Writing for Kenya
Page 40
two ikinyite rucini tene muno, tondu ucio ni meri yambire gukinya
icukiro-ini riayo mbere ya andu acio mutumitwo kuuma Nairobi. No
riri Mumenyereri ya mweri 1–10–46 namba 19 ikiheana uhoro ucio wa
gukinya gwa Kinyatta yandikitwo na ciugo ikuga u u:
Rucini rua mweri 24–9–46 muthenya wa keri andu aria matumitwo
kuuma Nairobi magathaganie njamba ya ruriri rua andu airu othe
ti Jomo Kinyatta nimakoririo marungii hugururu-ini cia iria handu
haria hacukagiruo meri hetagwo Kilindini Mombasa. Nacio ngoro ciao
niciaiguire wega muno hindi iria maitho mao monire Jomo Kinyatta,
gikeno kiria kiari ho gitingiandikika tondu hatiri ciugo iria ingihota
kuumbura uria ngoro ciao ciaiguaga. Andu aria mokite hau mari aingi
Agikuyu na nduriri iria ingi njiru. Th
utha wa gweterera kahinda kanini,
muthuri ti Kinyatta akiuma meri—ini na atanakinya haria twari. Mundu
umwe akiguthuka akimutunga, akiamba kumugeithia. Na akinya haria
twarugamite, mutumia wake ti Grace Wahu akimugeithia, na mwanake
wake ti Muigai agicokerera, riu andu aria angi tugicokerera. Hindi iria
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
265
Two taxis were soon brought up to pick up the members of the
welcoming committee. Th
e women members were taken to the house
belonging to a Kikuyu woman called Elizi Wacheke, where they were to
stay. Th
e male members were taken to the Kikuyu Club, which used to
belong to the association called ‘Kiama gia Kunyamara’, which means:
‘Th
e poor Man’s Union’.30 But, these days, the Club belongs to the Kikuyu General Union, whose function is mainly to repatriate naughty tribal
women31 back to their tribal homes because their unworthy activities
cause the Kikuyu tribe to be despised.
From there, we were taken to the home of Mr John Wagema where
we had breakfast. Th
en we were divided into groups, to be taken for a
sight-seeing trip round Mombasa Town. In the evening we returned
to the Kikuyu Club, where those who lived in Mombasa divided us up
again, so that each could be found somewhere to sleep with Mombasa
residents.
(6) Th
e Arrival of Jomo Kenyatta
Th
e ship called Alkantla in which Jomo Kenyatta had sailed from
Europe arrived at Kilindini Harbour in the early hours of the morning.
So the ship arrived at the quayside fi rst, before the welcoming com-
mittee from Nairobi.
But in the issue of Mumenyereri dated 1–10–46, issue No. 19,
Kenyatta’s arrival is reported in these words:
‘In the morning of 24–9–46, on Tuesday, the welcoming committee
which had been sent from Nairobi to Mombasa to welcome our Hero
Jomo Kenyatta, found themselves standing by the shores of the sea at
Kilindini Harbour where the passengers were to land. Th
eir hearts were
overwhelmed with joy when they saw Kenyatta coming out of the ship
down the gangway.
‘It was impossible to put into words their feelings of joy as they
watched Jomo Kenyatta coming down to where they were standing.
A big crowd of Africans of all tribes including other Kikuyus had
assembled at the pier to see him arrive.
‘Before he got to where the welcoming committee was waiting for
him an African broke from the ranks of the waiting crowd and went
straight to embrace Kenyatta as his own form of greeting, before any-
one else. When Kenyatta managed to get to where we were waiting,
the fi rst to greet him was his wife Gracie Wahu. She was followed by
his son Peter Muigai, and then the rest of us took our turn to shake
hands with him.
266
chapter five
maikanirie guoko kwa rugeithi na mutumia wake. Atumia aria moimite
Nairobi makiuga ngemi ithano cia kahii. Nako kayu ka ngemi icio ga
gicanjamurangoro cia Agikuyu aria othe mari hau tondu no o moi
gitumi kia ngemi na gikeno na kieha igitukana na angi tugiita maithori.
Nacio nduriri iria ingi ikigega muno.
Ucio niguo uhoro uria uheanitwo wa gukinya gwa Kinyatta thiini
wa Mumenyereri io tugwetire na hau kiambiriria.
Muthuri mugathe muno ti Kinyatta arikia kugeithania na andu
agitonya nyumba iria iigagwo mirigo akarore mirigo yake. Nao andu
gikundi kinene makiiyura miromo-ini ya nyumba io O Kinya muth-
ungu wa Borithi agithaitha Kinyatta ati ambe athii akahuruke hanini
akore mirigo yake yothe yacokererio na oigaga uguo ni getha andu acio
manyihanyihe, hindi iria oimire arorete mutokaa-ini, akirumiriruo ni
gikndi kiu, andu amwe makoigaga na githweri ati Agakhan wa andu
airu niakinyire’ Agakhan ni munene wa ahindi aria metagwo makoja.
Mutongoria wao undini-ini ne uteti-ini wa mabataro mao, na ni ende-
two muno ni ahindi ao, nake nikio agerekanagio na Kinyatta ni andu
a Mombasa.
(7) Kuhuruka Hutiri-ini Igwitwo Britania
Arikia kuma nyumba-ini io ya kuigwo mirigo agikora mutokaa wa Taxi
wimuige tayari ni muthuri ti James Beautah, agitonya mena mutumia
wake na mwanake wake, ona mwandikithia wa Mumenyereri, mutokaa
ukimutwara okinya Hutiri io igwitwo Britania, na nikuo ahurukire
hanini kinya thaa cia irio cia muthenya igikinya. Kahinda ini o kau
ahurukite niguo andu aingi muno maikatire magiukaga kumugeithia
makiumaga. Na thutha hanini muthuri ti James Beautah agitonya
akinengere Kinyatta marua maria moimite kwi munene wa kiama
gia K.C.A. muthuri ti Kenyatta arikia kumathoma mwandikithia wa
Mumenyereri akimoya akiona uria moigite. Namo mandikitwo na
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
267
‘When Kenyatta and his wife were shaking hands, the women mem-
bers of the welcoming committee began shrieking their traditional cries
known as: ‘Ngemi’, which had to be repeated fi ve times according to the
custom as they are shouted out to greet a newly born baby boy whenever
one is born among the tribe.
‘Th
e shouting of those traditional ‘Ngemi’ gladdened the hearts of
the Kikuyu tribe who knew the meaning behind them. But such cries
might have only astonished the other Africans forming the large crowd
which mixed with them at the pier. As a matter of fact, some were
heard to say: ‘Th
e African Aga Khan has arrived’.32 But the kind of joy
most people experienced made them shed tears of happiness at Jomo
Kenyatta’s safe arrival.’
Th
at was the end of the report published in Mumenyereri telling its
readers about the arrival of Jomo Kenyatta.
Kenyatta at Mombasa
Aft er such greetings, Kenyatta went towards the big warehouse where
his luggage was being stored along with that of other passengers. He
wanted to take care of it. But as he did so, a great crowd of Africans
began to follow him. It was clear that if he went into that big building,
the crowd would have blocked its entrance.
The situation was saved by a white police Inspector who asked
Kenyatta to leave the goods shed and take a rest while the police took
care of his lug
gage. As Kenyatta left the big building, the large crowd
turned away from it. Th
at is what the police wanted, to stop them
blocking the entrance to the store.
(7) Resting at the hotel called Britannia 33
Aft er leaving the warehouse, Kenyatta found a taxi waiting for him a
few yards away. Mr James Beauttah had made all such arrangements.
Kenyatta, his wife and son, got into the taxi and were driven to a
Hotel called Britannia in the centre of Mombasa Town. Th
e editor of
Mumenyereri also managed to get into the taxi. Kenyatta rested at that Hotel before the midday lunch. While he was still taking his rest many
people came, greeted him, and left .
268
chapter five
akinengere Kinyatta marua maria moimite kwi munene wa kiama
gia K.C.A. muthuri ti Kenyatta arikia kumathoma mwandikithia wa
Mumenyereri akimoya akiona uria moigite. Namo mandikitwo na
ciugo cia kuhota gutonya ngoro ya mundu o wothe thiini tondu moigite
atiri:
Th
aai thaai thathaiyai Ngai. Ngai arogocwo, ni undu Ngai wa mai-
the ma Maithe maitu Nyumba ya Mumbi, niagiuite mahoya maitu na
agatuinukiria njamba iitu twendete muno Jomo Kenyatta ngoro cia
ciana, atumia na athuri niigwetereire na kinyi wa utugi twihokete ati
Mwene-Nyaga niegugukinyia na thayu itina riri ria rugendo ruaku riti-
garu. Th
aai thaai. Hau muhuro hagacoka hagekiruo maritwa ma andu
aria matumitwo handu-ini ha kiama. na hagacoka hagekiruo riitwaria
munene wa kiama, gia K.C.A. ti Joseph Kang’ethe.
(8) Uria Kinyata Atarii
Riu hihi no ukoruo ukienda kumenya uria Kenya tta atarii muhanire
ahana ota uria mbica yake tuonaga itarii na ndenjaga nderu, ningi ni
mundu mweru muraya no ti muraya muno, na ndari kihara, na nderu
ciake ina tubui tunini, na niekuoneka ati hindi iria aari mwanake ari
hinya muno, na nikuga ona koruo ni hindi iria Comba utokite, angiari
o njambe ya kuhura Ukabi. no riu ni mukuru hanini na ti muno tondu
ni warika ia Kihiumwiri na niakinyitie handu hagwitwo guka. Ningi ena,
njarumi na magego make me thenya, hau nitakuga ni mundu muthaka.
Naguo mwaririe wake ni wohoreri muno, ekwaria or wega ta muthuri
atarĩ na ruhagaro rua kanua ningi hindi iria egutereta muikaire handu,
ndangiaria kahinda kanene ategutheka ningi ni wa itheru riingi tondu
matingiikarania na andu gakundi marege gutinda magitheka tondu
wa ndereti ciake. Ena gucuhi kia mbete kinene muno gia thahabu
gia guoko gwake kwomotho kiara kiamuira na ningi ena muti umwe
muiru wa icera wi ngoci na wacuhitio muhiano wa njogu haha nyitiro,
naguo nimugemie muno, nake ndauigaga thi nikudwenda. Naguo ati
uthondeketwo ni andu airu.
Meciria make mekuonania ta ari mundu mugo. Na nigetha umenye
ni mundu mugo-ri, ta tiga ngwire uria atwirire ekire meri-ini magiuka.
Ati nimutugo wa meri-ini kugia na mathako ma mithemba miingi ma
gucindana na ciuthi cia mithemba miingi. Nakio gicindano kimwe
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
269
A little while later, Mr James Beauttah brought him a letter from the
chairman of the KCA. Aft er reading it, Kenyatta placed it on the table
near the editor who picked it up to see what it said. It was written in
unusual words that could penetrate anyone’s heart—for it said:
‘Peace, Peace beseech ye God. May God be praised because the God
of our forefathers and their forefathers, who take care of the House of
Mumbi, has listened to our Prayers by bringing home our great Hero
whom we respect deeply and love dearly, Mr Jomo Kenyatta. Th
e
hearts of our children, women, and elders are waiting for you with the
circumspection of well-mannered people while trusting God to enable
you to travel with his peace on the remainder of your journey home.
Peace Peace’.
Th
en below those words, the names of the welcoming committee
were given before the signature of the then President of the KCA, Mr
Joseph Kang’ethe.34
(8) What Kenyatta Looks Like
By now, perhaps, you might like to know what Kenyatta looks like. He
looks very like the picture we usually see of him, with his beards [sic].
Th
e colour of his skin is a bit lighter. He is of medium height, and he
is not balder. His beards have mixed few grey hairs with the black ones.
It appears that when he was a young man, he was physically strong.
Th
at is to say, if he were born before the coming of the white man, he
could have been a leader of tribal warriors who fought the Masai.
But now it looks as if he is a bit old but not very old since his age
group is that of Kihiumwiri.35 He has reached the stage when he could
be called grandfather. He has a gap in his upper teeth, which the tribe
regard as a mark of handsomeness. His way of talking is very quiet and
peace-loving,36 like an experienced elder. He laughs a good deal when
in discussion with others. He is full of humour and is given to making
others laugh by the way he tells stories. He has a big golden ring on the
little fi nger of his left hand. He carries a black walking stick which he
holds in his right hand as he walks along. It has a crooked handle at the
end and is carved in the shape of an elephant. It is a highly decorated
stick of which he is so fond that he does not go anywhere without it. It
was made by black people of West Africa. And it was given to him as a
present by a West African Chief whose name ends like his own with two
Ts as in Atta. Th
e carved head of an elephant is supposed to represent
the saying: ‘Th
e elephant does not fail to carry its heavy tusks’.37
270
chapter five
gikagwo kuu meri-ini ni gia kwigereria undu. Ta kuga andu makaruta
tubeca tunini ta 2/50 riitwa ria mundu rikandikwo, akoiga we ekwiger-
eria ati meri io igakinya mucii muna thaa ciigana una, meri itigairie
muthenya umwe ikinye mucii ucio. Andu aria othe mekwenda mageka
oro uguo. Nake uria uricinda, meri yakinya kuringana na kwi gereria
gwake, akaheo Shs 100/–.
Riu ati hindi iria meri io mari nayo yoimire mucii umwe ugwitwo Port
Said irorete mucii ugwitwo Eden, Kenyatta akigereria thaa iria igakinya
Eden, na aria othe mendete gucindana makigereria oro uguo. Na hindi
iria meri yakinyire Eden, no Kenyatta wahotainire tondu thaa iria oigire
noyo meri yakinyire. Nake agikiheo Shs. ciake 100/–. Athungu aingi o
undu umwe na andu airu aria maari nao makimukenera muno. Ningi
thutha ucio agicoka akiringiririo oige riria meri igakinya Mombasa, ati
akiamba kureganga: no akiringiririo muno, agitikira, mari ohamwe na
athungu aria angi mari nao. Na uhoro uria munene, na ati iutari wekika
hindi ingi meri-ini oro imwe, hindi iria meri yakinyire Mombasa no
Kenyatta wahotanire hindi ya keri, na athungu aingi makigega o kinya
amwe makamuragia kana ni muthaiga enaguo, tondu ucio wari undu
megeni thiini wa meri wa mundu umwe kuhota uhoro wa kwigereria
na meciria hindi iria meri gakinya na akamenya mahinda meri, o thi-
ini wa meri ini or imwe. Tondu ucio Kinyatta nita mundu mugo, o
na ningi andiki a mabuku Ruraya nitao ago aria mari a Gikuyu tene
tondu andiki aingi nimarathaga maundu na makaya gutuika ota uguo
marathire. Na nimugukimenya ati Kinyatta ni mwandiki wa mabuku
tondu ucio ni mundu mugo, na twetikira utaarani wake hatiri kigira
gia tugunike.
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
271
As a Witchdoctor
His thoughts tend to indicate that he would have been born a witch
doctor.38 Th
e evidence for saying that comes from what he told us he
had done on board ship when coming from Europe. For he said it was
the custom for people sailing in a liner to hold diff erent matches and
competitions. One such competition involved gambling on a given
subject. Th
at is to say, people pay a stake of Shs. 2/50 to enter their
names for the competition. Th
en each is asked to guess the time the
ship will arrive at a certain port on the way to its destination while still
two days from its due time of arrival. All the competitors take part in
the guessing game. Th
e prize for guessing the right answer was one
hundred shillings.
So, when that ship left Port Said, heading for Aden, Kenyatta guessed
the time it would arrive at Aden. Other passengers did so too, each
guessing diff erent times according to what each thought would be the
right time. When the ship got to Aden, it was found that only Kenyatta
had guessed right because he had forecast the exact time of arrival. He
was given his Shs 100/–.39
All the other passengers sailing with him, black and white, cheered
him warmly as the winner. He was then persuaded, once again, to
forecast when the ship would arrive at Mombasa. He refused to do
so at fi rst but the other passengers persuaded him and eventually he
agreed. Other passengers who wished to guess the ship’s arrival time
did so too. But to everyone’s surprise a strange thing happened, which
had never happened twice before on that ship. For when the ship got
to Mombasa, it was again found that Kenyatta had correctly forecast its
arrival time. He received his second Shs 100/–. Th
is so surprised other
passengers that some of them began to ask him if he had some kind
of African medicine that enabled him to make the right forecast? He