what jomo told moi about uhuru kenyatta

7/21/2019 What Jomo Told Moi About Uhuru Kenyatta

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What Jomo Told Moi About Uhuru

By Chris Kumekucha

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UhuruUhuruUhuruUhuruUhuru


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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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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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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.

what jomo told moi about uhuru kenyatta

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