For the Thinking Person ISSUE NO.

61 | OCTOBER 29, 2023 FREE WITH ‘SUNDAY NATION’

THE DARK PAST

It won’t be business as usual when King Charles III lands on Tuesday to begin his first
visit to a Commonwealth nation as monarch. Kenyans will demand an unconditional
public apology and official acknowledgment of wrongs over and above ‘inadequate’
expressions of regret previously offered by the British government. Will he do it?
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18 The Weekly Review SATURDAY NATION AUGUST 13, 2023 SUNDAY NATION OCTOBER 29, 2023

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BRITISH-OWNED TEA ESTATES IN THE RIFT VALLEY BACKYARD ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO RELINQUISH 100PC OWNERSHIP

KING RETURNS TO MAU MAU LAND

Will he apologise for the colonial atrocities that happened from the 1890s as the UK expanded its empire?

BY JOHN KAMAU of Edinburg who was representing the

Queen. Kenya, which became the 34th Af-

W
hen King Charles III visits the rican state to get freedom, was to be a test
country on Tuesday, the ques- case on how it would treat the minori-
tion that will be lingering will be ty white settlers and Asians. Never before
whether Britain will finally apol- had an African government taken over
ogise for the colonial atrocities that hap- power where the population of whites was
pened from the 1890s as it expanded its as large. While the ceremony ended Ken-
empire towards Africa. What he chooses ya’s 68 years as a British protectorate and
to do will be his legacy. colony, it also opened some new relations
In recent years, Britain has been pres- with no radical break.Some historians and
sured to issue formal apologies – rather commentators regard cordial relations as
than hide behind the “we-deeply-regret” part of neo-colonial continuity schemes.
mantra. In 2019, it refused to apologise The visit will be a stamp of approval for
over India’s Amristar massacre of 1919 President William Ruto,and will take place
when British troops shot at protesters some 40 years after President Moi wel-
demanding the end of colonial rule. Ten comed Queen Elizabeth in her first state
years ago, British Foreign Secretary Wil- visit to Kenya. The Queen had made two
liam Hague expressed “sincere regret” for stop-over visits in 1971 and had a lunch-
crimes committed by imperial officers eon with Kenyatta at State House, Nairo-
during the 1950s State of Emergency in bi.But it was President Moi who would win
Kenya, which was partly declared to fore- more favours from Britain.
stall the push towards independence. In Shortly after Moi took power, records in-
April, the British Prime Minister refused dicate that British officials recognised him
to apologise over the slave trade, contin- as an ally. In a brief to the Queen, Moi was
uing a tradition where top leadership has described as a“sincere,intelligent but rath-
expressed “sorrow” or “deep regret” over er modest man”. According to historian
colonial and other atrocities. Poppy Cullen “this second quality is par-
As part of his Kenyan visit – the first in ticularly interesting given earlier views of
Africa ever since he took the throne from Moi as unintelligent”. The Daily Telegraph
his mother, Queen Elizabeth II – King had also described Moi as “‘rated by many
Charles III will be under the same pres- as one of Africa’s most successful leaders Prince Charles with President Jomo Kenyatta in Gatundu, Kiambu, on February 17, 1971. Below: Mau Mau fighters.
sure. He will be taken to Uhuru Gardens, … (and as) one of the great surprises of the
which, though it’s a site of Kenya’s inde- post-colonial era in Africa”. Moi was then ments, and it was felt in London that the
pendence, it was the place where British looking for aid, and London was seeking country is strategically important. The
torture on innocent Kenyans took place Kenya’s support over Rhodesia – the last of country had also entered into military
in April 1954 as it launched Operation British settler colonies. agreements and armament programmes
Anvil, which left thousands of men, wom- Queen Elizabeth first visited Kenya in though this slowed down during Kenyat-
en and children caged behind barbed 1972 in what was seen as an attempt to ta’s reign. By the time Moi took power, he
wires as London fought to retain its most help erase the bitter past after she had was seeking £30 million. King Charles III is
important settler-colony in Africa. His- watched Kenya go through its most pain- arriving at a period that Kenya’s economy
torians have likened Lang’ata and other ful period in history while she was in pow- is struggling and when Western currencies
holding sites to a British Gulag. er. Ironically, she was hosted by the pris- have battered the shilling. His visit is, how-
Lang’ata is a site of pain, triumph, and oner that Governor Patrick Renison had ever,a plus for tourism.
memory.The construction of a museum at in 1960 dismissed as “leader unto dark- Perhaps important is that with Ruto,
the site – with the tomb of the unknown ness and death”. While she had last visited playing the pan-African card, Britain has
soldier – was a significant development in Kenya when it was still a settler colony in seen a personality who could her advance
how Kenya wanted to remember its histo- 1952 – a tour disrupted by her father, King a broader African policy.Already,Ruto is be-
ry. When he opened the museum, former George VII’s death – the 1972 meeting was ing courted by the Americans and has re-
President Uhuru Kenyatta acknowledged like testing the waters of the relationships. shaped Kenya’s foreign policy to suit US in-
that Kenya’s freedom was the result of an Ahead of her visit in 1972, Prince Charles terests. With King Charles’s visit in the first
armed struggle.“We will forgive them, but and Princess Anne had visited Kenya and years of his presidency, Ruto may have a
never forget,” he said of the British.“This met with Jomo Kenyatta at State House, much greater voice within the Common-
place will rekindle memories of our armed Nakuru.“I have always longed to come and history followed the royal family wherever were seen to boost the image of a tourist wealth. UK interests in Kenya have been
struggle, but also the good, the bad and the Kenya seems the most sensible and best they went. King Charles III could have eas- destination. In 1977, Charles was again under attack,especially in Ruto’s Rift Valley
ugly of our history,” said Kenyatta. If King place to come.There are masses of game to ily avoided such disruption when he was in Kenya for a private visit with the press backyard, where British-owned tea estates
Charles visits the museum, as expected, see here,”he told the press.Prince Charles’s a prince.During the Queen’s silver jubilee following him to conform the identity of are pressured to relinquish 100 per cent
how he handles that part of history and visit appeared to have done some mira- in 1977, Charles visited Kenya amidst ru- “woman camping companion”. ownership. More so, there have been mur-
the words he chooses will determine how cles: During a meeting with Kenyatta, the mours that a blonde accompanied him. In 1978, he was back in Nairobi to attend murs about the British soldiers training in
Commonwealth countries will contin- Queen is said to have laughed out loud af- One of his biographers later recounted: Jomo Kenyatta’s funeral, which the British Kenya – and how they have negatively im-
ue to relate to the former metropole. And ter Kenyatta complimented her for bring- “As he watched a bevy of beautiful flamin- government partly organised. It was dur- pacted the communities.
more importantly, how Britain intends to ing up “charming and refreshing” children gos flutter past him on Kenya’s Lake Naku- ing this period that he caught the atten- British Army Training Unit Kenya
confront its history during King Charles’s in reference to Charles:“They reminded us ru,Charles laughed at photographers,“You tion of the media after he snubbed Ugan- members have been accused of sexual
reign. For the royal family, Kenya is an im- that things at the Court of St James are hu- have caught me with plenty of birds this dan President Idi Amin, then accused of abuse, murder, and leaving unexplod-
portant site. It was at the Treetops Hotel in man, too,… and you are not immune from time – isn’t it a pity that they are only the atrocities and human rights abuse. While ed ordinances in parts of their training
Nyeri that Charles’s mother – Queen Eliza- the challenges of parenthood. But your feathered variety?” Charles was reported- Amin took a seat two places from Charles, grounds. Moreover, Kenyans have argued
beth II – learned of her father’s death and case they have been well met,” Kenyatta ly amused by the gossip spread by British the two ignored each other throughout that the more than 200 military person-
took over the reins. Ever since, Kenya’s his- said. But the 1971 visit was almost marred tabloids on a mystery blonde: “If you read the funeral. But Charles had taken one of nel have enjoyed impunity since 1963.
tory was weaved within the royal family’s, by several Asian protesters carrying plac- the British newspapers,the bush was thick the bullies of Africa. While Kenyatta did King Charles may not address the poli-
and has continuously attracted its mem- ards and protesting Britain’s immigra- with the other kind of birds when I was on not reciprocate with a visit to London af- tics. He may not apologise. But behind
bers for private and official visits. The ex- tion laws, which discriminated against the safari.” ter he became president, the royal family the scenes, these issues will remain away
pected visit to Lang’ata is of importance. Asians leaving Kenya. While the protest- The British High Commission in Nai- could occasionally send their members for from his interests in wildlife and tech-
At the Lang’ata site (named Uhuru Gar- ers were ordered to leave the Internation- robi could only confirm his presence royal safaris or as part of solidifying the re- nology.
dens), Jomo Kenyatta received instru- al Embakasi Airport minutes before the and gave no further details. Kenya was lationships between the two countries.
ments of independence from the Duke prince landed, it was an indicator of how a space for royal retreat, and such visits Kenya had significant British invest- [email protected]
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SATURDAY NATION AUGUST 13, 2023 The Weekly Review 19

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ROYAL TOURS ARE USUALLY MORE IMPORTANT FOR SYMBOLISM RATHER THAN ANY IMPORTANT POLICY STATEMENTS

Activists will present a petition to the King over gross human rights violations committed by the British government during The British government in 2013 acknowledged that Kenyans were subject to
the entire colonial period and the continued injustices perpetuated by its corporates, citizens and programmes in Kenya. torture and ill treatment at the hands of the colonial administration.

OH, THE PAINFUL COLONIAL PAST

Human rights organisations and political activists are looking forward to the visit not so much
for the opportunity to bow before the King, but to ask the hard questions
BY MACHARIA GAITHO well clear of any pronouncements or ac- with a public apology from the mon-
tivities that might be seen to intrude on arch. Despite the significance of such a

K
ing Charles and Queen Camilla can the roles and functions the Legislature gesture, it’s almost certain that the royal
be assured a proper royal recep- and the Executive. visitor will still face some hard questions
tion when they land in Nairobi on However, the visit is still an important and accusations, with real likelihood of
Tuesday. One can expect that Presi- indicator of Kenyan-British relations, es- protests and demonstrations. Any dis-
dent Ruto will pull out all stops to make pecially because every aspect of the roy- turbances will have to be to be delicate-
the visit a resounding success. He will al itinerary, including speeches, places ly handled lest the lenses of world media
feel greatly honoured to host the British visited and groups or individuals met, are trained on the Kenya Police factory
royals, and at them accepting an invite will have been approved in advance by setting of tear gas, water cannons, trun-
which makes Kenya the first African and the Whitehall. cheons and live bullets in crowd control.
Commonwealth country they have visit- A British government press release on The Weekly Review has learnt that
ed since ascending to the throne in Sep- the visit indicated that King Charles and the Kenya Human Rights Commission
tember last year following the death of Queen Camilla will be on the routine (KHRC), the independent watchdog
Queen Elizabeth. and humdrum rounds of meeting with which has played a critical role in agi-
The visit, to many, cements President President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ru- tation and lawsuits against colonial in-
Ruto’s standing in African and develop- to, a State luncheon, official receptions, justices, is preparing lengthy and com-
ing country leadership, a status he has but it also revealed fascinating aspects of prehensive petition for attention of the
assiduously sought through a record an itinerary loaded with more than just King. So are many other activist groups
number of overseas junkets in his first symbolism, but a deliberate effort to ad- who will not let pass the opportunity to
year in office. dress critical sticking points between an Vice President Daniel arap Moi welcomes Prince Charles and Princess Anne make their voices heard.
At a time Kenya is suffering a de- independent nation and her former co- upon their arrival at the Embakasi Airport on February 8, 1971, as Foreign Affairs Whether critical civil society and pro-
pressed economy, and security challeng- lonial master. Minister Njoroge Mungai and British High Commissioner Eric Norris look on. test groups will be allowed anywhere
es that have made even China,which Ru- Kenya, and Kenyan officialdom, has near the King during his official engage-
to has just visited, for the first time issue always displayed a fawning, obsequi- this period by the people of Kenya. To- ish army commander Colonel Rich- ment is unclear at the moment, but it is
a travel advisory for its citizens, the royal ous, attitude towards Britain. But not so gether, Their Majesties will tour a new ard Meinertzhagen in 1905 after being obvious that British High Commissioner
visit will certainly stand as a much-need- for Kenyan political and social activists, museum dedicated to Kenya’s history tricked into attending a truce meeting. Neil Wigan and his staff are aware that
ed vote of confidence which the country who are looking forward to the visit not and will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the He was beheaded and head reported- various groups with grouses are relish-
will be keen to exploit to the fullest. Ken- so much for the opportunity to bow and Unknown Warrior at Uhuru Gardens, as ly taken to England. The elders are also ing the chance to loudly protest, and will
ya will be guaranteed blanket exposure curtsey before the King and Queen, but well as visiting the site of the declaration seeking the return of their stolen cultur- have to be handled with sensitivity to
on British media, with the large travel- to ask hard questions. A great opportuni- of Kenya’s independence in 1963”. al artefacts, as well as compensation for avoid ugly situations developing.
ling media contingent assured to not ty to address lingering questions will be Just last year when then-President atrocities suffered during colonial rule, KHRC was part of the historic lawsuit
just cover every minute of the visit, but presented when the King and Queen vis- Uhuru Kenyatta toured the new muse- including murder, detention and forci- in British courts that in 2013 secured
also branch out into reportage of many it the Uhuru Gardens Museum for what um, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forc- ble displacement. compensation for claimant Mau Mau
other facets on the country, including will be the first extended public display es, Gen Robert Kibochi, publicly called “We are appealing to King Charles, freedom fighters, an official apology and
the good, the bad and the ugly. of exhibitions delving into the struggle on the UK to return ‘looted’ Kenyan his- we need to get that skull to be brought funding for a memorial to victims of co-
There may well be outsize expecta- for freedom from British colonialism. torical artefacts that are in museums or back to Nandi for honourable burial,”de- lonial atrocities. It supported the out-of-
tions of gains from the visit, but the reali- The press release issued here by the private collections in that country. And scendant David Samoei told Kenya me- court settlement following years of pro-
ty is that royal tours are usually more im- British High Commission revealed that just last week, a group of Nandi commu- dia earlier this year. At Uhuru Gardens tracted litigation, but is now set to take
portant for the symbolism rather than “the visit will also acknowledge the nity elders renewed demands for the Museum, the King will tour a display advantage of King Charles’s visit to push
any important policy statements or more painful aspects of the UK and Ken- UK to return the skull of Koitalel arap that brings out the horrors of colonial- for further concessions.
commitments to financial aid or devel- ya’s shared history, including the Emer- Samoei, the fabled chief, spiritual lead- ism and the gallantry of freedom fight- According to Executive Director Da-
opment projects. The King is ceremonial gency (1952-1960). His Majesty will take er and freedom fighter. Samoei, who led ers. The museum visit will offer a chance vis Malombe, the premier human rights
Head of State, not Head of Government. time during the visit to deepen his un- one of the earliest rebellions against co- for acknowledgment that wrongs were
By tradition and custom, he will steer derstanding of the wrongs suffered in lonial occupation, was killed by Brit- committed, and that will probably come Continued on Page 21
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NATION SEPTEMBER
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NATIONAUGUST
AUGUST
AUGUST27,
10,
13,
6, 2023
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HE’LL MISS GOOD COMPANY IN A STATE WHERE EVERYTHING WAS SEEN WITH THE LENSES OF BRITISH SENSIBILITIES

ROYAL ETIQUETTE: WHAT NOT TO DO

Ladies must prepare to observe strict fashion and style protocol that bef its the royal couple.
No pant suits. That will be against the dressing etiquette. Hats will do very well for them. At
State House, the First Lady must have taken curtsy lessons for the occasion

BY OMULO OKOTH ity. Their farms have airstrips and hel-

ipads. Some families fly their children

K
ing Charles III and the Queen Con- to schools in Nairobi using helicopters.
sort will find a very different Kenya. They attend Banda, Peponi, Pembroke
Virtually all the vestiges of British House, from where they proceed to col-
rule are gone. When Charles Njonjo leges in the UK. One weekend at a polo
died in January last year, he was interred event in Gilgil, I overheard a phone con-
with everything that personified Brit- versation between a member of Manyat-
ish traditions and sensibilities. The King ta and a polo fan who wanted to come,
would have found a perfect company, a and was enquiring about the situation.
namesake and a man with whom they Well, he was told that all helipads were
share many things in common. occupied, so there was no need to come.
One day in Nanyuki, I was in the com- When I counted, they were around 15
pany of media colleagues heading to Dol choppers parked there majestically.
Dol to cover the annual Rhino Charge,an If you are still wondering whether I am
off-road four-wheel drive vehicle event, talking about events taking place in Ken-
which is more of show of might and ya, better visit places like Lewa and Ti-
glamour among the Kenyan propertied mau. Timau is where serious econom-
and moneyed class than any serious mo- ic activities, of agricultural and flori-
torsport contest. While seated inside a cultural kind, are happening. The roy-
banda of a fairly nice hotel for a well-de- al couple will be in good company there
served break, a group of boys – three if the Grosses – Anthony and Rowena –
white and one half-cast – dressed like are ready to step into the space Njonjo
any ordinary folks, but speaking with left. The Voorspuys, Tristan and Cindy,
a slightly upper class twang, sauntered should be handy to lead the couple to ex-
inside and settled around a table. They perience the local polo scene and the ex-
were followed by some crew-cut casually quisite muzungu hospitality there.
smartly-dressed ramrod two white guys Hiromi and Jadini Nzomo, Kimoi and
in dark glasses, who settled on a not-too- Kigen Moi will complete the line-up for
distant table,but strategically positioned King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony following their coronations on May 6. a friendly polo match that they king
to shadow the boys’table. Below: Prince Charles shares a joke with Attorney-General Charles Njonjo before flying out of Kenya in February 1971. should find worth whiling away time at.
I happened around their table, after After all, Timau is not too far from Tree
visiting the washrooms,and one of them III will dearly miss. President Daniel arap Tops where the then young Elizabeth
remarked about a Kenyan cricket jersey I Moi, another royal family’s alter ego, who Alexandra Mary Windsor and Philip
was wearing (at the time, Kenyan cricket even named his twin children Philip Kip- Mountbatten were honeymooning with
was trying to invade the space occupied chirchir and Doris Elizabeth Chepkorir Philip when her father, King George VI,
by the exclusive Test club). I acknowl- after the late Duke of Edinburgh (Phil- died and her world suddenly turned into
edged his compliments, but did not take ip Mountbatten) and Queen Elizabeth what she had not bargained for.
too much notice of anything else, possi- II, went to be with the Lord in February Prince Harry used to play polo in the
bly flattered by the appreciation from a 2020. Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, the same team as Rishi Ahluwalia, son of
young man. scion of the famous archaeology family Kenyan businessman Ashe and Kiran
Within 10 minutes, the boys left as cas- of Louis and Mary Leakey,who described Ahluwalia, during his student days in
ually as they had come in,again followed himself as paleoanthropologist and con- the UK. His sister, Amber, is a refined po-
by the two white men. Then word leaked servationist, and who was appointed by lo player from her student years in Chel-
around that it was Prince William and Moi to be the top bureaucrat, died the tenham in the UK. Horse racing is no
Njonjo’s son with their friends, whose same month with Njonjo (January 2022). longer where it was during the height of
parents occupy huge swathes of land Uncle Moody Awori is down with poor British socio-economic presence in Ken-
around Mount Kenya. These were school health and not in government, while Ki- ya, and thus may not offer the Royal cou-
mates (in the UK) on holiday, so-called jana Wamalwa,famed for his proper pro- ple good sporting entertainment.
gap period, enjoying the sun in Kenyan nunciation of English, is also gone. King Many years ago, horse racing was
countryside. Charles III will miss good company in The Nairobi Club gentlemen of the era It’s not lost on royal watchers that King where the British white community
Not quite like Sandringham Estate in a country where everything good was of Job Omino would have found a friend Charles III was an avid polo player, a showcased their presence in Kenya. I still
the English county of Norfolk, which seen with the lenses of British sensibil- of theirs in the King. But, alas! Most of sport he bequeathed to his rebellious recall the Limuru Gymkhana with nos-
houses the Royal Station, but why not ities – from Land Rover vehicles to Ken- these guys are long gone. son, Prince Harry. Moi’s grandsons, Ki- talgia. It was held on December 26 every
have a jaunt in a country which had lots ya Bus Service, London taxis, to Lonrho Among the dignitaries to receive the moi and Kigen, and their father, Sena- year and it was so big that riders would
of sentimental attachment to grand- conglomerate, then owned by Tiny Row- King and the Queen Consort will be a tor Gideon Moi, should invite the royalty fly in from Britain. British companies in
mother, the Queen Elizabeth II. land. The folks who displayed exquisite governor of the capital city who neither to Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil to have a Kenya would fall over one another to get
Media colleagues were a tad too late and aristocratic sartorial elegance with plays polo, nor savours jazz and does not fun-filled afternoon there. But the place sponsorship space and hospitality boxes
for soundbites and pictures. No one even products from Saville Row are long gone. quote Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, where the royal couple will find real on the podium.
knew where they headed.“Ooh my God! Perhaps, journalist-turned-ambassa- among the greatest play writes and nov- stuff is Timau. It was an event Lonrho-owned compa-
How did we miss that page one picture, a dor Manoah Esipisu (our man at the elists of the Victorian era, whose stories Timau is a back-water place near nies used to show their might – Toyota
world exclusive?”John Thuo, media fixer Court of St James) and the King’s repre- still spice up dinner at royal and high so- Mount Kenya, hardly ever heard of out- Kenya, Norfolk Hotel, East African Tan-
for Rhino Charge, cursed. We were stew- sentative in Nairobi have flown in some ciety events to-date. When the royal cou- side Central Province, but it is where ning and Extracting Company (EATEC),
ing in our frustration for the rest of the tail coats for use at the House on the Hill ple decide to go for sports events, they some of the best cut flowers are grown among others, displayed their products
trip to Dol Dol. Subsequent enquiries for the distinguished gentlemen. Ladies will be received by a minister who dress- and exported to Europe almost on a dai- therewith pomp. The British High Com-
by the team with the High Commission must prepare to observe strict fashion es more like a musician than an overse- ly basis. There is a small close-knit white missioner led his staff there in sampling
about the presence of the future king in and style protocol that befits the royal er of government policy. And that brings community here, which owns thou- the great Kenyan hospitality. In all, the
Kenya were met with the traditional “no couple. No pant suits here. That will be me to an area the royal couple may find sands of acres of land, which they uti- King will find a very different Kenya,
information about the royal presence (in against the dressing etiquette. Hats will some like-minded company. You see, lise so professionally one would wonder away from what the face of British capi-
the country)”. End of story. do very well for them. The First Lady that is the power of sports. whether this is Kenya or somewhere in talism epitomised in the last century.
That is the camaraderie Njonjo had must have taken curtsy lessons for the The King may find something to look Europe. They even have their own water
with the royal family that King Charles occasion. forward to in polo, the king of sports. supplies and produce their own electric- [email protected]
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POPULISTS ARE GOOD AT COINING CAPTIVATING NARRATIVES

Confronting the colonial past

THE MASTER OF SPIN

Continued from Page 19 Turner said at a news confer-
ence.“The British government
body in Kenya is working on a sincerely regrets that these
petition for presentation to the abuses took place.”
King out of concern for gross That apology was, however,
human rights violations com- forced at the conclusion of a his-
mitted by the British govern- toric ‘Mau Mau trial’ when Brit-
ment during the entire coloni- ish courts ruled that the gov-
al period (1895 to 1963) and the ernment was culpable for tor- Ruto has mastered the art of turning a challenge into an opportunity
continued injustices perpetu- ture, killings and other atroci-
ated by its corporates, citizens ties visited on freedom fighters
and programmes in Kenya, to on colonial detention camps. BY ELVIS ONDIEKI be part of the national conversa- li, the “Teflon Ruto” phenomenon or he’s also taking responsibility for
date. An out of court settlement tion,” he said in September 2021 in is due to the President’s giftedness. his actions. Like in the social issue of

A
They will demand an uncon- from the case pushed by KHRC great deal of scientific thought an attempt to endear himself to vot- “(He is) uniquely gifted in terms of Baby Abby, he came out and said ‘I
ditional public apology and saw the British government has been channelled towards ers at the bottom of the economic oration, political creativity and de- do not disown anything and this is
official acknowledgment of agree to pay each of more than understanding why cats hard- pyramid. bate,” said Kegoli. Ruto’s eloquence my responsibility and I have done a
wrongs over and above ‘inad- 5,000 claimants a sum of about ly fall on their backs when When his competitors threw jibes is a fact that the opposition Azimio number of things to make sure that
equate’ expressions of regret Sh350,000. The bulk of the set- dropped in an upside-down posi- at his choice of a “backward” wheel- la Umoja One Kenya coalition reluc- the mother is comfortable and the
previously offered in 2013 by tlement went to the British gov- tion. Similar attention may be head- barrow as his party symbol, Ruto tantly admitted in their analysis of baby is taken care of’. That silenced
then-Foreign Secretary Wil- ernment paying for the build- ing the way of President William Ru- had a response.“We picked a wheel- his one year in office, though they any criticism or the social issue turn-
liam Hague and High Commis- ing of a memorial to victims of to and how he manages to manoeu- barrow because it is a sign of work- were quick to note it often amounts ing into political fodder and giving
sioner William Turner; as well colonial atrocities. There were vre situations that look like political ing. You will find a wheelbarrow in to little.“Despite the rhetoric,despite advantage to his political enemies,”
as a 2015 apology from Presi- also official acknowledgements blows and land unscathed – if not a deputy president’s house and you the eloquent words and the confus- said Kegoli.
dent Kenyatta for post-coloni- and apologies from the High stronger. Ruto is quickly joining a can find it in the house of an unem- ing figures, Kenya Kwanza has been According to Prof Winnie Mitul-
al violations. KHRC will also be Commissioner in Nairobi as list of politicians associated with the ployed person. He will have it there badly exposed on all fronts,”said the lah, a political science expert, it is all
demanding reparations for all well as the Foreign Secretary in prefix “Teflon”, the chemical used in to help him do his work,” he argued coalition’s statement.“No amount of because Ruto is in his element as a
the atrocities committed to the the House of Commons. making non-stick cooking items. In in December 2021.“It can help you oratory or extravagant claims can populist.“Populists are very good at
different groups in the entire the list of Teflon politicians are per- in all jobs.” When he was under fire hide the harsh fact that we have had coining captivating narratives for
country, including adequate Torture and ill treatment sonalities like former US President for engaging in “tangatanga”, which an extremely disastrous and diffi- rallying populations. The hustler
compensation, rehabilitation, This is what Hague told the Brit- Donald Trump and Netherlands was going round the country to ad- cult one year and there is no reason narrative is not different from the
satisfaction and guarantee of ish Parliament: “I would like to Prime Minister Mark Rutte. dress rallies rather than focus on whatsoever for Kenyans to believe concept of jua kali, which Kenya has
non-repetition. make clear now and for the first They are known to quickly turn his duties as deputy president, his that the next one year will be better,” had for many decades,but Ruto pop-
They are also looking at re- time, on behalf of Her Majesty’s bad press to their advantage and response was that he was seeking it added. In Kegoli’s view, Ruto has ularised an alternative word as a ral-
parative development for com- Government, that we under- even thriving further. When he to stay close to the grassroots.Even mastered the art of turning around lying call,”said Prof Mitullah.
munities and regions they say stand the pain and grievance made his “mambo ni matatu” utter- in the face of personal storms like a perfect storm to his advantage. “Mambo ni matatu, which is now
continue to suffer the long term felt by those who were involved ance in September, Dr Ruto caused the 2017 matter when a woman “He’s able to change narratives and patented, is easy to sell because cor-
effects of colonial and post-co- in the events of the Emergency a storm. Through it, he gave the cor- came out to accuse him of neglect- is somebody who comes up with ruption remains a major challenge
lonial programmes of the Brit- in Kenya. rupt three options: Leave Kenya, go ing a daughter he had sired out of ownership. He says ‘I am responsi- and when the President says peo-
ish government. It is not clear at “The British government rec- to jail or be “transported” to heav- wedlock, Ruto responded and ex- ble for saying this, I am re- ple will go to jail, leave Kenya or go
this stage how the commission ognises that Kenyans were sub- en – a euphemism for execution. plained how he was sup- sponsible for say- to hell, the message hits what all of
proposes beneficiaries of such ject to torture and other forms Some critics found it unpresiden- porting the mother – ef- ing that’ us know is a problem and earns Ru-
reparation will be identified, of ill treatment at the hands of tial because it suggested the use of fectively shutting down a to a good score from many citizens,”
and the sums being asked for. the colonial administration. extrajudicial means as official poli- story about his private life she added. Kegoli thinks the art of
They also want de-classifica- The British government sin- cy.Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musy- that could have proved a the spin is a mechanism Ruto’s rival
tion of all materials and docu- cerely regrets that these abus- oka said it was a recipe for anarchy. political liability. Accord- Raila Odinga lacks.“Raila lacks polit-
mentation on colonial atroc- es took place, and that they A lobby group went to court to com- ing to political and poli- ical propaganda machinery. If you
ities, as well as return of Ken- marred Kenya’s progress to- pel Ruto to withdraw it.As he repeat- cy analyst Edwin Kego- remember the issue of mitumba
yan historical artefacts held in wards independence. Torture ed the phrase in a subsequent ad- (when Odinga pledged to reduce de-
Britain for rehousing by the Na- and ill treatment are abhor- dress to the pendency on second-hand clothes
tional Museum. It is not clear rent violations of human digni- nation, the if elected President), the propagan-
whether the commission has a ty which we unreservedly con- President da machinery on the wing of Ruto
list of artefacts that should be demn”. sought to ap- was able to turn it around and make
returned. These apologies of 10 years peal to the lo- it look so bad; that Raila intended
Contacted by The Weekly Re- ago will most likely be repeat- cals by saying it to kill mitumba business. That was
view, Prime Cabinet Secretary ed by King Charles, so they will was the only way not what Raila meant. Raila lacked
Musalia Mudavadi, who al- not be new, but still significant to save sugar a support base on how to legitimise
so handles the Foreign Affairs coming from him. There will, factories and his assertions and turn around the
docket, declined to comment however, be many others issues, other dwin- message that was in his manifesto
on the petitions and other ac- some related, crying out for at- dling invest- and pronouncement because the
tions planned for the royal vis- tention. There were groups that ments. Ru- propaganda machinery of Ruto al-
it by civil society and activist complained at the modest com- to has now ways overpowered what Raila had,”
groups.He is expected to give a pensation, and that only the patented argued Kegoli.Ruto has cut
press briefing with his British 5,000 claimants benefited, and the remark. the image of the politician
counterpart on Monday, a day further lawsuits have since Accord- who never lacks an an-
before the King lands. been filed. ing to a no- swer. Whether he
High Commission staff and There are also issues of his- tice in the is being criticised
advance teams from the Brit- torical land injustices afflicting latest jour- for taking wads
ish government who have Kenya to this day that are traced nal from the of cash to church-
met President Ruto and For- to colonialism. Kenya Indus- es in donations, or
eign ministry officials have These range from ongoing is- trial Property Insti- for constructing a ho-
broached concerns about likely sues over the vast tracts of land tute, the phrase “mam- tel on dubiously acquired govern-
protests, and are keen to avoid owned by multinational British bo ni mangapi” accompanied ment property, he always has a re-
any ugly incidents. It is under- tea farms in Kericho, the large by a three-finger sign is Ruto’s intel- sponse.“Mtoto wa masikini akipata,
stood that they have reached expanses of ranches and pri- lectual property. Equally,“mambo ni ameiba, lakini mtoto wa tajiri akiiba,
out to some of the civil society vate conservancies still held by matatu: mambo ni matatu” are reg- ni kwa sababu ya baba yake (when a
and activist groups to offer in- British and other‘settlers’in Lai- istered to Ruto. Using them in cloth- poor person’s child creates wealth,
clusion in the programme rath- kipia, as well as issues around ing, advertising, education, and per- he is accused of stealing; but when a
er than have them out causing British military training camps sonal and social services without Dr rich man’s child steals,it is because it
mayhem in the streets. in the same region. Ruto’s permission can land you in is his father’s),” he observed in 2018
On colonial atrocities, Brit- The King will make a visit to trouble. amid questions over the wealth he
ain already made a major and the coast, which will be signif- In turning the tide regarding was amassing.Like wrestler‘Amalin-
ground-breaking concession in icant, given issues around Is- “mambo ni matatu”, President Ru- ze the Cat’in Chinua Achebe’s Things
2013 when then-High Commis- lamic extremist and the threat to continued his tendency to spin Fall Apart, who got the nickname be-
sioner Christian Turner gave of terrorism, now added impe- “negativity” to his own advantage. cause his back never touched the
an official apology. “The Brit- tus by the renewed conflict be- Two years ago, as his opponents ground when he was in fights, Ruto
ish government recognises that tween Israel and Hamas mili- cast aspersions on him calling him- looks like he will keep building a for-
Kenyans were subject to torture tants in the Gaza strip, and Ken- self a hustler, he couldn’t resist spin- tress using whatever brickbats are
and ill treatment at the hands ya and Britain’s firm support ning that.“People are worried that thrown his way.
of the colonial administration,” for the former. the lowly have begun to realise that
their issues are important and must [email protected]
 22 The Weekly Review SATURDAY NATION AUGUST 13, 2023 SUNDAY NATION OCTOBER 29, 2023

opinion
ing subsidised fertiliser are prohibi-

Our development tive. Someone will may think that the

small scale farmers are registered to
access the fertilizer with ease but this
is not the case.

woes originate from K A R U T I

KANYINGA
Local cartels still make it hard for the
ordinary small farmers to access the
fertiliser. Sometimes the subsidised
fertiliser finds its way in the hands of

incoherent policies have deeper roots and require much

more reflection than we have done
thus far.
rice, and maize. Kenya imports three
times more wheat than rice. What is
worse is that we also import wheat
corrupt public officers who sell to lo-
cal businesses.
A look at data on imports show that
there are many other imported prod-
ucts that could be produced locally if

E
It also means the country has not flour in huge amounts every year. we had supportive policies. But these
verywhere you go in Kenya However, there are some employ- reflected enough on what strategies These are products that our farmers would require supportive bureaucrat-
today, people are discussing ees in the public sector who are in- to put in place to address the root produce but not in adequate quan- ic and political commitments to pro-
the high cost of living. The volved in predatory behaviour cause of challenges we face. But the tities. duce. The import of these products is
increasing costs of petroleum which adds pressure to the economy. decay in integrity is just a tip of the The point here then is that our pol- again dominated by vested interests.
products continue to cause Public servants, for instance, have iceberg. The development challeng- icies to support agricultural produc- Those importing them are so power-
increases in costs of activities in cultivated a per diem culture which es we face have origins in failure to tion have not registered adequate ful and entrenched in the economy
all sectors. The rising global oil prices, has matured to a point where it can- implement viable policies. This is an success. We have not adequately that it will take real courage and deter-
ongoing international conf licts, not be eliminated without causing a issue I now turn to. supported farming of these crops mination to break them.
and a weakening Kenya shilling crisis in service delivery. to a point where the costs and vol- These products include animal and
make it hard to find immediate Incomes from per diems, month to Development challenges umes of imports would decline. The vegetable oils, edible products and
and sustainable solution. And it is month, in some instances is far high- A close review of data by the Kenya costs of imports will certainly con- preparations, some chemicals, insec-
not going to be easy to find such a er than basic salaries of public ser- National Bureau of Statistics show tinue going up because of depreciat- ticides and fungicides, furniture, and
solution soon if there is no change vants. Teas/coffees, mandazi, fuel that we are net importers of goods ing shilling. There is no immediate associated repair items, among oth-
our everyday practices. Whether for vehicles, airtime for cellphones, including goods we can produce. We end to this. But if agricultural poli- ers. Some of these are produced lo-
Kenyans tighten their belts or hold hand copies of newspapers and oth- import more than we export. And cies were effectively implemented cally in small quantities without ade-
prayer rallies for the economy, it is er items under hospitality budget this is where the problem lies. Let us to support production of wheat, rice, quate supportive policies. Indeed, our
not going to be easy. lines have an incredible impact on begin with the cost of living as an ex- and maize – and sugar - these costs manufacturing sector has been on de-
But the economy will not col- costs of running the public sector. ample. All public opinion surveys would certainly come down. cline precisely because it is cheaper
lapse. Not at all. Kenya has a such Predatory culture of public ser- carried out from around 2009 show Past policies have not worked be- to import some of these than to pro-
a resilient informal economy that vants is picking up fast in the private that over 60 per cent of Kenyans cause of inconsistencies in imple- duce them.
it is hard to give in to this pressure. sector. But removing these items have been concerned about cost of mentation of policies as well as con- The cost of production is sometimes
Moreover, devolution has led to in- from the budget is impossible. Car- living. Many people have always said straints posed by vested interests high because there is insufficient pol-
creased economic activities includ- tels supply these items and they can- the country is ended in the wrong in the agricultural subsectors. Nota- icy reflection on what it would take
ing in spaces that were dormant for not allow removal without a fight. direction on account of high cost of bly subsidies do not serve the pur- to reduce cost of production. Incen-
decades. All counties have active It is one budget line that remained living. pose they are intended. Fertiliser as tives are lacking in some key sectors to
market centres where there is visi- active even during the days of the Optimism about the future direc- an important input is always subsi- promote production. Improving the
ble growth of informal activities. In- Covid pandemic. The private sector tion of the country is always blurred dized but the main beneficiaries are economy and reducing the cost of liv-
deed, informal economic activities has picked this behaviour too – it is by costs that ordinary households large and medium-scale farmers. ing is not going to be easy on account
continue to provide livelihoods to the same actors who bridge interests incur in daily living expenses. But They have the means to trans- of vested interests that dominate and
many. A majority of formal sector in private and public sector. How some of these challenges would port their fertiliser from the source constrain import market.
employees, at national and county goods and services are procured for have been arrested had the country to their farms. Small scale farmers
level, engage in informal economic private businesses now attract the implemented viable policies in vari- whose increased productivity would Prof Kanyinga is based at the Institute
activities to bring additional income same cartels that dominate the pub- ous sectors. Interestingly, for the last reduce imports rely on the market for Development Studies (IDS),
beyond what they get from their reg- lic sector. 15 years, the country has continued priced fertiliser near local business University of Nairobi, karutik@gmail.
ular jobs. All this implies that our challenges to import huge amounts of wheat, centres because the costs of access- com, @karutikk

It’s that time again, when Halloween ghosties and ghoulies walk free
Y
ou may agree or not, but a lot of by armed policemen and handcuffed fight and argue, not over bad driving,
people here will tell you with because an officer thought his water but for access to plug-in points for their
a straight face that this is the pistol was a real gun. electric cars. The motorway service
scariest time of the year. The lad was having a water fight in station chain, Moto, has hired marshals
On Tuesday, October 31, is Hackney, inner London, with his little to manage queues and calm down
Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, G E R RY sister; his pistol was blue and white, hers stressed and angry drivers who claim
the eve of the Christian feast of All pink and white. Unmistakeably, toys. charge points are too few.
Saints on November 1, a day for people
to remember loved ones who have died. LOUGHRAN Are our policemen blind?
A clue was offered by the children’s
The Department of Transport said
96 per cent of motorway service
For many others, it is a time when the mother. She asked,“Was his real offence areas already have such facilities and
dead rise from their graves and walk the up. angrily on Halloween pumpkins near being a black boy on the streets of hundreds more will be installed in
earth. It’s all about spectres and vampires, his village church. Hackney?” coming months.
Polls taken this year found that 34 per witches and skeletons, poltergeists and Father Jaromir Smejkal said,“Leaving “I know,” she said,“and the police know,
cent of Britons believe in ghosts, 28 per things that go bump in the night, the the rectory on Sunday evening, I saw they would not have treated my son in ***
cent say they have felt a supernatural night of October 31. numerous symbols of the satanic feast the way they did if he had been a white Terrible jokes for Halloween:
presence and nine per cent that they Just before writing this, I saw the of Halloween in front of our sacred boy.“I know that they would not have How do you write a book about
have communicated with the dead. driver of one of our local buses with grounds. I acted according to my faith… treated me with contempt as they did Halloween? Use a ghost-writer.
Certainly, you just have to turn to the painted white face and wearing what and removed these symbols.” or describe me as ‘aggressive’ if I was not What’s it like to be kissed by a
television listings to see how fixated this seemed to be a nun’s habit, an early Upon learning that the pumpkins black.” vampire? A pain in the neck.
nation seems to have become with the entrant in the scary stakes. were carved by the village children, the The Alliance for Police Accountability Why didn’t the ghost dance at the
supernatural. Halloween activities have exploded priest said it had not been his intention said the scene involving the boy was party? He had no body to dance with.
Ghost-hunting and paranormal over the years, which social historians to harm anyone, especially not children. horrific and appalling and officers did What do you call a witch with a rash?
investigations with titles such as put down to American influence and All this a long way from “Ducky Apple treat his mother with contempt. An itchy witchy.
“Uncanny” abound on air, depicting commercialisation of the original feast. Night,” when our dad filled a tin tub An investigation by standards
investigators prowling nervously A one-time evening of home-made with water and challenged us kids to department of the Metropolitan Police, A man believed his car was haunted,
through abandoned buildings in search fun now stretches to a week and more, duck our heads under and snare one of the force that covers London, found that so he asked a priest to exorcise the
of the undead. with expensive costumes, masks and half a dozen bobbing apples with our no misconduct had been committed by vehicle. The priest performed the
There are books and podcasts, diabolical paraphernalia on sale in the teeth, though what we usually got was a officers involved. A complaint of racial necessary ritual and presented the car
Fa c e b o o k g ro u p s , f o r u m s a n d big stores. mouthful of other kids’ spit. bias was being investigated. owner with a bill for £100, which the
walking tours, as well as such popular This has not always gone down well man refused to pay. A few weeks later,
Halloween activities as trick-or-treating, with traditionalists, especially some *** *** the car was repossessed.
carving grotesque lantern faces out of Christians. Just this month, a Catholic It was hard to believe at first… a boy of They call it “charge rage,” the latest
pumpkins, apple bobbing and dressing priest in Czechoslovakia stamped 13 was knocked off his bike, surrounded version of “road rage,” where motorists [email protected]
SUNDAY NATION AUGUST
23 SEPTEMBER
27, 2023
17, 2023 SUNDAY NATION AUGUST 13, 2023
25
31
SUNDAY NATION OCTOBER 29, 2023SATURDAY NATION AUGUST 13, 2023 The Weekly Review 23

people, power and politics OBIT

At the dawn of independence, he was employed by the Royal College as the resident carpenter
‘Shaft’ action star
How Kirima built his multibillion-shilling empire Richard Roundtree
leaves the stage

I
n 1976, Gerishon Kirima placed a allowed to start his abattoir in Njiru. As
notice in the Kenya Gazette that he KMC naively marketed its “up-market”
and his G.K.Kirima and Sons company beef, the Kirima group snatched
would not be held accountable for any the growing lower-end market and
debt incurred by his relatives, family, promoted the consumption of roast
or staff without his express authority. J O H N meat to build a viable meat industry.
That is how the billionaire ran his Because of that, Kirima became the
empire. Kirima was frugal – a billionaire
who was the king of bean counters.
KAMAU love of many Nairobi dwellers and was
elected a councillor and Nairobi Deputy LOS ANGELES

R
Thirteen years after his death, Kirima Mayor. Despite his dismal education, he
is back in the news after the High Court Njiru and entering into the most lucrative Average Quality. That would be anything was elected as MP in Nairobi.Meanwhile, ichard Roundtree, an icon
declared that he was the owner of the trade: meat supply. It was not surprising from hooves to offal meat, and each he had ventured into coffee farming and of Blaxploitation film who
vast land in Nairobi’s Eastlands that had that he added 108 acres from British butchery had its quota, which was not real estate and his children would not starred as detective John
been occupied by squatters and sold settler Charles Case, the son of an Ol Kalou guaranteed. It was this monopoly that be spared. They would join the other Shaft in Gordon Parks’ 1971
to unsuspecting investors by brokers, rancher, William Herbert Case. His next Kirima sought to fight since KMC was the coffee pickers and at the end of the action thriller, died on October
cartels,and land sharks.It is true. purchase in the same area was the 472 only licensed supplier of meat in Nairobi month,they would also be sent to collect 24 after a short battle with
I have seen Kasarani MP, Ronald acres in Njiru he purchased from Percy butcheries.But there were pirate suppliers, rent from his rental houses in Nairobi’s pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years
Karauri, question how Kirima acquired Everley Randal – a South African rancher and police and council askaris were Eastland. old. His death was confirmed by
the land. One needs to see the land who had sold most of his land to the UK- always on the lookout. Despite the wealth he had, Kirima was Patrick McMinn, his manager since
transaction files at the Kenya National based Magana Kenyatta. But ranching was not as profitable not sophisticated. He never showed off 1987.
Archives, and it is all there. Kirima had, With these ranches, Kirima established as Kirima projected, and so he was left his wealth. It is no wonder that people “Richard’s work and career served as
by 1967, emerged as one of the astute himself as a rancher keeping beef with real estate in an area that was wonder how such an inconspicuous a turning point for African American
African businessmen. He had started as animals, supplying Nairobi with meat, not inhabited. The price of meat was man turned into a billionaire. When he leading men in film,” McMinn said in
a carpenter and knew the art of creating and breaking the Kenya Meat Commission government-controlled, curtailing the lived, one could spot him around his his statement.“The impact he had on
wealth by being frugal. At the dawn monopoly, which had ignored steers from development of the meat industry. Kirima Building, opposite Jeevanjee the industry cannot be overstated.”
of independence, he was employed African-owned farms. Alternatively, they Many other farms in the vicinity – but Gardens, Nairobi, in the company of Roundtree was a leading man from
by the Royal College as the resident underpaid African farmers. owned by cooperatives, including the age-mates or taking tea in the eateries the very start of his lifetime in screen
carpenter, and he started operating a This pro-settler attitude would mark Kiambu Dandora Farm and the Embakasi nearby. acting. After beginning his career in
small workshop in Bahati, the hub of the demise of KMC for its history was Ranching Company would also collapse Court succession documents showed modeling, he secured “Shaft” at the
African entrepreneurs. It was in the the history of colonial meat supply. to the same fate. And like Kirima’s Njiru that Kirima’s estate could rake in Sh20 age of 28, marking his feature debut.
Bahati workshop that the family would Previously, during the colonial days, the Farm, they have faced the same problem million monthly. One day, Kirima came The MGM release earned $12 million
eke extra cash. They also run another government had established the African with squatters. to Barclays’ Banl Market Branch with in ticket sales off of a $500,000 pro-
workshop in Kaloleni where his first Livestock Marketing Organisation to Kirima ventured into the transport a bag full of money. He had apparently duction budget, helping to save the
wife, Agnes, would attend customers. regulate the animals from African farms industry, and his Kirima Bus Company walked from the nearby office. Then the studio from bankruptcy.
From here,she brought up her children. destined for KMC. Kirima had seen this was one of the most flourishing in Central daughter came rushing and asked him: A breakthrough hit, “Shaft” set the
Kirima was parsimonious, albeit opportunity, and he had brought together Kenya and competed with Dedan Njoroge “Why should you risk?”Kirima looked at tone for a prolific decade of Blaxploi-
thrifty, with the little money he earned. all the African butchers to demand Nduati’s Jogoo Kimakia Bus Service. It was the daughter and wondered who would tation filmmaking and demonstrat-
He opened bars and restaurants, taking their inclusion in the meat industry. As these two African-owned companies that dare take his money. ed Hollywood’s historical failure to
advantage of the rural-urban migration, chairman of African Butchers – later would challenge the British company It is perhaps this kind of faith that consider Black talent and the mov-
which had brought thousands of Kenya National Butchers’ Union – Kirima Overseas Trading Company (OTC) on saw him watch his estate invaded by iegoing audiences that they could
people to Nairobi to seek work. Banks became the voice of the multimillion- the central Kenya route. But Kirima Bus squatters. His later years were drama- reach. When asked about the “ex-
were looking at this emerging class of shilling industry. Company did not survive for long after filled: Witchcraft stories, a new wife, ploitation” label attached to “Shaft”
entrepreneurs to support – as white Njiru was part of his ranch, the space Kenyatta issued a decree that allowed deaths, and threats. As diabetes took by the New York Times in a 2019 inter-
settlers sought buyers of the vast in which he was to build Matatus to enter the transport business a toll on him, people took advantage view, Roundtree expressed some am-
ranches they held. Again, the Kenyatta h i s e m p i re . B e f o re from Nairobi to other towns in 1973. of his estate and started selling plots. biguity about the term.
government had no money to purchase independence, Kirima and other transport With poor eyesight and still hanging “I had the privilege of working with
all the land on offer. Africans were not entrepreneurs, Muhuri Muchiri, on to the properties, Kirima watched the classiest gentleman possibly that
The land Kirima bought used to be a l l owe d to buy Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya, as politicians also used his land as bait I’ve ever known in the industry, Gor-
owned by an Italian farmer, Domenico high-quality meat and Nduati, were some of the to attract voters. Kirima was not alone. don Parks. So, that word, exploitation,
Masi, a cattle rancher, who had opted from KMC, and the first casualties. But before he All the land owned by land-buying I take offense to with any attachment
to leave the country. Kirima purchased areas identified as sold the buses, Kirima was in companies in Nairobi’s Eastland would to Gordon Parks… I’ve always viewed
the land and cattle and became one of “African locations” a group that asked Kenyatta be invaded in a similar fashion. that as a negative. Exploitation.
the major meat suppliers in Nairobi. were supplied to intervene. By going to court, the Kirima estate Who’s being exploited?” Roundtree
But rather than enter the trade as a with low-quality But Kenyatta is reported wanted to right the wrongs done to said.“But it gave a lot of people work.
wholesaler, Kirima had opened his meat – only fit to have told them to invest a pioneer African businessman. It is It gave a lot of people entrée into the
Kirima Butcheries and tapped into for roasting. After in Matatus if they think they the story of how systems in Nairobi business, including a lot of our pres-
the emerging African middle class independence, this are eating his business.Kirima have collapsed – to the extent that ent-day producers and directors. So,
in Nairobi’s Eastlands and the city’s low-quality meat then folded his transport even Nairobi MPs do not know the in the big picture, I view it as a posi-
environs. was identified in company history of that land. It is also the story tive.”
During this period of Africanisation KMC parlance as FAQ, and was of billionaires who failed to push their Two sequels about the “bad moth-
of business, Kirima fought to break the meaning empires to new frontiers. er (shut your mouth)” quickly fol-
Kenya Meat Commission monopoly by Fairly lowed within the span of two years:
opening his abattoir in [email protected] “Shaft’s Big Score” and “Shaft in Afri-
@johnkamau1 ca.” In 1973, CBS attempted a “Shaft”
television series starring Roundtree
— a run that only lasted a handful ep-
isodes.
“You can’t erase events, but that’s one
I wish I could,” Roundtree told the
Times in 2019.“I had just come back
from ‘Shaft in Africa’ when they tried
to convert the character to television.
It wasn’t going to happen. That was
an ugly point in my long, illustrious
career.”

Stephen Gitagama Washington Gikunju Managing Editor, Andrew Anini Chief Graphic Designer
Group Chief Executive Officer Planning & News Desk Joan Pereruan Visual & Syndication Editor
Founded by the late Hilary Boniface Ng’weno Joe Ageyo Editor-in-Chief Mike Owuor Lead Editor, Sunday Nation Alice Othieno Graphic Designer
Pamella Sittoni Group Managing Editor Allan Buluku The Weekly Review Editor