Waiyaki wa Hinga
October 7, 2007One of the stupidest things about ethnicised politics in Kenya is that it’s compelled to falsify history. A really interesting case: the Gikuyu nationalist case for Gikuyu ethnocracy often begins by claiming that Kikuyus fought for freedom; the implication is that no one else did (or that no one else did in such large numbers). The claim may even be defensible, but since c. 100, 000 or so Nandi (Ogot’s figures: can’t be arsed citing) died fighting the Brits around the turn of last century (1895-1905 ish), it’s rubbish. Lots of Gikuyu fought for the colonial govt, or fought for both sides.
The story that’s told about Gikuyu resistance is silly; not only does it require lying about what non-Gikuyu did, it requires falsifying (or ignoring the incoveneient bits of) Gikuyu history. So, OK, the logic of ethnocracy (like prolly any system whatever of rule by an elite) works by finding reasons to exclude the many. My (first, and completely unoriginal) objection is just this: the usual reason advanced by Gikuyu ethnocracy for the exclusion is a blatant, self-deceiving, falsehood.
October 30, 2007 at 11:52 am
There is a lot about our history that is irrational, and based on prejudice. Our attitude towards the people of the Rift Valley, our attitude towards Kenyan Indians being among the most imsplaced and ugly.
April 16, 2008 at 6:18 pm
maam,you seem to be confusing ethnic pride to ethnic nationalism which are two entirely different things. you are also clearly oblivious of proven and verifiable historical facts pal.kikuyus have every right to say that they (more than any other ethnic group) paid a greater price in the struggle for independence. even if we totally ignore the human cost they paid(which is comparatively exponentially greater than any other ethic group) we have to be careful to look at the real issue that propelled the struggle.
COLONIALISM in kenya was about one thing and one thing only: LAND.
the settlers were not interested in the semi-arid nandi or kalenjin lands. they settled (in large numbers) in central province and fertile regions in the rift. these were kikuyu settlements and YES some nandi maasai and other nilotic tribes. THE KIKUYU offered the bulk of the resistance simply because it is they that were pushed off their land more so in larger numbers than their rift valley counterparts.also worth mentioning is their dependence on their land as their primary socio-economic structure. the kikuyu were and still are astute farmers as opposed to the nilotes in the rift who were predominantly herders. they didn’t have the option of packing up and leaving to other herding grounds.you took away their land you took away their livelyhood. THATS why they fought and thats why they paid a greater price in the struggle. get your facts right, you happened to mention the great WAIYAKI WA HINGA (also my great great grandfather) in your blog. the man is a hero. show alittle class and respect when refering to him.what you are doing is using him to prove some point on kikuyu “supremacy”..if theres anything like that. you are totally discrediting the contribution of a whole ethnic group towards the struggle for independence.it is easy to see through your thinly veiled bias.
May 21, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Im very much insulted with the comments that have been potrayed here.one of the major insults is that Waiyaki was a man who knew how to make joyful noise.Read your books well and quit the idiocracies man.kenyans fought for the freedom in all areas of the country and in many ways.Dont be quick to point out Gikuyus without pointing other tribes out man.You are making a fuss for nothing.Waiyaki was one of the boldest of men the British ever met and his fearsome nature shook all of Dagoretti and surrounding areas.at that time there was no structured militia like the mau mau but he himself was the forefront fighting for the land that his people occupied.he is my great great grandfather as well and his leacy lives on in many of us.We are all Kenyans and why the whole isue of who did what becomes an issue.
May 25, 2008 at 7:09 pm
For those who do not want to believe that the Kikuyu fought mainly for the freedom of the whole country, and not just for their ancestral lands, go to the British and find out which tribe engaged them in total war. Besides, the Brits had taken most land from the Kikuyu - which other tribe in Kenya was put in the reservations, because that is what they were, just a different name, reserves. Let’s call a spade a spade. Yes, there were other Kenyans who fought for freedom, but this were individuals from other tribes who joined the Kikuyu to do so, kina Achieng Oneko, Paul Ngei, trade unionist Tom Mboya and a number of Indians too whose names I don’t remember, but who supported the Mau Mau in monetary terms and by hiding the fighters, but as for tribes, it was only the Kikuyu as a tribe who suffered the British can assure you were engaged in fighting them.