I am not sure whether this information will add more 'sukuma wiki' on your plate or add a few units of power to your meter, but it is good to know
Did you know that Jomo Kenyatta was born in Machakos in a family that has Kamba roots many years before colonialism? His early childhood was spent in Ukambani, but he later moved to Gatundu where he was brought up by his uncle before colonialism when there were no districts.
Ukambani was much larger than it is now and reached up to what is now the interior of Kiambu County, especially the drier parts including Ruiru and Juja.
His relatives are still found in that part of Machakos.
These relatives belong to the Kamba tribe but also retain strong cultural links with the Kikuyu. They have names like Kisoi (Gichohi), Nyaa (Nyaga), Mutuli (Muturi), Ngei (Ngegi) and Maana (Magana).
Yes, Johnstone Kamau wa Ngegi was a Kao of the Kitondo clan. His political alias Jomo in Kamba is Nzomo.
This information has never been documented. There is a large part of history that has not been researched nor documented, especially if it is not politically correct.
His Kamba relatives are found at Ngelani and Kyanguli sub locations in Mutituni Location, Machakos County.
These kamba/kikuyus never discuss this matter unless asked. This place was the nerve centre of the famous protests of 1938 against the colonial cattle destocking policy.
Kenyatta who was in London played a big role in highlighting the struggle, to a point it became a subject of debate at the House of Commons.
This episode in Kenya’s anti-colonial struggle informed strategies of the better known and by far the more vicious the Mau Mau. In fact, residents of this area say that the word Mau Mau was first spoken in this area.
It is where the first oathing took place using the Kamba' kithitu' ritual. Kenyatta was a frequent visitor to this area (usually unofficially) before and after independence and the last one was like two weeks to his death.
#historynow