Uhuru: Great to be back on my own feet

When he visited his father’s old house in Maralal Town four years ago, deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta wrote in the visitor’s book: “Conceived in this house in the year 1961. A pleasure to be back using my own two feet.”

Kenyatta House, now a national monument, is where Kenya’s founding president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, spent one year and eight months in the early 1960s, before Independence.

And it is in this house where Independence was born and Kenyatta wrote his best known book, Facing Mount Kenya.

“In 1960, the colonial government realised it was inevitable for Kenya to gain its independence, and recommended four suitable candidates for president; Ronald Ngala, Tom Mboya, Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta,” explained Muli Mulwa, a guide at the house.

Sir Michael Blundell, who was acting as a link between the British Government and Kenyatta recommended Kenyatta.

“Blundell saw Mzee as the ideal candidate who could unite all the groups headed by Mboya, Odinga, Ngala and Moi,” said Mr Mulwa.

Before he was brought to Maralal, Kenyatta was detained in Lodwar after being imprisoned in 1953 for allegedly managing Mau Mau.

When he arrived in Maralal early April, 1961, his family — Mama Ngina and two children, Christine Wambui, and Jane Njeri — joined him.

“When he was brought here, Mzee was partially free,” said Mr Mulwa. “He was allowed to walk to Maralal trading centre, but he was not allowed to address a crowd.”

Everything in the house appears as it was. When you enter it, the eyes in Mzee’s large portrait stare at you.

Although repainted, the walls of the three-bedroom home retain the original colours and the lounge features high backed wooden chairs with white canvas pillows and a dining table while the kitchen has an oven that also heats the bathroom water.

No one is allowed to sit on the chairs, or beds, for they need to be preserved for future generations.

‘‘This piece of history is important for this country,” explained Mr Mulwa.

The bed in the master bedroom is metal framed and with springs. The mattress is made of sisal. Besides the bed is a charcoal iron box.

Through the bedroom window one can see the hilly landscape on the outskirts of Maralal.