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December 16-31, 2010 ISSUE 031 A bimonthly on-line newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of African Woman and Child Feature Service Taita Taveta caves where Kenyatta consulted the oracles Kino caves in Taita Taveta where the first Kenyan President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (Inset) and other freedom fighters used to hide during the struggle for By BENSON MWANGA avoid arrest and strategise on how to wrest independence. The late Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere also used to visit the power from the colonialists between 1950s caves to strategize for independence of his country. Picture: BENSON MWANGA Not many Kenyans are aware that the amaz- and 1960s were the late Jaramogi Oginga ing and glamorous cave in Taita-Taveta Odinga, Tom Mboya, Achieng Oneko, Bil- County played a major role in the country’s dad Kagia and Mbiyu Koinange. a sorry state of neglect hence burying its Area residents, among them three local liberation struggle. past significance amid calls for its preser- MPs expressed their wish to have the site However, located in the sleepy village of Freedom fighters vation as a historical site. along with other caves on the Taita Hills Mwanguwi, Wundanyi Division, one will Local freedom fighters who hosted Once a popular hiding place for freedom documented and converted into a tourist find caves that once served as a secret hide- Kenyatta and fellow liberators were among fighters, the cave has been encroached on attraction. out for prominent freedom fighters includ- others Zephania Mkuji Nyambu on whose and its once flourishing vegetation cover The legislators who include Mwatate ing the late President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. land the cave is located, Woresha Mengo, cleared to pave way for farming, beating its MP Calista Mwatela who is also Education It is unfortunate that Kino caves have Jimmy Mwambichi and Fredrick Maseghe. historical value. Assistant Minister, Dan Mwazo (Voi) and not been gazetted as a historical site even Today, they are all dead. It has now degenerated into a den for Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi) are call- though they have a unique history. Nyambu was the Kanu chairman and wild animals like bats, squirrels and mon- ing on the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) to Yet it is within these caves that impor- founder member of the Taita-Hills Asso- goose. Residents have accused successive identify and package rare features in the tant meetings which included intense strat- ciation. governments of neglecting the site despite picturesque Taita Hills. egies on how Kenyans would be free from The Kino Cave stands poignantly on its historical importance in the country’s They want KTB to include the sites in the colonial administration took place. one of the highest peaks of the idyllic, pic- liberation struggle. the tourism circuit as an initiative that will The deep natural hollow and spacious turesque Taita Hills. The Hills are home to “This is the place where Kenyatta and generate income for the local community. underground with an opening to the sur- several holy shrines of the Wataita, some his colleagues would hide when the colo- Other interesting sites include Wesu face inside of a cliff was the place where of them hidden in a labyrinth of caves. De- nial administration was after them,” says Rock, Shomoto Caves and Mbololo For- meetings took place. spite the impressive history, there is noth- Mr Scaver Kiwoi, 75, pointing the cave to est. Others include the one storey build- Besides Kenyatta, other celebrated free- ing to show for these important facilities. members of the Press who visited the his- ing in Voi town where the late Kenyatta dom heroes who frequented the cave to A visit by The Reject found the cave in torical site recently. Continued on page 2 Management and staff of African Woman and Child Read more Reject stories online at and Media Diversity Centre wishes all readers www.mediadiversityafrica.org a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2 Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth ISSUE 031, December 16-31, 2010 Caves where freedom fighters consulted the oracles Continued from page 1 used to get accommodation in Majengo area as well as War Memorial Cemeteries in Voi, Maktau and Taveta. Others include churches like St Marks in Sagala location which has been converted into Rev Ray Memorial Church Museum and Mahoo ACK Church built by the early missionaries in Taveta town. The heroes would come to the district to seek among other things support from the local community and spiritual guid- ance from local traditional medicine men to overcome the colonial administration. Spiritual healing Though many Kenyans might not be aware of the long relationship Kenyatta had with the Taita community, the founding fa- ther of the nation is said to have occasion- ally frequented the district to seek spiritual guidance from traditional medicine men. Says Kiwoi: “At that time Taita Taveta District had become a place of pilgrimage for scores of leaders seeking traditional healing because the area produced seers and medicine men whose fame spread far Kenya’s freedom fighters who were detained in Kapenguria after they were and wide.” arrested during the emergency. From left: Kungu Karumba, Bildad Kaggia, He adds: “The area produced some of Achieng Oneko, Jomo Kenyatta, Moi (not among the Kapenguria 6 but in the the famous witchdoctors in Coastal region picture), Paul Ngei and Fred Kubai. Below: Local tourists enjoying the sights among them tribal leaders like Mwakisha- at the Kino caves. Pictures: Reject correspondent and Benson Mwanga luwa Mkamba and Richard Mwangeka.” The freedom fighters came to acquire goat’s meat that was coated with protec- Kenyatta is said to have had charms and consulted the oracle from time tive charms. Libation — a ritual pouring a soft spot for the community to time on various issues pertaining to their of a drink as an offering to a god or deity known for obedience as evi- welfare and unity of Kenyans including de- — was done using the local brew Mban- denced by the appointment of velopment matters. gara, to appease ancestors and gods in the late Dr Eric Mngola and Explains Kiwoi: “Kenyatta and other he- order to make the charms effective to the Mwatate MP Major (Rtd) roes sought protective charms from local user. Marsden Madoka as his per- witch doctors to avert arrests from the co- He says the intestines would indicate sonal physician and bodyguard lonial government.” when the mzungu (white man) would go respectively. back to his mother land (Europe) and leave The Kenyatta family also Cave life Kenya to Kenyans. owns the expansive Gicheha “The results would tell the truth about Farm in Taveta Sub-District. The freedom heroes also came to seek the government to honour the coun- what would happen to the enemy and Kenyatta High School in Mwatate was also support from the Taita Taveta community try’s heroes and heroines by improving would also give advice about the future,” named in his honour. in the quest for independence and fight for on their standards of livelihood as a way says Mulekenyi. Residents argue that despite the fact land rights. of appreciating their contribution to the He explains: “At one point, the tradi- that Taita Taveta played an important role Kenyatta and his colleagues would hide society. tionalist predicted that Kenyatta would at in the fight against colonial rule, the com- and sleep in the caves for fear of being ar- Presenting his views recently to the Task- one time be arrested and jailed for going munity has not benefited from successive rested by the colonialists. force on Criteria and Modalities of honour- against the British rule but would later be governments. “They would light fire in the cave at ing National Heroes and Heroines, Kayanda released and become the first President of They say preservation of the cave as a night and roast cassava and sweet potatoes said some people had sacrificed a lot for the the republic of Kenya.” tourist site would earn the residents rev- among other indigenous food to supple- country but had been neglected. The medicine men’s strange powers enue and uplift their standards of living. ment the little rations provided for them forced people of all walks of life to come “Despite the fact that Mzee Nyambu and by their hosts,” explains Kiwoi. Neglect to the district to consult the oracle and others hosted prominent heroes, their fami- Three women would cook and serve Families of most freedom fighters were also seek protective charms to overcome lies are still poor as a result of lack of educa- indigenous food to the heroes like maize, languishing in poverty despite their im- enemies. tion and employment,” says Julius Righa, 67, kimanga, maduma, pure and ndoto among mense contribution. He petitioned the “Kenyatta often consulted the tradi- the eldest son of the local hero, Nyambu. others. government to do something about their tional medicine men from time to time The family blames their woes on local Earthen pots and other utensils that welfare. on various issues pertaining to unity, land MPs during the Kenyatta regime for fail- were used to cook for the freedom fighters Kayanda decried the habit of honouring rights and the general welfare of Kenyans. ing to champion the interests of the local were reportedly taken away from the cave people after they are long dead saying this The power of the medicine man was in community. and preserved at the Kenya National Mu- reflected badly on the country but suggest- full control of almost every aspect of life “Kenyatta was willing to assist families seums of Kenya, Mombasa. ed that family members of the deceased be including development at that time,” ex- of heroes who assisted him in time of need “The heroes slept on dried banana assisted by the state.