Writing for Kenya

by Wangari Muoria-Sal

  kiheo kiria ahee Agikuyu othe, na undu wa kwandika kabuku gaka.

  Mwene Nyanga agikarathime gathomwo ni ciana cia mumbi handu

  cia ruma nacio mbeca iria ikuma hariko atume igathomithia ciana ciao

  niguo ihane ta Kinyatta, na ituike kiambiria ngwaci nyingi.

  the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta

  257

  (3) Th

  e Home Coming Of Our Great Hero Jomo Kenyatta

  Th

  e purpose of this little pamphlet:

  Th

  is little pamphlet is of great importance to people who think for

  themselves, for its title is ‘Th

  e homecoming of our great hero Jomo

  Kenyatta’. Th

  is homecoming is great because for many days past the

  enemies of our country were preaching to many people that Kenyatta

  would not return, and some even got on their horses and said he would

  not return.15 Even as they mount [their horses] and try to spoil the

  aff airs of this blessed country as far as they can, some others disown

  the name of their nation, until today there is a section of people who,

  when they hear the name of the Gikuyu, shudder16 with hatred.

  Kenyatta’s home coming could therefore be seen as a big victory in

  that kind of war.17 It provides good evidence that no human being can

  ever spoil things blessed by Almighty God.

  Heroes like Kenyatta are the sort of people who are remembered for

  ever and ever. Th

  ose of us now alive have the great good fortune to be

  able to see him with our own eyes.

  Future generations will wish they could have seen him with their

  own eyes or even hear him, or his voice, as we can these days.

  Th

  is little pamphlet has been written so that it may be read by people

  to whom God has given the ability to understand things themselves,

  and by schoolchildren, especially those belonging to the schools the

  Kikuyu have built.18 Th

  is would enable them to appreciate the eff orts

  of one of those who made it possible for such schools to exist in the

  fi rst place.

  [Kenyatta] also made it possible for some Kikuyu tribespeople,

  who may or may not have known the reasons why some lands were

  given back to them, to live on land that they cultivate as theirs. At

  the same time, he made it possible through his protest in Europe for

  some Africans to be selected as representatives of their people in some

  Government bodies.19

  And now, things which he aims to do in the near future are big and

  important. It is worthwhile for people to keep on expecting because

  things have not yet come to an end. We are just on the road but we are

  going, we are caught up in domestic trifl es but are not cast down. Let

  him who is awake be ready to wake those who still sleep. Th

  e writer

  thanks God for enabling him to have all these things pass through his

  eyes, mind, and hands, until they reach you, dear reader, in the man-

  ner you read them now.

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  Ndina ngatho hari mutumia wakwa J. Nyamurua tondu wa kundei-

  thia kwandika maundu maya wega uteithio wake niutumaga mawira

  maingi ma wandiki maria turaruta riu marutike na uhuthu.

  Henry Muoria wa Mwaniki

  Kirangari, 22–10–46

  (4) Uria Amenyekire Ati Nieguka

  Ta kuuga mweri 17–9–46 Kinyatta niahurire thimu e meri iria-ini, aki-

  menyithia muthuri mugathe muno ti George K. Ndegwa ati niagakinya

  Mombasa mweri 23–9–46. Nake Muthuri ti George K. Ndegwa anyita

  thimu io akihura copy nyingi muno akihe andu othe aria moi bata wa

  ruriri na bururi o Kinya agithii we mwene utuku kwa munene wa kiama

  muthuri mutie muno na mumenyeku wega ti Joseph Kang’ethe.

  Kahinda—ini o kau kanini njamba cia ruriri rua Gikuyu ikigomana

  kuuma Nyeri, Embu, Murang’a na Kiambu. Nao makiaria maki-

  iguithaniria ati athuri amwe na atumia matumwo Mombasa magatha-

  ganie njamba ya ruriri ruitu. Nao athuri acio makihaica ngari ya mwaki

  muthenya wa kiumia mweri 22–9–46 thaa ikumi na imwe, naho hau

  giceceni ni hari athuri na atumia na anake aria moimagaririe gikundi

  kiu kia andu acio matumitwo.

  the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta

  259

  His ability to see and listen, his energy to record such events—all

  of which are God’s gift s to him—by writing this pamphlet he will-

  ingly passes them all on as his gift to his fellow countrymen. May the

  Almighty God bless it so that it may be used for the education of their

  children, in the fond hope that some of them will grow from a small

  start to become like Kenyatta himself in their future years, according

  to the traditional saying: ‘A good start brings more sweet potatoes later!

  Or in Kikuyu: ‘Kiambiriria ngwaci nyingi’.

  I also off er many thanks to my wife Judith Nyamurwa for her help

  in arranging the materials for this pamphlet in a better way. Her help

  usually enables me to write well and makes things easier in more ways

  than one.20

  Signed,

  Henry Muoria wa Mwaniki

  Kirangari, 22–10–46

  (4) How it Became Known Th

  at Kenyatta is Coming Home

  On the 17–9–46 Kenyatta sent a telegram when he was still at sea, on

  board ship, which told Mr George K. Ndegwa21 they would be arriving

  at Mombasa on 25–9–46. When Mr George K. Ndegwa received it, he

  produced many copies and arranged to distribute them to all the elders

  who knew the value of their nation and their country. Th

  en he went

  by night to Murang’a, to the home of the former President of the KCA

  Mr Joseph Kang’ethe22 to tell him about it.

  Within a few days, heroes of the country of the Kikuyu met at Nairobi

  from all parts of the country, Nyeri, Embu, Murang’a and Kiambu. Th

  ey

  agreed that some men and women should be sent to Mombasa to meet

  and welcome our nation’s hero on his return home.

  Th

  ose who were selected to go to Mombasa to meet him boarded

  the train at Nairobi station on Sunday 22–9–46 at 5.30 pm in the

  aft ernoon. A large crowd had assembled at the station, to give them

  heart with a good send-off . Th

  e assembled crowd was composed of all

  sorts of people. Young and old, men and women, and they all looked

  happy and cheerful as they waved to those in the departing train. Th

  e

  names of those who were sent to Mombasa to welcome Kenyatta were

  as follows: From Nyeri, Malaki Wachira. From Embu, Wanyiri wa

  Karumbi. From Murang’a, Jessie Kariuki who was vice President of the

  KCA;23 and Mr James Beauttah,24 leader of the whole group who had

  been working for the country for many years from the very beginning

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  Mariitwa ma andu aria matumitwo magathaganie Jomo Kenyatta ni

  maya. Nyeri Malakhi Wacira Embu-Wanyiri wa Karumbi—Muranga—

  Jesse Kariuki Vice President wa K.C.A. Muthuri mugathe ti James

  Beautah uria urutite wira wa bururi kuuma o kiambiriria kia maundu

  maria mothe mokonii ciana cia mumbi uteti-ini githomo-ini kiar />
  Independent na ndini-ini ya African Arthordox Church tondu niwe

  warehithirie Archbishop Daniel uria wathomithirie atungatiri Ngai a

  ciana cia mumbi aria matari kaundu moragia mbari ya nyakeru gako-

  nii uhoro wa Ngai. Mundu wa Kiambuu ni George K. Ndegwa uria

  ithuothe tui wega ati niwe Acting General Secretary wa K.C.A. ucamba

  wake ona ugi wake nduri njiriri na mundu ona uriku nake eheanite

  he ruriri ruake Gikuyu na ngoro yake yothe. Th

  iini wa meciria make

  hatiri nii tiga o ithui.

  Nao atumia mariitwa mao ni maya: Josephine Wangari ka Philinda

  Makuo na Liliani Njeri. Nao nimakoretwo mari a niama kuma kahinda

  karaihu kahituku tiga o mutumia umwe wao.

  Mutumia wa Kenyatta Grace Wahu na mwanake wake Peter Muigai

  o nao mari o rugendoini ruu matumitwo ni kiama no getha o nao

  magathaganie mundu wao uria merigite kumuona na maitho moiki

  handu ha miaka ikumi na itano mithiru ni amu Kenyatta acokire Ruraya

  hindi ya keri mwaka wa 1931.

  Mutumia wa muthuri ti George K. Ndegwa ugwitwo Isabella

  Muthoni oigite ndangitigwo ogetha nake akone njamba io igikinya ni

  getha ndakaneragwo. Mwandiki wa Mumenyereri nake niathaithanire

  muno kwi munene wa kiama ati etikirio atwarane na gikundi kiu kia

  atumwo ni getha ahote kuheana uhoro wa gukinya gwa Kenyatta wega

  Mumenyereri—ini athomi ayo methomere gukira maheagwo na kanua

  gatheri. Nake agitikirio atwarane nao, nake agicokia ngatho muno.

  Acio nio andu aria mathire Mombasa guthagania njamba iitu Jomo

  Kenyatta.

  No riri ngumwira nama ati kuuma Nairobi kinya Mombasa hatiri

  witu wahotire kuona toro tondu ngoro ciitu na meciria maitu cia-

  koragwo ciuritwo ni githethuko gia kuria gugakia ri, na gia kuuria

  hihi nitukamuona na maitho moiki, hihi ni kurota turarota kana hihi

  tikurota? Hatiri wahotaga kwihoka meciria make o kinya riria twaire

  gukamuona na maitho maitu, ona ningi ni twarigaguo kana ni ithui

  tugakinya mbere ya meri tumweterere kana ni meri igakinya mbere iitu

  atweterere, amu hatiri witu woi ni thaa ciigana meri igakinya.

  the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta

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  in connection with all political aff airs, education and the founding of

  Independent Schools. And in religious matters, he was one of those

  who helped to bring to Kenya Archbishop Daniel Alexander—who

  introduced the African Orthodox Churches in Kenya and trained the

  servants of God of the children of Mumbi who are now responsible for

  the running of such Churches today, without help from the clan of the

  whites.25 From Kiambu, it was George K. Ndegwa whose courage we

  all respect as the Acting General Secretary of the KCA. His bravery,

  self sacrifi ce, and intelligence are well recognised by everyone. He has

  wholeheartedly dedicated his life to the service of his nation. In his

  thinking there is no I, only we.

  And the names of woman members are as follows: Josephine

  Wangari, Philinda Makuo, Lilian Njeri. Two of them had been members

  of the Association.26

  Included in the group was Kenyatta’s wife Gracie Wahu, and her

  son Peter Muigai.27 Th

  eir fares were paid by the Association so that

  they could be present for the arrival of their man and his welcome.

  Like everyone else, they had not been able to see him with their eyes

  for the last fi ft een years. For Kenyatta left Kenya in 1931 for his second visit to England.

  Mr George K. Ndegwa’s wife Isabella Muthoni had said she would

  not like to be left behind at home, where she could only be told of what

  had happened. She preferred to go to Mombasa with her husband so

  that she could see Jomo Kenyatta’s arrival for herself.

  Th

  e editor of Mumenyereri had earnestly begged the chairman of the

  selection committee to be allowed to accompany the group going to

  Mombasa so that he could report Kenyatta’s arrival in his newspaper,

  so that the people could read about it instead of being told what had

  happened. Th

  e chairman had agreed to let him accompany the welcom-

  ing committee to Mombasa ( provided he paid his own fare for the train

  journey). And those were the people who went to Mombasa to prepare

  for our hero Jomo Kenyatta.

  Th

  e Train Journey from Nairobi to Mombasa

  What I can tell you is this: From Nairobi to Mombasa none of us

  could sleep because of the excitement that fi lled our hearts and minds,

  wondering when dawn would break and asking ourselves if we really

  were going to see him with our own eyes. Or were we in fact dreaming

  about it as the night train made its way to the Coast?

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  O tutanakinya Mombasa o twingari-ini gugithereruka, naguo ni

  mweri 23–9–46 na twatigairie mairo mirongo ina tukinye Mombasa,

  tukiona ati bururi ucio wari na mbura nene muno. No riri tondu woria

  bururi guo mwene uiyuritwo ni mahiga, hatiri tui twa mbura twathiaga

  na thi tiga o gutherera. Nata rui rumwe ruari giceceni gigwitwo Maji-

  ya-chumvi ruari runene gukira Th

  agana Munga no utiganu wa njui

  icio cieri ni ati Th

  agana ni rui rua gutura tene na tene, naruo ruu rua

  Maji-ya-chumvi ruaikarage ta kiuma kimwe ruhue o na ruaneneha.

  Hindi iria twakinyire giceceni gigwito Mazeras, tukiruo ati njira

  ya ngari nithukie ni mbura mahiga magathererio ni kiguu mitambo

  igatigwo utheri gatagati—ini ka Mazeras na Miritini. Tagieterera hau o

  kinya njira igithondekwo ikiagira; ngari igikura handu ha thaa inya cia

  rucini, tugikinya Mombasa handu ha thaa ithano ithenya ria thaa igiri

  ta hindi iria ngari ikinyaga Mombasa hindi ciothe: Tugikora twetereiruo

  hau giceceni ni muthuri ti John Wagema, munene wa makarani ma

  thimu ma Railway na athuri angi Agikuyu.

  (5) Twi Mombasa

  Twaikaranga hau giceceni, mwandikithia wa Mumenyereri akiuria

  George K. Ndegwa kana niaigwite uhoro wa meri thaa iria irikinya,

  nake G. K. Ndegwa akimwira ati ni anyitire uhoro giceceni kiria ngari

  igucereiruo wa ati meri io igwitwo ‘Alkantla’ igakinya muthenya wa keri

  mweri 24–9–46 ithenya ria mweri 23–9–46 toria tweciregia tukiuma

  Nairobi.

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  Th

  e confusion in which we found ourselves thanks to that excitement

  meant that no one could trust their mind until we met him in person.

  We also wondered if we would be the fi rst to arrive, or if Kenyatta

  would arrive before us at Kilindini pier.28

  Th

  is was because none of us knew when Kenyatta’s ship from Europe

  would arrive.

  Th

  e Heavy Rain that Delayed the Train

  While our train was still on its way, in the early hours of the morning

  of 23–9–46, and while we were about forty miles from Mombasa, we

  came into heavy rain that drenched the whole area surrounding the

  railway track. Because the area was dry and stony, no rain water was

  absorbed into the ground. Every drop seemed to fl ow over the dry

  stony land into numerous tunnels and formed large pools of
fl ood-

  water near the railway station known as ‘Maji-ya-Chumvi’, which is

  Swahili for Salty Water.

  Th

  e fl oodwater seemed to grow into a big river that reminded one

  of the Sagana river,29 except that Sagana is permanent while the fl ood

  was temporary and would dry up in a few days. As the train made its

  way to the next station, Mazeras, we were told that the railway track

  ahead had been made unsafe by fl oodwater that had washed all the bal-

  last from under the track between that station and the next, Miritini.

  Th

  e train had to wait at the station until the track had been repaired,

  before it was allowed to pass through to Mombasa.

  We left Mazeras about ten o’clock in the morning, arriving at

  Mombasa at eleven o’clock instead of eight o’clock in the morning

  when the train was normally due. We were met at the station by Mr

  John Wagema and other Kikuyu elders who were expecting us as the

  welcoming committee from Nairobi.

  (5) Our Arrival at Mombasa

  After waiting a short while at the Railway station, the editor of

  Mumenyereri approached Mr George K. Ndegwa and asked him if he

  had heard anything about the arrival time of Kenyatta’s ship. He told

  the editor that he had already received information at the last station at

  which the train had been delayed, telling him that the ship was due to

  arrive on 24–9–46 instead of 23–9–46 as we had expected when leaving

  Nairobi. And that the ship’s name was, ‘Alkantla’ [ Alcantara].

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  Tugicoka tukireheruo mitokaa iri ya Taxi ikiamba gukua atumia

  na arume magicokeruo, atumia magitwaruo kwa mutumia umwe

  Mugikuyu ugwitwo Elizi Waceke o na niwe wa mayitire ugeni o wega.

  Nao arume magitwaruo thingira-ini wa ciana cia mumbi witagwo

  Kikuyu Club, na nigwo tene wari wa kiama kiria gietagwo ‘Kiama gia

  Kunyamara’ na matuku maya niwa Kiama gia Kikuyu General Union

  kiria kiinukagia andu anja aria amaramaru matuire mamenithagia ruriri

  rua Gikuyu, Twoima hau thingira—ini ucio tugitwaruo kwa muthuri ti

  John Wagema, tukigaguruo cai na thutha wa cai andu makiharagania

  magithii gucera itura-ini ria Mombasa hwai-ini tugicemamia ringi kuu

  thingira-ini wa Agikuyu, na thutha wa gutabariruo, ageni makigayanirio

  andu akuu Mombasa makamahe toro.

  (6) Gukinya Kwa Meri

  Meri io igwitwa Alkantla iria Kinyatta okite nayo kuuma Ruraya yakore-