In a bid to pit the Kikuyus against Luos to make it easier to manage Kenya through the divide-and-rule system, it has emerged that the British devised a clever way to realize their goal, years before independence.
This was done in 1953, at a time when the British were having their fights with the Mau Mau freedom fighters, who were making it hard for them to rule from the forests.
They believed that the fighters had links with some leading politicians, a fight that members of the Luo community were not involved in.
At the time, most Kenyan politicians had joined hands against the British, save for the likes of Kenya African Union (KAU) Vice President Tom Mbotela.
Despite being the second most powerful member of the union, after Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mbotela was leaking information to the British about KAU's operations.
This was largely about the union's relationship with the Mau Mau fighters, who the British wanted to be isolated,and in September 1951 reported to the British that KAU officials were involved in administering Mau Mau oaths.
To further segment the nation, the British attempted to use the assassination of Ambrose Ofafa, KAU Treasurer, in Ziwani in late 1953,
After being shot and killed by an assailant at night, the British heaped the assassination on Kikuyus, in a bid to incite Luos against the Kikuyu.
However, KAU leaders Jaramogi Oginga and Tom Mboya, from the Luo community, detected the trick and moved with speed to quash it by holding meetings all across the city warning Luos against falling victim to the tactic.
Ofafa, who also served with Mbotela as Councillors in the Nairobi Municipal Council, before their relegation to mere members in November 1951, was buried in Alego, Siaya.