kiheo kiria ahee Agikuyu othe, na undu wa kwandika kabuku gaka.
Mwene Nyanga agikarathime gathomwo ni ciana cia mumbi handu
cia ruma nacio mbeca iria ikuma hariko atume igathomithia ciana ciao
niguo ihane ta Kinyatta, na ituike kiambiria ngwaci nyingi.
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
257
(3) Th
e Home Coming Of Our Great Hero Jomo Kenyatta
Th
e purpose of this little pamphlet:
Th
is little pamphlet is of great importance to people who think for
themselves, for its title is ‘Th
e homecoming of our great hero Jomo
Kenyatta’. Th
is homecoming is great because for many days past the
enemies of our country were preaching to many people that Kenyatta
would not return, and some even got on their horses and said he would
not return.15 Even as they mount [their horses] and try to spoil the
aff airs of this blessed country as far as they can, some others disown
the name of their nation, until today there is a section of people who,
when they hear the name of the Gikuyu, shudder16 with hatred.
Kenyatta’s home coming could therefore be seen as a big victory in
that kind of war.17 It provides good evidence that no human being can
ever spoil things blessed by Almighty God.
Heroes like Kenyatta are the sort of people who are remembered for
ever and ever. Th
ose of us now alive have the great good fortune to be
able to see him with our own eyes.
Future generations will wish they could have seen him with their
own eyes or even hear him, or his voice, as we can these days.
Th
is little pamphlet has been written so that it may be read by people
to whom God has given the ability to understand things themselves,
and by schoolchildren, especially those belonging to the schools the
Kikuyu have built.18 Th
is would enable them to appreciate the eff orts
of one of those who made it possible for such schools to exist in the
fi rst place.
[Kenyatta] also made it possible for some Kikuyu tribespeople,
who may or may not have known the reasons why some lands were
given back to them, to live on land that they cultivate as theirs. At
the same time, he made it possible through his protest in Europe for
some Africans to be selected as representatives of their people in some
Government bodies.19
And now, things which he aims to do in the near future are big and
important. It is worthwhile for people to keep on expecting because
things have not yet come to an end. We are just on the road but we are
going, we are caught up in domestic trifl es but are not cast down. Let
him who is awake be ready to wake those who still sleep. Th
e writer
thanks God for enabling him to have all these things pass through his
eyes, mind, and hands, until they reach you, dear reader, in the man-
ner you read them now.
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Ndina ngatho hari mutumia wakwa J. Nyamurua tondu wa kundei-
thia kwandika maundu maya wega uteithio wake niutumaga mawira
maingi ma wandiki maria turaruta riu marutike na uhuthu.
Henry Muoria wa Mwaniki
Kirangari, 22–10–46
(4) Uria Amenyekire Ati Nieguka
Ta kuuga mweri 17–9–46 Kinyatta niahurire thimu e meri iria-ini, aki-
menyithia muthuri mugathe muno ti George K. Ndegwa ati niagakinya
Mombasa mweri 23–9–46. Nake Muthuri ti George K. Ndegwa anyita
thimu io akihura copy nyingi muno akihe andu othe aria moi bata wa
ruriri na bururi o Kinya agithii we mwene utuku kwa munene wa kiama
muthuri mutie muno na mumenyeku wega ti Joseph Kang’ethe.
Kahinda—ini o kau kanini njamba cia ruriri rua Gikuyu ikigomana
kuuma Nyeri, Embu, Murang’a na Kiambu. Nao makiaria maki-
iguithaniria ati athuri amwe na atumia matumwo Mombasa magatha-
ganie njamba ya ruriri ruitu. Nao athuri acio makihaica ngari ya mwaki
muthenya wa kiumia mweri 22–9–46 thaa ikumi na imwe, naho hau
giceceni ni hari athuri na atumia na anake aria moimagaririe gikundi
kiu kia andu acio matumitwo.
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
259
His ability to see and listen, his energy to record such events—all
of which are God’s gift s to him—by writing this pamphlet he will-
ingly passes them all on as his gift to his fellow countrymen. May the
Almighty God bless it so that it may be used for the education of their
children, in the fond hope that some of them will grow from a small
start to become like Kenyatta himself in their future years, according
to the traditional saying: ‘A good start brings more sweet potatoes later!
Or in Kikuyu: ‘Kiambiriria ngwaci nyingi’.
I also off er many thanks to my wife Judith Nyamurwa for her help
in arranging the materials for this pamphlet in a better way. Her help
usually enables me to write well and makes things easier in more ways
than one.20
Signed,
Henry Muoria wa Mwaniki
Kirangari, 22–10–46
(4) How it Became Known Th
at Kenyatta is Coming Home
On the 17–9–46 Kenyatta sent a telegram when he was still at sea, on
board ship, which told Mr George K. Ndegwa21 they would be arriving
at Mombasa on 25–9–46. When Mr George K. Ndegwa received it, he
produced many copies and arranged to distribute them to all the elders
who knew the value of their nation and their country. Th
en he went
by night to Murang’a, to the home of the former President of the KCA
Mr Joseph Kang’ethe22 to tell him about it.
Within a few days, heroes of the country of the Kikuyu met at Nairobi
from all parts of the country, Nyeri, Embu, Murang’a and Kiambu. Th
ey
agreed that some men and women should be sent to Mombasa to meet
and welcome our nation’s hero on his return home.
Th
ose who were selected to go to Mombasa to meet him boarded
the train at Nairobi station on Sunday 22–9–46 at 5.30 pm in the
aft ernoon. A large crowd had assembled at the station, to give them
heart with a good send-off . Th
e assembled crowd was composed of all
sorts of people. Young and old, men and women, and they all looked
happy and cheerful as they waved to those in the departing train. Th
e
names of those who were sent to Mombasa to welcome Kenyatta were
as follows: From Nyeri, Malaki Wachira. From Embu, Wanyiri wa
Karumbi. From Murang’a, Jessie Kariuki who was vice President of the
KCA;23 and Mr James Beauttah,24 leader of the whole group who had
been working for the country for many years from the very beginning
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Mariitwa ma andu aria matumitwo magathaganie Jomo Kenyatta ni
maya. Nyeri Malakhi Wacira Embu-Wanyiri wa Karumbi—Muranga—
Jesse Kariuki Vice President wa K.C.A. Muthuri mugathe ti James
Beautah uria urutite wira wa bururi kuuma o kiambiriria kia maundu
maria mothe mokonii ciana cia mumbi uteti-ini githomo-ini kia
Independent na ndini-ini ya African Arthordox Church tondu niwe
warehithirie Archbishop Daniel uria wathomithirie atungatiri Ngai a
ciana cia mumbi aria matari kaundu moragia mbari ya nyakeru gako-
nii uhoro wa Ngai. Mundu wa Kiambuu ni George K. Ndegwa uria
ithuothe tui wega ati niwe Acting General Secretary wa K.C.A. ucamba
wake ona ugi wake nduri njiriri na mundu ona uriku nake eheanite
he ruriri ruake Gikuyu na ngoro yake yothe. Th
iini wa meciria make
hatiri nii tiga o ithui.
Nao atumia mariitwa mao ni maya: Josephine Wangari ka Philinda
Makuo na Liliani Njeri. Nao nimakoretwo mari a niama kuma kahinda
karaihu kahituku tiga o mutumia umwe wao.
Mutumia wa Kenyatta Grace Wahu na mwanake wake Peter Muigai
o nao mari o rugendoini ruu matumitwo ni kiama no getha o nao
magathaganie mundu wao uria merigite kumuona na maitho moiki
handu ha miaka ikumi na itano mithiru ni amu Kenyatta acokire Ruraya
hindi ya keri mwaka wa 1931.
Mutumia wa muthuri ti George K. Ndegwa ugwitwo Isabella
Muthoni oigite ndangitigwo ogetha nake akone njamba io igikinya ni
getha ndakaneragwo. Mwandiki wa Mumenyereri nake niathaithanire
muno kwi munene wa kiama ati etikirio atwarane na gikundi kiu kia
atumwo ni getha ahote kuheana uhoro wa gukinya gwa Kenyatta wega
Mumenyereri—ini athomi ayo methomere gukira maheagwo na kanua
gatheri. Nake agitikirio atwarane nao, nake agicokia ngatho muno.
Acio nio andu aria mathire Mombasa guthagania njamba iitu Jomo
Kenyatta.
No riri ngumwira nama ati kuuma Nairobi kinya Mombasa hatiri
witu wahotire kuona toro tondu ngoro ciitu na meciria maitu cia-
koragwo ciuritwo ni githethuko gia kuria gugakia ri, na gia kuuria
hihi nitukamuona na maitho moiki, hihi ni kurota turarota kana hihi
tikurota? Hatiri wahotaga kwihoka meciria make o kinya riria twaire
gukamuona na maitho maitu, ona ningi ni twarigaguo kana ni ithui
tugakinya mbere ya meri tumweterere kana ni meri igakinya mbere iitu
atweterere, amu hatiri witu woi ni thaa ciigana meri igakinya.
the home coming of our great hero jomo kenyatta
261
in connection with all political aff airs, education and the founding of
Independent Schools. And in religious matters, he was one of those
who helped to bring to Kenya Archbishop Daniel Alexander—who
introduced the African Orthodox Churches in Kenya and trained the
servants of God of the children of Mumbi who are now responsible for
the running of such Churches today, without help from the clan of the
whites.25 From Kiambu, it was George K. Ndegwa whose courage we
all respect as the Acting General Secretary of the KCA. His bravery,
self sacrifi ce, and intelligence are well recognised by everyone. He has
wholeheartedly dedicated his life to the service of his nation. In his
thinking there is no I, only we.
And the names of woman members are as follows: Josephine
Wangari, Philinda Makuo, Lilian Njeri. Two of them had been members
of the Association.26
Included in the group was Kenyatta’s wife Gracie Wahu, and her
son Peter Muigai.27 Th
eir fares were paid by the Association so that
they could be present for the arrival of their man and his welcome.
Like everyone else, they had not been able to see him with their eyes
for the last fi ft een years. For Kenyatta left Kenya in 1931 for his second visit to England.
Mr George K. Ndegwa’s wife Isabella Muthoni had said she would
not like to be left behind at home, where she could only be told of what
had happened. She preferred to go to Mombasa with her husband so
that she could see Jomo Kenyatta’s arrival for herself.
Th
e editor of Mumenyereri had earnestly begged the chairman of the
selection committee to be allowed to accompany the group going to
Mombasa so that he could report Kenyatta’s arrival in his newspaper,
so that the people could read about it instead of being told what had
happened. Th
e chairman had agreed to let him accompany the welcom-
ing committee to Mombasa ( provided he paid his own fare for the train
journey). And those were the people who went to Mombasa to prepare
for our hero Jomo Kenyatta.
Th
e Train Journey from Nairobi to Mombasa
What I can tell you is this: From Nairobi to Mombasa none of us
could sleep because of the excitement that fi lled our hearts and minds,
wondering when dawn would break and asking ourselves if we really
were going to see him with our own eyes. Or were we in fact dreaming
about it as the night train made its way to the Coast?
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O tutanakinya Mombasa o twingari-ini gugithereruka, naguo ni
mweri 23–9–46 na twatigairie mairo mirongo ina tukinye Mombasa,
tukiona ati bururi ucio wari na mbura nene muno. No riri tondu woria
bururi guo mwene uiyuritwo ni mahiga, hatiri tui twa mbura twathiaga
na thi tiga o gutherera. Nata rui rumwe ruari giceceni gigwitwo Maji-
ya-chumvi ruari runene gukira Th
agana Munga no utiganu wa njui
icio cieri ni ati Th
agana ni rui rua gutura tene na tene, naruo ruu rua
Maji-ya-chumvi ruaikarage ta kiuma kimwe ruhue o na ruaneneha.
Hindi iria twakinyire giceceni gigwito Mazeras, tukiruo ati njira
ya ngari nithukie ni mbura mahiga magathererio ni kiguu mitambo
igatigwo utheri gatagati—ini ka Mazeras na Miritini. Tagieterera hau o
kinya njira igithondekwo ikiagira; ngari igikura handu ha thaa inya cia
rucini, tugikinya Mombasa handu ha thaa ithano ithenya ria thaa igiri
ta hindi iria ngari ikinyaga Mombasa hindi ciothe: Tugikora twetereiruo
hau giceceni ni muthuri ti John Wagema, munene wa makarani ma
thimu ma Railway na athuri angi Agikuyu.
(5) Twi Mombasa
Twaikaranga hau giceceni, mwandikithia wa Mumenyereri akiuria
George K. Ndegwa kana niaigwite uhoro wa meri thaa iria irikinya,
nake G. K. Ndegwa akimwira ati ni anyitire uhoro giceceni kiria ngari
igucereiruo wa ati meri io igwitwo ‘Alkantla’ igakinya muthenya wa keri
mweri 24–9–46 ithenya ria mweri 23–9–46 toria tweciregia tukiuma
Nairobi.
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Th
e confusion in which we found ourselves thanks to that excitement
meant that no one could trust their mind until we met him in person.
We also wondered if we would be the fi rst to arrive, or if Kenyatta
would arrive before us at Kilindini pier.28
Th
is was because none of us knew when Kenyatta’s ship from Europe
would arrive.
Th
e Heavy Rain that Delayed the Train
While our train was still on its way, in the early hours of the morning
of 23–9–46, and while we were about forty miles from Mombasa, we
came into heavy rain that drenched the whole area surrounding the
railway track. Because the area was dry and stony, no rain water was
absorbed into the ground. Every drop seemed to fl ow over the dry
stony land into numerous tunnels and formed large pools of
fl ood-
water near the railway station known as ‘Maji-ya-Chumvi’, which is
Swahili for Salty Water.
Th
e fl oodwater seemed to grow into a big river that reminded one
of the Sagana river,29 except that Sagana is permanent while the fl ood
was temporary and would dry up in a few days. As the train made its
way to the next station, Mazeras, we were told that the railway track
ahead had been made unsafe by fl oodwater that had washed all the bal-
last from under the track between that station and the next, Miritini.
Th
e train had to wait at the station until the track had been repaired,
before it was allowed to pass through to Mombasa.
We left Mazeras about ten o’clock in the morning, arriving at
Mombasa at eleven o’clock instead of eight o’clock in the morning
when the train was normally due. We were met at the station by Mr
John Wagema and other Kikuyu elders who were expecting us as the
welcoming committee from Nairobi.
(5) Our Arrival at Mombasa
After waiting a short while at the Railway station, the editor of
Mumenyereri approached Mr George K. Ndegwa and asked him if he
had heard anything about the arrival time of Kenyatta’s ship. He told
the editor that he had already received information at the last station at
which the train had been delayed, telling him that the ship was due to
arrive on 24–9–46 instead of 23–9–46 as we had expected when leaving
Nairobi. And that the ship’s name was, ‘Alkantla’ [ Alcantara].
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Tugicoka tukireheruo mitokaa iri ya Taxi ikiamba gukua atumia
na arume magicokeruo, atumia magitwaruo kwa mutumia umwe
Mugikuyu ugwitwo Elizi Waceke o na niwe wa mayitire ugeni o wega.
Nao arume magitwaruo thingira-ini wa ciana cia mumbi witagwo
Kikuyu Club, na nigwo tene wari wa kiama kiria gietagwo ‘Kiama gia
Kunyamara’ na matuku maya niwa Kiama gia Kikuyu General Union
kiria kiinukagia andu anja aria amaramaru matuire mamenithagia ruriri
rua Gikuyu, Twoima hau thingira—ini ucio tugitwaruo kwa muthuri ti
John Wagema, tukigaguruo cai na thutha wa cai andu makiharagania
magithii gucera itura-ini ria Mombasa hwai-ini tugicemamia ringi kuu
thingira-ini wa Agikuyu, na thutha wa gutabariruo, ageni makigayanirio
andu akuu Mombasa makamahe toro.
(6) Gukinya Kwa Meri
Meri io igwitwa Alkantla iria Kinyatta okite nayo kuuma Ruraya yakore-
Writing for Kenya Page 39
