KIAMBU PEOPLE ALSO FOUGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT - HON JOHN KAMAU ICHARIA.

Описание: In this, informative and wide-ranging interview, Hon. John Kamau Icharia, the former MP for Kiambaa and one of the heroes of the second liberation, states categorically that Kiambu people in general, and in particular the famous Mbari ya Kihara of Gachie, fought for independence, just like other Kenyans. Although he was a teacher, he took the oath and contributed to the war effort by deliberating overlooking blatant evidence of the participation of young men in his community in the struggle. He was at the scene where Chief Waruhiu wa Kung'u had been shot by Mau Mau and witnessed as colonial policy combed the area for evidence. He tells of the complicated politics surrounding the release of Jomo Kenyatta from detention. He was part of a delegation by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) that went to see Jomo Kenyatta upon his release in 1961. He was part of a team of senior education officials who were involved in the preparations for the independence celebrations in 1963. He also tells of how the first cabinet was formed and how Bruce MacKenzie entered the cabinet. He knew Mbiyu Koinange, with whom he used to have lunch in Nairobi. He also talks extensively on the land issue: the Carter Land Commission, how Africans bought land from the departing settlers, how Jomo Kenyatta distributing titles with utmost dedication in Nyandarua and Nakuru, so much so that a new state house had to be opened in Nakuru so that he could spend the night there instead of going to his home in Gatundu, and how it the policy of willing-seller, willing-buyer came to be honoured. He says that he the success of the settlement program was largely dependent on institutions that worked. For instance, he says that KCC was so efficient that it was working like a bank! And so was KFA. Both these institutions were destroyed during the administration of President Daniel arap Moi. He also talks about how Githunguri-based Kenya Teachers College was started by Mbiyu Koinange as part of the praxis for his PhD studies. He says that this college had students from diverse parts of Kenya and even Uganda. #maumau #kenyatta #kenya #africanliberation #Icharia #uhuru