
its height in 1952 and was quickly crushed. Mainly because it
was about one tribes fight for their land rights. Actually the
Kikuyu were joined by a handful of other neighbouring tribes
like the Merus but the truth is that it was not a widespread
popular movement as some people would have us believe. Bythat time the leader of the Mau mau, Dedan Kimathi faced the
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gallows at Kamiti prison on February 18th 1957, the Kikuyu
uprising had been well and truly defeated.
The statistics of the Mau mau struggle casualties are even
more
emphatic in illustrating this point. The Mau Mau rebels killed
over two thousand African Kenyan civilians, but killed only 32
European settlers and fewer than 200 British soldiers during
the 8 years of the uprising. The British in turn killed 20,000
Mau Mau rebels in combat, hanged over 1000 suspected MauMau supporters, and interned more than 70,000 Kikuyu
civilians for years in brutal detention camps on suspicion of
having provided material support for the uprising. Actually
some researchers say that the true number of Kikuyus who
were held or detained during that period was closer to one
million.
Contrary to what the history books say, the man who was to
later become Kenyas first President Jomo Kenyatta always
had a frosty relationship with the Mau mau. In fact the Mau
mau threatened his life on several occasions mainly becauseof his moderate ways which positioned him as a collaborator
in their eyes. It was rather ironic that Jomo ended up on trial
trying to prove to a compromised court his innocence in NOT
being involved with the Mau mau. Kenyatta was not only
accused
of being a member but of being one of its leaders. The only
word that could come close to describing such an allegation
against Kenyatta is preposterous! If the charges had not been
that serious, even Jomo himself would have found that charge
a big joke.
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The chief witness in that sham of a trial Rawson Macharia
admitted only in recent years that he had been bribed into
giving false evidence against Jomo.
Admittedly secret movements are prone to this kind of thing
where it becomes easy for wild allegations to be made to
stick. Try and think of the dreaded Mungiki terror group today.
If some stranger were to be suddenly accused of being its
leader, it would be difficult for anybody to discount orchallenge it.
For all intents and purposes the facts clearly tell us that
Jomos violent struggle for independence is pure fiction and
just part of his carefully crafted political persona. Even if you
ignore all the other evidence of this surely his marriage of
Colonial Chiefs daughters, his post independence Kikuyu
allies mainly being former colonial collaborators, and his
shoddy treatment of former Mau Mau fighters after he came to
power, all strongly suggest he had scant regard for the Mau
Mau.
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Chapter 3
Things get worse for
Jomo instead ofleadership he ends
up as a jail birdWhat had built up such hatred towards Kenyatta amongst
some very powerful people in the colonial government?
What caused the people famous for fair play to frame an
innocent moderate who was not even recognized by his own
people as a leader?
One clue can be found in the fact that Kenyatta firmly believed
in tradition and African customs like female circumcision. This
disgusted many in the colonial administration and may have
been the reason why he became such a marked man for
nothing, whatever he did or said. His short visit and stay in
Russia and brief infatuation with communists in the UK just
made things worse.
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Jomo Kenyatta with the rest of the Kapenguria six. TOP duringthe trial. BOTOM shortly before sentencing. He was jailed fortrumped up charges; the lowest moment of his life. Paul Ngei
on Kenyattas right (top photo) is said to have saved Jomos life
in prison. The gesture was never forgotten and he was alwaysappointed in Jomos cabinets.
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It is recorded that Kenyatta took part in a public debate in the
UK conducted in the Kikuyu language in 1935 over the issue
of female circumcision (the irua of girls). This is extremely
instructive because Kenyatta passionately argued in favour of
the brutal custom being retained against Louis Leakey who
had lived amongst the Kikuyu in Kenya for years and spoke
their language fluently. This no doubt disgusted the local white
settlers who heard about the fascinating debate and was to
them a confirmation of what they saw as the evil in this man.
And so as Jomo went off to jail the lowest moment in his life
had arrived. There was no way he would have known that the
famous Kapenguria trial would magically lift his status to that
of a national leader. He would not have imagined even for a
second that it was a key step towards the fulfillment of a
prophecy that had haunted him all his life.
Instead Jomo would have been puzzled and extremely
frustrated at what Magana had told him so many years earlier.
If he ever cursed Maganas memory this would have been a
good time to do so because everything had gone so horribly
wrong. Who in their right minds was ever going to accept a
leader who was a jail bird?
The settler community were greatly relieved that the Mau mau
uprising was over and Jomo Kenyatta and other
troublemakers were behind bars. Many of them expected
normal life to resume in the British protectorate called Kenya.
It was not to be.
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As Jomo cooled off in prison with hard labour that did not take
into account his now advanced age (he was 63 years old at
the time he started his jail term) the wind of change continued
to sweep across the continent. Independence started coming
to Africans with Ghana gaining self rule in 1957.
Politically in Kenya things started moving at a very fast pace.
Thanks mainly to a kid who emerged from nowhere and whom
nobody had ever heard of before. His name was Tom Mboya.
Starting out in the Trade Union movement, Mboyas
organizational skills were immediately evident, more so under
the very difficult conditions of the time. From a disorganized
almost non-existent movement Mboya ultimately changed the
face of trade unionism at the time within a very short time. He
increased membership dramatically and introduced effective
representation for the first time for many downtrodden,
mistreated African workers at the time.
It was within the trade unions that he developed his public
speaking skills and confirmed his amazing organizationalskills that were to serve him well in his political career.
The state of emergency had been declared in 1952. It
remained in 1957 long after the colonial administration had
ruthlessly clamped down on the Mau Mau, basically a group
that was fighting for the return of their land taken over by
European settlers (and not independence as is widely
claimed).
In fact by 1957 when elections were held that would see thefirst 8 Africans join Legco (the Legislative council or
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parliament of the time), members of the Gikuyu, Embu and
Meru tribes were not allowed to take part in any political
association unless they obtained a loyalty certificate. These
were the communities that had been most active in mau mau
and the fight for their ancestral land to be given back.
What is important here is not the way Mboya brilliantly beat an
older, married and much more famous man in lawyer Arwings
Khodhek for the Nairobi seat, or the fact that most of the
voters were from the Kikuyu tribe and still shunned their ownMunyua Waiyaki, who was also in the race, for Mboya. It was
mainly that the youngest politician was able to quickly send a
telegraph to each of the other 7 African elected leaders as the
results came in. Nairobi as always was announced first but the
other territories took time.
The only two names of the other elected leaders in March
1957 that will make sense to most Kenyans today are those of
Daniel Arap Moi (Rift Valley) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
(Raila Odingas father) who was elected in Central Nyanza
In his congratulatory telegram, Mboya invited them all to a
meeting in Nairobi. This single act did more than anything else
to bring independence to Kenya, for a simple reason. The 8
leaders were able to map out a strategy on their approach in
the Legco that would see them reject the two 3,500 sterling
pounds a year ministerial post offers, an absolute fortune in
those days. Thanks to Mboya and despite endless difficulties,
the 8 remained united and speaking in one voice (at least
most of the time) and that is how Kenya surprised the world
and got its independence so quickly despite an entrenched
white settler community.
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One of the first things that the newly elected African leaders
asked for was more representation in Legco, since Africans
were the majority in the country anyway. They asked for
another 15 elected members in Legco.
Right up to independence the brains behind the African
leaders strategy was Tom Mboya. In 1957, when Mboya was
first elected into Legco, he was only 27 years old. Imagine a
youngster, not yet 30 leading the fight for independence?
Naturally some people did not take it kindly. In fact some
people within the 8 African leaders in Legco were naturally
very jealous and incensed of the young man. Mboyas
biographer David Goldsworthy paints a perfect picture of the
situation then. He clearly points out in his book Tom Mboya
the man Kenya wanted to forget that Mboya was young
ambitious, brilliant and proud and yet the likes of Oginga
Odinga who hailed from the same tribe was continuously
being upstaged and outsmarted by the youngster. The older
man felt that he deserved some respect from the youngster.
Coming out of the London constitutional conference of 1960,
as Mboya made the cover of Time, it was clear in the eyes of
many that this youngster (just 30 then) was the front runner to
be the first President of Kenya. Jomo Kenyatta was still
languishing in jail and completely forgotten. This is what a
leading British newspaper had to say about Mboya and
Kenyatta at the time.
As a thoroughly modern African, Mboya is often compared
with Jomo Kenyatta. Even those who consider Kenyata
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guiltless of any connection with Mau mau have noted that he
(Kenyatta) passionately defended some irrational beliefs of
the Kikuyu tribe. He justified female circumcision in his book,
Facing Mount Kenya. But Mboya has no respect for any of
the traditions of tribalism.
Then Odinga struck against Mboya. He issued a statement to
the press saying that the African leaders wanted the release of
Kenyatta before independence. Rather than having a love for
Kenyatta, this statement was a political move targeted directlyat Mboya. As an African leader representing cosmopolitan
Nairobi, the majority of his votes came from the Kikuyu.
Mboya knew that any statement that was vaguely not in sync
with that of Odinga on Kenyatta would be political suicide for
him.
So to cut a long story short, Kenyas first president (and all
other presidents after him to date) ended up being a
compromise candidate. And he ended up as the first leader of
independent Kenya just like that.
After years of struggle and nothing to show for it, leadership
was in the end handed over as a gift to Jomo on a silver
platter because of a jealous old man called Odinga Oginga
who could not bear seeing the proud youngster who was a
fellow tribesmate ascend to the presidency at his expense. He
rather preferred another old man, somebody closer to his age.
Was it luck or fate or destiny? The answer to that question
depends on your beliefs.
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On October 28, 1961, Kenyatta became the President of the
Kenya African National Union and a month later he headed a
KANU delegation to London for talks to prepare the way for
the Lancaster House Conference.
On June 1, 1963, Mzee Kenyatta became the first Prime
Minister of self-governing Kenya. At midnight on December
12, 1963, at Uhuru Stadium, amid world leaders andmultitudes of wildly cheering Kenyans, a new nation was born
and a year later, on December 12, 1964, Kenya became a
republic with Kenyatta as the President.
And so the ridiculous words of Kungu Wa Magana had
spoken to the young desperate, shivering and confused
orphan who landed at his door one day came to pass a full 67
years later. By this time that young shivering orphan was 74
years old and had been to hell and back. A true prophecy is
something that is spoken when there is absolutely nothing
including no sign to suggest that it will ever come to pass.Maganas words had passed that test. But a part of the great
Maganas prophecy remained unfulfilled it would have to tarry
for a few more decades.
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Moi of KADU visiting Kenyatta (KANU) in Lodwar in his
capacity as a LEGCO member
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Chapter Four
Jomo in a dazeIf you get an opportunity to review old video clips and
photographs of Jomo Kenyatta between 1961 and 1964 you
will not fail to notice one distinct factor. He appeared to be in a
daze.
When he was receiving the instruments of power on June
1963, Kenyatta still looked dazed and unbelieving. Like hewanted to pinch himself to be convinced that he was not
dreaming and that all these wonderful things that were
suddenly happening to him after years of struggle and very
hard times which had been set off by false accusations
against him in 1952 that put him in jail were real. Kenyattas
words on that day perfectly capture the mood and his personal
feelings. He did not start by saying that it was a great day for
Kenyans. Instead he said;
Today is the happiest day of my life.
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With the information you have so far on his life this was a
rather predictable utterance. It is also hardly surprising that he
seemed to feel that he was in some kind of dream that he was
bound to wake up from at any time. There is no denying that
his is a fairy tale that is more spectacular than fiction.
He must have thought a lot about Magana then. Naturally his
words which for many years looked impossible had come to
pass. There is also no doubt that he must have thought about
the second part of Maganas prophecy which talked about his
seed.
His other children were old now and he must have envisaged
being president of Kenya for many years to come and so his
focus would have had to be on his first born son from his fourth
and last wife Ngina Muhoho.
Today is the happiest day of my life
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There are also unconfirmed reports I have received that there
were certain signs at the birth of Uhuru that confirmed to the
old man that Uhuru was the one. Although I am yet to verify this
one, it would not be at all surprising if this wild claim were true
considering that Kenyas first president was brought up by a
witchdoctor.
With this kind of background it becomes easy to explain the
old mans behavior towards Uhuru. Right from the moment he
was born, efforts were made to groom him to take over theleadership of the country one day. As the youngster grew
Jomo kept him close and even involved him in state functions
as much as possible. It would have not been politically wise to
broadcast his thinking to many but a careful observation of all
that he did will make his motives crystal clear even to the most
doubting.
One particular saga brings everything to the fore rather
dramatically and it took place in 1976. A group of politicians
mainly from Kiambu and with strong backing from Jomos
kitchen cabinet emerged and started holding rallies
countrywide in an effort to change the constitution and block
the Vice President Daniel arap Moi from ascending to the
presidency in event of Jomos death.
It is important to note that to the group this was just the last
finer detail in their plans for the Kenyan presidency. There had
been widespread oath-taking going on for years. The oath
was to get the loyalty of every senior government official and
anybody in the corridors of power to swear allegiance and
loyalty to the government of President Jomo Kenyatta.
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Cleverly added to the words of the oath was that the
presidency would never cross the river Chania. That river is
the border between the Kiambu Kikuyus and the Kikuyus from
Nyeri. Their bitter rivalry had played out all through the
Kenyatta presidency. Nyeri had never been strong backers of
Jomo right from the colonial days. Nyeri was the home of the
dreaded Mau mau and they considered Jomo a cowardly
collaborator What irked the Nyerians even more was the fact
that although they had made all the sacrifices in fighting the
colonials albeit with their selfish land interests being the main
Jomo
Kenyatta in
1967
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motive, at independence it was the Kiambu Kikuyus sons of
home guards and collaborators to the colonialists who had
taken over power.
Those added words to the oath of allegiance being taken at
the time must therefore be viewed in that context.
Also those who surrounded Jomo knew that he drifted in an
out of comas and could pass on at any time. They therefore
had all their plans carefully laid out. They would be the first toknow when Jomo inevitably died and they would take over the
presidency easily.
Therefore the change the constitution campaign was just a
small cog in the almost complete wheel that would ensure that
the presidency remained with the Kiambu mafia at all costs. In
any event Moi was not seen as a threat to anybody and any
idea that he would outsmart the Kiambu mafia and end up as
president after Kenyattas death was laughable. But destiny
had other ideas.
However for the purposes of this chapter I would like to remain
focused on what Kenyattas reaction was to the campaign and
the reason why.
For starters it should be noted that the Kiambu mafia were in
such control of the presidency that they regularly forged Jomo
Kenyattas signature on various documents and even
important national orders and appointments. They literally
ruled the country as Jomo was clearly preparing to meet with
his maker.
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Those who were around him at the time report that sometimesthe presidents mind would be hazy but occasionally his old
sharp self would re-emerge and he would do things that would
astound everybody.
Let us take a look at one fascinating example of how Jomos
wisdom won the day without him having to embarrass or
disappoint those who surrounded him whom he no doubt
loved to have around.
A senior police officer in the traffic department going by the
name of James Mageria impounded some matatus in what
Jomo
Kenyatta in
1969
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would have been an otherwise normal police operation.
Suddenly all hell broke lose as he started receiving frantic
phone calls warning him to release the matatus immediately
or face dire consequences. Apparently the vehicles were
linked in some way to a member of the Kiambu mafia. Dont
look so surprised, there were not many other businesses to go
into, in those early days after you had grabbed all the land and
property you could find.
This brave officer stuck to his guns and went ahead and
prepared and processed charges against the vehicles and
their owner.
Finally this brave officer (hes still alive today and a
businessman in Nairobi) received summons to go to State
House Nakuru. It was very clear to him who wanted to see him.
It was highly unlikely that it was one of the junior security
personnel at State House Nakuru who wanted to have a word
with him. He had been summoned by the president of the
republic of Kenya.
Mageria arrived at State House Nakuru and was ushered into
a waiting room where he waited for what seemed to be
forever. Finally he was ushered in to see President Kenyatta.
What is your name? the old man boomed.
Mageria, sir, the jittery police officer replied, seating
profusely wondering what would happen to him.
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The president burst out into laughter. It is not clear what
language this conversation was carried out in, but in the
Kikuyu language the name Mageria roughly translated into
English means to provoke or to try somebodys patience it
also means trials and tribulations.
Was Mageria trying to provoke The President of Kenya? That
was the implication and probably the reason why the old man
was so amused. He saw the funny side in the whole incident.(A study of the old mans fascination with names and their
meanings should be done by somebody. For instance, for
years he refused to address a famous Kenyan runner by his
second name. The runner (still alive today) was the pioneer
legendary Kipchoge Keino. In the Kikuyu language his name
means the most sensitive private body part of a woman.)
After a hearty laugh that continued for what seemed like
forever and brought tears to the eyes of the President, as poor
Mageria had no idea what would happen next, the old man
dismissed him with the words; You are doing a good job,Mageria.
That was the charisma of Kenyas first President that
sometimes causes people to forget his other side and just
how ruthless and cold-blooded he could be.
This story has a happy ending for somebody who stuck to their
guns despite name dropping and intimidation and did their
job. Of course it leaves many questions. Was Kenyatta under
so much pressure from his inner circle that an appointment to
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duck vice president the president was sometimes present and
from his reaction they could tell that Mois appointment was a
convenience and Jomo could not be classified as a supporter
of Moi in any way.
There are many incidences that took place at the time that
illustrate this fact beyond any doubt. One in particular stands
out.
There was a provincial police boss called James Mungai who
was the PPO Rift Valley during Kenyatta years and was never
transferred even as others moved all over the place. He was
said to be a relative of Jomo and in any case was extremely
powerful with close links to the Kiambu mafia. One day when
Vice president Moi got back into the country from one of his
numerous foreign trips at the height of the change the
constitution campaign when the plotters were keen on having
Moi resign his position, Mungai decided to embarrass Moi.
He was stopped and searched thoroughly by Mungai and hispolicemen under the pretext that they had received information
that he had come back with guns in the country. The search
for guns involved stripping him naked and searching him the
way prisoners are searched to ensure that they have not stuck
up something in their rear boot.
Moi had been subject to too many embarrassments by the
Kiambu mafia and their hirelings in the past but this one was
too much to stomach and so he went to the president with a
complaint. Jomo listened without interrupting him. There was a
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long silence as Moi waited for the presidents response. It
finally came in the form of a question.
Which ministry does the police fall under? he asked. Moi still
not sure where this was leading replied that it was under the
ministry of Home affairs. Kenyattas next question left no doubt
as to what he was saying.
And who is the minister in charge of that ministry?
Moi was the vice president and minister responsible for home
affairs.
That was the end of that particular discussion. Moi had no
option but to let the great embarrassment pass and move on.
It is interesting that when Kenyatta passed on and it became
clear that Moi would take over the reigns of power James
Mungai fled the country. He was later extradited and briefly
held without charge before Mois big heart forgave him. This
blogger accidentally came across him in Mombasas plushNyali estate about 4 years ago shouting at one of his workers
so loudly that I could hear him from the gate where the
watchman had just told me the mans name and his bitter old
man ways without understanding who he really was. I instantly
recognized him (he has aged rather well) the minute he
stepped out.
And so we are left with the nagging question; If Jomo was not
backing Moi, why then did he NOT give his crucial support to
the change the constitution campaign? Why did he appear to
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go as far as he possibly could to in fact oppose it without
offending his dear Kiambu mafia friends?
The answer can be found from the old mans past. We have
followed his unlikely rise to the presidency through nothing
more than a prophecy spoken during his childhood. In all
likelihood he believed that Maganas word would come to
pass and as dearly as he loved his Kiambu mafia friends who
included his own relatives, he knew that only his own blood
son was destined for the presidency. He had also seen from
his own life that destiny would not be changed and it was not
necessary for him to do anything to ensure that his son was
one day the president of Kenya. It would just happen one day
no matter how long it took.
Gimmicks and schemes like the attempt to change the
constitution were just a waste of time and resources. Just like
he had wasted a lot of time and resources in his own life
fighting to help Maganas prophecy happen when he would
have been better off letting events take their own course.Destiny could not be stopped.
An old Peugeot
404 similar to the
one that brought
Moi to Nairobi in
the boot on
August 23rd 1978
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Chapter 5
Jomos conversation
with Moi on UhuruJomo Kenyatta was not well. In fact if those around him had
been true patriotic selfless Kenyans the right thing to do would
have been to have him step down for the presiency. But alas
ambition and selfishness ruled.
As Jomo drifted between the world of the living and that of the
dead for years there were many times when he spoke things
he would otherwise not have spoken about had his health
been better. Many other times he was incomprehensible and
spoke about his what he had seen on the other side as if he
was already there talking of conversations with people long
dead. Sometimes this happened in the presence of Vice
President Daniel arap Moi.
According to a very knowledgeable source who is still eager
to remain anonymous this is probably how Moi came to first
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learn about the Magana prophecies. He did this directly from
the old man.
Contrary to what some people believe, Jomo did not leave
any specific instructions with Moi concerning Uhuru or his
family. In all likelihood even he did not believe that he would be
succeeded by his long suffering and often bullied Vice
president.
President J. Kenyatta with Uhuru, Kibaki and Moi. Waitingfor the all important signature. That signature was often
forged by members of the Kiambu mafia ondocuments.Incidentally this is also a rare photograph of all
4 presidents of Kenya so far, together.
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But there is one other person who knew the Magana story and
spoke to President Moi many years after the death of Jomo.
First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta naturally knew the whole
story very well and was probably Jomos only confidante in
raising young Uhuru for his pre-destined big job. Her abnormal
devotion to Uhuru and virtually every major decision in his life
(including constant confrontations when he was choosing a
wife) may have been seen by others as the usual devotion an
anxious mother gives to a son. Closer examination howeverraises many questions. The first lady has other children most
notably her second born son who is named after her father,
Muhoho. She also has daughters. None of them have come
close to receiving the attention to detail that Uhuru has.
When Uhuru was in the United States for his university
education his mother would visit often and she would stay at a
nearby hotel sometimes for a month or more. If the issue was
an excuse for a holiday Mama Ngina is immensely wealthy
and would have easily chosen any other more appropriate
destination in the world to go for a holiday. It was no accidentthat she behaved the way she did where Uhuru was
concerned.
Further during the 2002 when Uhuru presented himself as a
candidate for the presidency for the very first time, Mama
Ngina made the unprecedented move of withdrawing vast
amounts from the family kitty for his unsuccessful presidential
campaign. It is a well known fact that Ngina hates politics and
has made a deliberate effort never to get involved in any way.
However where Uhuru is concerned she always had her firm
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instructions, there was no way she was going to abandon her
mission of preparing Kenyas future president for the task
ahead.
It is therefore hardly surprising that today she is without doubt
one of the presidents closest and most powerful advisors
alongside her brother and the presidents uncle (former
President Kenyatta escorting Uhuru (the taller boy) andMuhoho to an aircraft at Mombasa airport. They were flying
back to Nairobi with Mama Ngina (hidden behind Jomo).Kenyas first president had a phobia for flying and never entered
an aircraft in his 15 year rule. Strangely enough he had noproblem with his family flying.
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Catholic priest and also former cabinet Minister in Mois
government) George Muhoho. You can be sure that the
closeness of the duo to the new president will never change
whatever the political circumstances.
The last photograph which will forever elicit more questionsthan answers. Jomo summoned his entire family from all overthe world for a get together in Mombasa State house. This was
August 14th 1978 exactly a week before his death. PeterMagana his son with Edna Clarke is pictured on the presidents
right with his wife standing next to him.
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What Jomo Told Moi About Uhuru
Chapter 6
Destiny at work in
Jomos death?Chances are that you are having major problems taking inJomo Kenyattas superstitious ways and what many people
see as Mumbo Jumbo nonsense. However it is difficult to
argue with the rather strange chain of events that took place
shortly before and then after the death of Kenyas first
president on 22ndAugust 1978.
For starters Jomo had a unique family reunion of all his known
children and their families. On 14 August 1978, he hosted his
entire family, including his son Peter Magana who flew in fromBritain with his family, to a reunion at State House Mombasa.
Why barely a week before his death? Why had such a
gathering never happened before? You may be able to
dismiss this as a mere coincidence but the next bizarre
happening surrounding Mzees death will be much more
difficult to explain away.
President Kenyatta had suffered a heart attack in 1966. He
would in the mid-seventies lapse into periodic comas lasting
from a few hours to a few days from time to time. In April 1977,
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then well into his 80s, he suffered a massive heart attack. With
this kind of privileged information in the hands of the Kiambu
mafia, they knew that the old man would die at any time and
so they had carefully prepared for the inevitable. For starters
the presidents brother in law and close confidante who was
also a key member of the Kiambu mafia Mbiyu Koinange
never left his side.
Koinange was a minister of state in the office of the presidentand the de facto president of Kenya when the real president
was incapacitated. Now on the night that Kenyatta died in
Mombasa, Koinange was away on business in Nairobi. He
had flown out that very evening. That is the first time he was
not at the presidents side in almost 15 years. Just a
coincidence?
Still word leaked out somehow that Kenyatta was dead and
roadblocks were set up (by a crack paramilitary unit called
Ngoroko that had been set up by the Kiambu mafia
specifically for this day and the plan they had in mind) nearNakuru because it was known that Moi was at his farm in
Kabarak. It was critical that Moi got back to Nairobi to
summon a cabinet meeting and for AG Charles Njonjo to
ensure that the constitution was followed to the letter in
transferring power temporarily to the Vice President. Moi
abandoned his official car and instead was bundled into the
boot of a very old Peugeot 404 that he used to use to get
around his farm. That is how he got past a deadly Ngoroko
roadblock and made it back to Nairobi. For those who know
what an old Peugeot 404 looks like, it is a car with a rather
large boot. Still Moi is a very tall man and it must have been
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very uncomfortable travelling most of the way back to Nairobi
inside the dusty boot of that car.
Some nave political analysts discount the Ngoroko story and
the intelligence chief at the time, the late James Kanyotu fed a
President Jomo Kenyattas body lies in State house as people
from all walks of life troop past to pay their last respects.
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Screaming headline of a Daily Nation special edition that cameout late the following morning. No TV stations to break the
news in those days and no popular morning radio shows.Fascinatingly most of the articles for this special editon hadsecretly been written by Nations Philip Ochieng and kept
under lock and key waiting for this day. Had they beendiscovered heads would have rolled because AG Charles Njonjo
had told Kenyans in 1976 that it was treason to even imaginethe death of the president.
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story to the media claiming that he (Kanyotu) had a hand in
assuring that Mbiyu Koinange was not at Kenyattas side on
the night of his death. It is claimed that he was lured away
using some story about a foreign investor wanting to meet him
in Nairobi. The story is compelling but has some glaring loose
ends dangling. For instance it would suggest that Kanyotu
knew exactly when Kenyatta was going to die and put his plan
of action into motion on the exact night. Now that would make
Kanyotu either an assassin or more than a mere mortal,something not even the most gullible Kenyan should buy.
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was buried on 31 August 1978 in
Nairobi in a state funeral at a mausoleum on Parliament
grounds. He was succeeded as President after his death by
the unlikeliest of candidates when you know the facts. Namely
his lame-duck laughing stock vice-president Daniel arap Moi.
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Chapter Seven
Uhuru was always
sure he would be
presidentIn the run up to the 2002 presidential elections then retiring
president Moi shocked the nation when he named Uhuru
Kenyatta as his preferred successor.
The effect was rather predictable and looking back in
retrospect the move broke up the ruling party KANU. The
numerous characters who had been bidding their time in the
wings waiting for their big chance to get a stab at the
presidency were livid that such a youngster rookie would be
preferred to them.
Naturally most of them did not know about the Magana
prophecy and even if they did they wouldnt have cared less.
Uhuru himself made a bet with a female journalist that he
would win the presidency. Those close to the campaign got
the impression that the son of Kenyas first presidency was
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very sure, cockily so, that he would emerge victorious in those
elections. There is little doubt that in his mind what he had
prepared for all his life had finally come.
The defeat he suffered in the hands of Mwai Kibaki was
devastating but he had no doubt been schooled well by his
father about these things and as a result soldiered on and
shortly after those elections hired image and political
consultants mostly from the United Kingdom to help him
prepare for the next elections. Considerable expense wentinto this project only for everything to be abandoned shortly
before the 2007 elections. Uhurus advisors assured him that
he would lose his parliamentary seat if he stuck with Raila
Odingas ODM (Orange Democratic Movement). There was
only one thing for him to do. Ditch the party and flee back to
the safety of his tribe. This was not an easy decision for Uhuru
to make but it was finally made and the national image he had
so carefully crafted at such great expense was thrown out of
the window in a flash.
But there were more setbacks to follow in quick succession.
Uhuru found himself bang in the middle of the post election
troubles of 2007/2008 and in the end was indicted for serious
crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal
Court (ICC) at the Hague.
History was repeating itself and just like his father before him
Uhuru found himself facing criminal charges and it was clear
to him that the stupid prophecy he had been told about had
gone to the dogs.
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Enter William Ruto schemer par excellence and a fellow
suspect in the Hague cases on Kenya. Rutos political star
had been rapidly rising and as a quick learner he never
missed a trick. He saw the opportunity and talked to Uhuru
about his running. Uhuru was not convinced. To him the action
would just cause even more trouble. Reluctantly he
accompanies Ruto on the first few ralies (dubbed prayer
rallies) and was taken aback by the sheer manic support he
seemed to have from the public.
Uhuru had seen nothing like it before and it is believed that it
was at this juncture that he started believing what Ruto had
been telling him all along. In many ways Uhuru owes his being
in State house today to William Ruto. That is one way of
looking at it. The other way is to go back to the 1890s and the
words of one Kungu Magana.
As President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the son of an orphan boy
who made good very late in his life was sworn in as the fourthpresident of Kenya it must have been a proud moment for
Mama Ngina Kenyatta. And no doubt her mind went back to
her husband and the words he spoke to her about Uhuru. No
doubt she remembered how sure he was of himself that it
would come to pass. And yet the challenges she and her son
had gone through ever since Jomo passed on had been
immense. No doubt many times she must have started to
doubt the words of her husband and his constant reference to
an old medicine man who had died long before she was even
born.
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Mama Ngina never speaks to the press and her thoughts were
therefore never captured although everybody wondered about
them because it is not a small thing to have your husband as
president and then to live to see your son president too.
My apologies for this bizarre old wives tale. I appreciate the
fact that most people hardly believe in destiny let alone in
witch doctors and fortune tellers. Many will attribute the
astounding Kenyatta fairy tale to the power of belief in the
mind. When you see something in your mind it is bound to
come to pass.
Others with plenty of experience like this writer will know that
there is too much in this tale for anybody to simply write off
Kungu wa Magana as some conman medicine man playing
on the ignorant superstition of his people.
I leave you to be the judge and trust that above everything else
you have at least enjoyed this bizarre tale which will no doubthelp you to understand our new president and his family a lot
more than you did before.