TBT End yr swara edition
- Thread starter Meria
- Start date
Kuda cores
Elder Lister
Yule mzee wa Ndeiya.
MUKURU KWA REUBEN
The place where Mukuru slum stands was originally an Estate owned by Jack Reuben a British Army war veteran who had returned from world war ll .
Because of his distinguished service during the war, he was awarded the huge tract of land on which he planted sisal and established a depot for his haulage business known as Reuben Haulage Empire.
For his businesses to run smoothly ,he constructed a labour camp to offer accommodation to all his native workers and their families on his estate.
After independence Reuben left Kenya ,and without jobs or homes this workforce of natives decided to squat on this land ,calling it Mukuru Kwa Reuben.
The place where Mukuru slum stands was originally an Estate owned by Jack Reuben a British Army war veteran who had returned from world war ll .
Because of his distinguished service during the war, he was awarded the huge tract of land on which he planted sisal and established a depot for his haulage business known as Reuben Haulage Empire.
For his businesses to run smoothly ,he constructed a labour camp to offer accommodation to all his native workers and their families on his estate.
After independence Reuben left Kenya ,and without jobs or homes this workforce of natives decided to squat on this land ,calling it Mukuru Kwa Reuben.
NABII ELIJAH MASINDE
“Prophet” Elijah Masinde was a freedom fighter and the founder of Dini Ya Msambwa which was a religious political sect.
A rebel ,he not only distressed the colonial government but also caused consternation among politicians in independent Kenya.
Masinde was born in Kimilili , Bungoma and belonged to the Bukusu.During his youth he distinguished himself as a talented footballer who later captained the Kenya National football team in the 1930 gossage cup tournament.
Throughout his youth he was under the care of Christian missionaries who apart from giving him a plot on the mission’s land also gave him a job as “process server” attached to the local native court.
His problems with the missionaries began when he married a second wife.Polygamy was considered to be against christian teachings and Elijah was therefore ordered to vacate the land he had been occupying and also stopped from partaking the sacrament by the missionaries
After his expulsion,Elijah claimed to have communicated to God and suggested to him that there should be a black christ for the black man and a Christianity which would allow polygamy.
He alleged that God replied ,telling him that his request was reasonable but it could not be granted so long as there were Europeans on African land. He also declared that men and women should be circumcised.
Elijah had already started gaining followers based on these claims.
In 1944 he was sent to jail and fined for failing to obey colonial administration order to desist from teachings likely to breach peace.
On his release ,he was involved in another incident when he threatened to assault one African agricultural officer and his European assistant for forcing him to remove Mexican Marigold weed from his compound.
The European assistant filed a case against him ,but before the case was heard more serious charges had been brought against Elijah for assaulting government officials who had gone to summon him to attend chief's baraza on civil conscription to serve in world war ll.
He was found guilty and was sentenced to a term in prison ,as he was being taken away to prison he declared:
“I shall come back and when i come back the European assistant agricultural officer will have gone and his house will have burned down.”
Mid way through his prison term the colonialists thought he was mad and took him to a mental hospital,but after spending some months under observation, the Hospital authorities declared him sane and recommended his release from prison.
Elijah returned home as he had prophesied,his enemy ,the European Agricultural officer, had been transferred and his house burned down.
With all his prophecies being fulfilled the prestige of Elijah was now higher .
In January 1948, a few weeks after his release, his followers attacked a British Police officer at Malakisi ,the police opened fire and eleven Africans were killed. Elijah went into hiding after the incident.
He was caught after three months and was detained on Lamu island ,but was later transferred to Marsabit after he complained
While Elijah was still languishing in Prison his disciple called 'Luca of the divine tooth' had taken over and was preaching the doctrines of Elijah to the Pokot around lake Baringo.
Luca had a gold tooth in his jaw which he claimed God had given him.Like Elijah he proclaimed the ejection of Europeans and called upon the pokot to accompany him to Zion on Mount Elgon where a major revelation was to be made.
When the rumour reached the British authorities a detachment of armed police officers led by the district Commissioner was despatched to track them.
They were found near Lake Baringo armed with spears and shields ,what followed is what is today known as the battle of Baringo ,fought on April 24th 1950.
The District Commissioner,2 British Police officers and one African police officer were killed by spears the police opened fire in retaliation killing 29 members of Dini ya Musambwa among them Lucas of the divine tooth .
By 1960 independence was in sight ,agitation for the release of Elijah Masinde began to form among Africans ,and finally after being in prison for more than 10 years he was released in August 1961.
Elijah’s long stay in prison did not seem to have changed his character.
One of his first public statement was to announce his intention of sueing the British for compensation.
On January 7th 1962 he addressed a political rally at Kitale organised by KANU and attended by Jomo Kenyatta.
At the rally Elijah referred to Jomo as “God’s servant”
A few days later, a meeting of 70 chiefs and elders was convened by the Bungoma District Commissioner R F Winser to discuss Dini ya Musambwa.
At the meeting Elijah’s teachings were denounced as misleading wicked and dangerous to the development of Bungoma.
The chiefs and elders called upon the government to impose restrictions on Elijah and asked the community to ignore his teachings
He was arrested again on October 30th 1962 along with four of his supporters and charged with holding a public meeting without a licence and behaving in a manner likely to breach peace.
When he appeared in court Elijah told the judge that he wished the government to put him in prison .
“...because i'm tired of police threats ,twice i have been threatened with guns ,therefore i prefer to be put in prison ,most of the time since 1945 i was in prison.”
Masinde was detained for another 15 years and was released in 1978 .
He was again detained for his constant clashes with traffic police officers in Webuye and Kitale .
He died in 1987.
“Prophet” Elijah Masinde was a freedom fighter and the founder of Dini Ya Msambwa which was a religious political sect.
A rebel ,he not only distressed the colonial government but also caused consternation among politicians in independent Kenya.
Masinde was born in Kimilili , Bungoma and belonged to the Bukusu.During his youth he distinguished himself as a talented footballer who later captained the Kenya National football team in the 1930 gossage cup tournament.
Throughout his youth he was under the care of Christian missionaries who apart from giving him a plot on the mission’s land also gave him a job as “process server” attached to the local native court.
His problems with the missionaries began when he married a second wife.Polygamy was considered to be against christian teachings and Elijah was therefore ordered to vacate the land he had been occupying and also stopped from partaking the sacrament by the missionaries
After his expulsion,Elijah claimed to have communicated to God and suggested to him that there should be a black christ for the black man and a Christianity which would allow polygamy.
He alleged that God replied ,telling him that his request was reasonable but it could not be granted so long as there were Europeans on African land. He also declared that men and women should be circumcised.
Elijah had already started gaining followers based on these claims.
In 1944 he was sent to jail and fined for failing to obey colonial administration order to desist from teachings likely to breach peace.
On his release ,he was involved in another incident when he threatened to assault one African agricultural officer and his European assistant for forcing him to remove Mexican Marigold weed from his compound.
The European assistant filed a case against him ,but before the case was heard more serious charges had been brought against Elijah for assaulting government officials who had gone to summon him to attend chief's baraza on civil conscription to serve in world war ll.
He was found guilty and was sentenced to a term in prison ,as he was being taken away to prison he declared:
“I shall come back and when i come back the European assistant agricultural officer will have gone and his house will have burned down.”
Mid way through his prison term the colonialists thought he was mad and took him to a mental hospital,but after spending some months under observation, the Hospital authorities declared him sane and recommended his release from prison.
Elijah returned home as he had prophesied,his enemy ,the European Agricultural officer, had been transferred and his house burned down.
With all his prophecies being fulfilled the prestige of Elijah was now higher .
In January 1948, a few weeks after his release, his followers attacked a British Police officer at Malakisi ,the police opened fire and eleven Africans were killed. Elijah went into hiding after the incident.
He was caught after three months and was detained on Lamu island ,but was later transferred to Marsabit after he complained
While Elijah was still languishing in Prison his disciple called 'Luca of the divine tooth' had taken over and was preaching the doctrines of Elijah to the Pokot around lake Baringo.
Luca had a gold tooth in his jaw which he claimed God had given him.Like Elijah he proclaimed the ejection of Europeans and called upon the pokot to accompany him to Zion on Mount Elgon where a major revelation was to be made.
When the rumour reached the British authorities a detachment of armed police officers led by the district Commissioner was despatched to track them.
They were found near Lake Baringo armed with spears and shields ,what followed is what is today known as the battle of Baringo ,fought on April 24th 1950.
The District Commissioner,2 British Police officers and one African police officer were killed by spears the police opened fire in retaliation killing 29 members of Dini ya Musambwa among them Lucas of the divine tooth .
By 1960 independence was in sight ,agitation for the release of Elijah Masinde began to form among Africans ,and finally after being in prison for more than 10 years he was released in August 1961.
Elijah’s long stay in prison did not seem to have changed his character.
One of his first public statement was to announce his intention of sueing the British for compensation.
On January 7th 1962 he addressed a political rally at Kitale organised by KANU and attended by Jomo Kenyatta.
At the rally Elijah referred to Jomo as “God’s servant”
A few days later, a meeting of 70 chiefs and elders was convened by the Bungoma District Commissioner R F Winser to discuss Dini ya Musambwa.
At the meeting Elijah’s teachings were denounced as misleading wicked and dangerous to the development of Bungoma.
The chiefs and elders called upon the government to impose restrictions on Elijah and asked the community to ignore his teachings
He was arrested again on October 30th 1962 along with four of his supporters and charged with holding a public meeting without a licence and behaving in a manner likely to breach peace.
When he appeared in court Elijah told the judge that he wished the government to put him in prison .
“...because i'm tired of police threats ,twice i have been threatened with guns ,therefore i prefer to be put in prison ,most of the time since 1945 i was in prison.”
Masinde was detained for another 15 years and was released in 1978 .
He was again detained for his constant clashes with traffic police officers in Webuye and Kitale .
He died in 1987.
Bernard Mate was the first representative of Central Province in the LegCo (now Parliament) in 1957.
He began his education at Chogoria boys boarding and was the youngest candidate when he sat for his final exams at the age of 12
From there he proceeded to Alliance High School Kikuyu,then to Makerere university, graduating with a Diploma in Education.
In 1947 at the age of 25 he was made the principal of Chogoria High School where he taught for some years before Joining University of wales for his Bachelor degree then to University of Edinburgh to Pursue a post graduate Diploma.
He returned to Kenya in 1954 and taught at Alliance Girls High School,Kilima mbogo TTC and Government teachers training college Meru.
He ventured into politics in 1957 and was elected to represent the wider central province in the LegCo.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga once described him as a great philosopher.
He began his education at Chogoria boys boarding and was the youngest candidate when he sat for his final exams at the age of 12
From there he proceeded to Alliance High School Kikuyu,then to Makerere university, graduating with a Diploma in Education.
In 1947 at the age of 25 he was made the principal of Chogoria High School where he taught for some years before Joining University of wales for his Bachelor degree then to University of Edinburgh to Pursue a post graduate Diploma.
He returned to Kenya in 1954 and taught at Alliance Girls High School,Kilima mbogo TTC and Government teachers training college Meru.
He ventured into politics in 1957 and was elected to represent the wider central province in the LegCo.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga once described him as a great philosopher.
X-TRAIL
Elder Lister
1966 wee wacha tu
KIKO AND TUMBAKO
Kiko and Tumbako were two Luo boys who served as servants to H.B Partington the first District Commissioner Kisumu.
The D.C renamed them Kiko and Tumbako (pipe and tobacco) because he had difficulty in pronouncing their Luo names.
The two boys came from Gem and were related to Paramount Chief Odera Ulalo of Gem .
They eventually left the service of the D.C and went into the police and from the Police Kiko joined the Kings African Rifles.
Kiko rose to become a very smart sergeant major in the Kings African Rifles and was one of the first Kenyans to visit Britain when he attended the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.
Tumbako however did not turn out so well ,he was too proud and stubborn.
At that time the colonial government owned a considerable number of cattle in Kisumu,and because there was little grazing in the town ,the cattle were hoarded out to loyal chiefs with Chief Odera Ulalo of Gem being in charge of 100 cows.
When the railway reached Kisumu ,a demand for cattle sprang up ;the provincial administration therefore decided that all cows hoarded out to loyal chiefs should be brought back at Kisumu for sale
So the D.C Kisumu H.B Partington sent off Tumbako to Chief Odera Ulalo to collect all the government cows and send them to Kisumu for sale
But just the way my fellow tribesmen go to their villages to show off with their fuel guzzlers,Tumbako also left Kisumu for Gem full of himself not with a fuel guzzler but with his new gun
When he arrived in Gem ,he fired his gun to impress the villagers
,unfortunately the villagers thought they were under attack so they fled and hid in the bushes only to reappear after several hours
He then headed to the homestead of Chief Odera Ulalo where he announced that he had come to collect government cattle and that they were to be ready early the following day.
Chief Odera Ulalo agreed and sent off messengers to the villages to have the government cows picked out and assembled.
The next morning the cows began to arrive in driblets since it required a considerable amount of time to walk from village to village collecting the cattle .
This annoyed Tumbako so much that he decided to collect Chief Odera Ulalo's own cattle to make up the numbers of government cattle he had been instructed to collect. He told Chief Odera Ulalo that he was in a hurry to go back to Kisumu and couldn't wait any longer and also lied to him that the D.C had instructed him that incase the government cattle were not ready then the deficiency was to be made up from Chief Ulalo's cattle.
Odera Ulalo being a proud chief, was so heartbroken at seeing this youth,Tumbako who was a member of his clan embarrass him infront of a crowd of villagers by collecting his cattle,the cattle of a Chief of an important tribe
The false statement made by Tumbako ,that the D.C had instructed him that any deficiency was to be made up from Chief Odera Ulalo's cattle ,also made Ulalo feel that his great friend the D.C had lost faith in him.
Unable to withstand humiliation from Tumbako who was busy collecting his cattle and the pain of having lost the D.C's trust,Chief Odera Ulalo slipped away from the crowd of villagers and hanged himself in his hut.
It was such a great loss to the colonial government and the people of Gem .His cousin Odera Akang'o was made the new chief
Kiko and Tumbako were two Luo boys who served as servants to H.B Partington the first District Commissioner Kisumu.
The D.C renamed them Kiko and Tumbako (pipe and tobacco) because he had difficulty in pronouncing their Luo names.
The two boys came from Gem and were related to Paramount Chief Odera Ulalo of Gem .
They eventually left the service of the D.C and went into the police and from the Police Kiko joined the Kings African Rifles.
Kiko rose to become a very smart sergeant major in the Kings African Rifles and was one of the first Kenyans to visit Britain when he attended the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.
Tumbako however did not turn out so well ,he was too proud and stubborn.
At that time the colonial government owned a considerable number of cattle in Kisumu,and because there was little grazing in the town ,the cattle were hoarded out to loyal chiefs with Chief Odera Ulalo of Gem being in charge of 100 cows.
When the railway reached Kisumu ,a demand for cattle sprang up ;the provincial administration therefore decided that all cows hoarded out to loyal chiefs should be brought back at Kisumu for sale
So the D.C Kisumu H.B Partington sent off Tumbako to Chief Odera Ulalo to collect all the government cows and send them to Kisumu for sale
But just the way my fellow tribesmen go to their villages to show off with their fuel guzzlers,Tumbako also left Kisumu for Gem full of himself not with a fuel guzzler but with his new gun
When he arrived in Gem ,he fired his gun to impress the villagers
He then headed to the homestead of Chief Odera Ulalo where he announced that he had come to collect government cattle and that they were to be ready early the following day.
Chief Odera Ulalo agreed and sent off messengers to the villages to have the government cows picked out and assembled.
The next morning the cows began to arrive in driblets since it required a considerable amount of time to walk from village to village collecting the cattle .
This annoyed Tumbako so much that he decided to collect Chief Odera Ulalo's own cattle to make up the numbers of government cattle he had been instructed to collect. He told Chief Odera Ulalo that he was in a hurry to go back to Kisumu and couldn't wait any longer and also lied to him that the D.C had instructed him that incase the government cattle were not ready then the deficiency was to be made up from Chief Ulalo's cattle.
Odera Ulalo being a proud chief, was so heartbroken at seeing this youth,Tumbako who was a member of his clan embarrass him infront of a crowd of villagers by collecting his cattle,the cattle of a Chief of an important tribe
The false statement made by Tumbako ,that the D.C had instructed him that any deficiency was to be made up from Chief Odera Ulalo's cattle ,also made Ulalo feel that his great friend the D.C had lost faith in him.
Unable to withstand humiliation from Tumbako who was busy collecting his cattle and the pain of having lost the D.C's trust,Chief Odera Ulalo slipped away from the crowd of villagers and hanged himself in his hut.
It was such a great loss to the colonial government and the people of Gem .His cousin Odera Akang'o was made the new chief