A family in Kibera now wants the government to declare their ‘historic’ house a museum, claiming that it was used by the freedom fighters as a hiding place during the struggle for independence in Kenya.
The family has expressed disappointment with the governments since independence for failing to recognise the role played by their late grandfather Ramadhan Marjan, a soldier with the King’s African Rifle during the colonial period.
Marjan is said to have provided a hiding place for the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in his house dubbed Nyumba Kubwa at Makongeni village in Kibera during the fight for independence.
“The government has forgotten our grandfather Ramadhan Marjan who helped Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and other freedom fighters during the struggle for independence," narrated Ibrahim Ahmed Ramadhan, a grandson to the late Marjan.
"This house was built in 1917 by my grandfather and other soldiers who were in the King’s African Rifle and so they hid Kenyatta away from the colonialists,” he added.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview with this reporter, Ahmed opined that Nyumba Kubwa should well serve as a historic site where local and international tourists can visit.
“This house should be treated just like other historic sites such as Fort Jesus. We should not be left suffering yet one of our own played an integral part in salvaging the country from the hands of the colonial masters. This is a place that we can get income when tourists visit,” said Ahmed.