HOW A BITTER CHIEF KOINANGE WA MBIYU SECRETLY ORGANISED A REVOLUTION AFTER LOSING ANCESTRAL LAND
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Unknown to most, one of Kenya's greatest heroes of the liberation struggle was a colonial Chief: Koinange wa Mbiyu who died in 1960 aged almost 90 years. Listen to this extensive interview which his son, Leonard Karuga Koinange, graciously granted us and you will understand why Chief Koinange must rank among Kenya's greatest historical figures. A lover of modern education, he played extreme deception to the colonial government with ease for many years, serving as a Chief during the day while organizing the anti-colonial war at night. His home was the venue for the famous Kiambaa Parliament, to which Muhimu reported. All the African nationalists from around Kenya gathered here, and both the Kabaka of Buganda, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and the famous African-American diplomat, Ralph Bunche, among others, visited Koinange's home. Chief Koinange's fame is often overshadowed by that of his Pan-Africanist son, Mbiyu Koinange, the first Kenyan to earn BA and MA degrees, who went on to serve as *Jomo Kenyatta’s most trusted confident and as Minister for State in the President's office. Chief Koinange wa Mbiyu, a soft spoken man of a diminutive stature, was an enigma personified. He embodied the quintessential character of the Kikuyu as White people viewed it: hard working, untrustworthy, conspiratorial, intelligent. The source of Koinange's oftentimes obscurity stems from the fact that, on the one hand, he was a colonial chief, so he is often lumped in the popular imagination together with the other chiefs who collaborated with the colonial regime; on the other, Chief Koinange was arrested and jailed in Marsabit for being intimately connected with Mau Mau. It was at Chief Koinange's home that the Mau Mau movement was born, as it is where the first nationalist oaths were taken. It was also at his home where stolen guns started being stockpiled in readiness for war as far back as in 1946, and where top Mau Mau Generals such as Dedan Kimathi, Stanley Mathenge, and Musa Mwariama, amongst others, were commissioned and sent forth to lead the war. One of his sons died while servicing a gun, death that was taken as the fulfilment of Mugo wa Kibiru’s prophecy that Kenyan independence would come only after the sacrifice of a "hairless goat" (a human being has "no hair"). At the same time, Chief Koinange was arrested for alleged involvement with the assassination of Chief Waruhiu, who had earlier inherited Koinange's administration jurisdiction upon his de facto demotion, leaving Koinange with the hollow title of Senior Chief without portfolio. At a meeting in Kirigiti Stadium at the height of Mau Mau agitation, Chief Koinange told the rally that he had seen many white people, but none of them owned land in Kenya, since land could only be owned through the *Mbar*i system (family kinship group), and white people were clearly not members of any African Mbari. Much earlier, Chief Koinange had formed the *Kikuyu Association, one of the earliest modern nationalist organizations, in the early 1920s. Koinange was also one of the key figures behind the construction of Kenya Teacher's College, Githunguri, that hub for Kikuyu political radicalisation in the lead-up to the State of Emergency. In this interview, Karuga Koinange was clearly a very bitter man, and this interview explains why in great detail. His speech in front of Parliament in Britain in the early 1930s triggered the formation of the Morris Carter Land Commission that released its report in 1934. This commission defined all land as belonging to the British crown and drew boundaries beyond which Africans could not own land. Chief Koinange was also one of the key figures behind the construction of Kenya Teacher's College, Githunguri, that hub for Kikuyu political radicalisation in the lead-up to the State of Emergency. In this interview, Karuga Koinange, unpacks the long and illustrious history of the man who was once labelled "the evil genius behind Mau Mau". Mr. Karuga not only has a great grasp of historical events and his father's role in the liberation struggle, but is also a great narrator of history; the details he shares here are remarkable for their succinctness. In this interview, he was accompanied by his friend, Hon. Kamau Icharia, who was a young teacher when Chief Koinange was still alive; he fills in in important details about Chief Koinange. As our viewers know, all our interviews are worth watching but this one has outdone itself! We hope you will like the interview, share it widely and subscribe to our channel for more content about Kenya's and Africa's liberation struggle.
#maumau #history #kenyanhistory #revolution #africanhistory #koinange
Doesn't it humble you to listen to this man? Brain the size of a football field with a memory to match a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) As one who has taught at tertiary levels on two continents, I can say that a university degree (while useful) isn't always necessary or proof of intelligence. This guy has shedloads of brilliance and glad he is sharing it with us....
Extremely humbling. These wazees used to read and listen carefully to their elders. Most of us watch social media and nothing else.
After listening to this fantastic history, I’m proud to be a Senior Chief Koinange High School Alumni…👍👍👍
Great man he was!
Wonderful history of great men of our country. Thank you for doing this.
Our pleasure!
The flow and clarity in his story telling is just amazing
He is a brilliant man.
The interviewer has truly achieved mastery, great artist style of sitting back and listening to the subject.
He is a good listener
Thank you
As a Historian, I have learned a lot of history from Mzee Karuga Koinange than i ever learned in school
That makes a lot of us!
Me too
It explains
Me too
Agreed! Same here, salute 🫡 this school of maumau chronicles. Seeking geographical and agricultural lessons.am a medical doctor so prefer learning other subjects
This is beautiful history and educating us so much. Facts coming from a descendant. It does sound Chief Koinange was a humble great thinker and warrior in his own way. A man who cared for the good of others. Hard worker mentally. I wish we had at least one politician in 2025 who cares for Kenyans like this Great Chief. Do not get me wrong. Other greats were mentioned but the story is about The Great Chief Koinange. He was extraordinarily gifted.
Chief Koinange was brilliant man who understood the enemy and moved to outwit them
After watching this i am proud to be a Kikuyu.
❤
Mugi Kuri Uyu has always had a structured and spiritual upbringing, he ventures where others seek not too, just because of the power of his intelligence, spirituality, high moral aptitude, and communal sense of social good.
while others capitulate and jipendekeza to the collaborators or oppressers, he unapologetically pursues the path of resistance, it does not matter, whether the end is death or whatever, when he makes ituika with fate then, history is written.x
I love history . Now I know that people misunderstood Senior Chief Koinange.
Prof you are doing an amazing job, documenting this story, like my grandma d*ed with stories za mau mau noma sana, ní théngíú
I tried to get my grandma to the maumau stories but she declined said itiheyanikaga but saw wanja tuchora a relative on this show...my village has scars...
Thank you!
@@ianjoseph5325 It is understandable. Most of the veterans live with trauma. Find her in a good mood and she will talk
@maumauchronicles4296 very true prof. Very visible in the eyes especially about indecency towards women
we have many Kikuyu billionaires, the spotlight of the Agikuyu nation, they should as corporate social responsibility set a monument or museum for the Maumau, a structure similar to the apartheid museum in South Africa. Recount the experiences of the Maumau, that's the missing pieces of the puzzle.
Powerful Just powerful! That Githunguri the first native college was teaching politics is insightful.
Yeah. Kenya Teachers College Githunguri taught politics, not political science.
Names, dates, locations, chronological storytelling. Mzee Karuga Koinange is an icon
Thanks for recognizing the value of historical accuracy and the importance of Mzee Karuga Koinange.
Githiga kinungu ,kanjegeni ,we have this family ,gatheca, gikonyo , mbiu 😊
Good to know
This man is very clear and coherent on matters of our history.I compare him with Mr Lee Njiru,our living encyclopedia.
Nice comparison
This is a gem!!! Thank you
You are most welcome
Finally mmefika kwetu..mbiyu wa koinange is my neighbour
Glad to know
A history class.🇺🇸🇰🇪🎉🫡🌟🇺🇸🇰🇪Thank you so much. Dr.Elizabeth Nyambura Mûhîa.Gatûndû North.
Hello Daktari
Karibu sana!
Informative and impartial. Let's refrain from mixing issues and characters. If someone thinks Minister Mbiyu did things wrong, his clan can not be held guilty
Fair comment
Also viewers must not attack him. He's telling his wider family history the way he knows it.
Wow..a great detailed narration with specifity of events of this country's history. A museum at Githunguri in honour of senior Chief Koinange as a memorial to generations
You can't expect this to be done by anyone. Only members of the community who feel the need to preserve history and memorialise hereos could do that
Beautifully narrated. God bless the Koinanges
Amen!
This oral history told from the living voice and memory of the traditional victims of history is valuable beyond measure.
Thank you
Awesome history lesson👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿keep it up maumau chronicles 💯👏🏿👏🏿
Thanks for watching
Great narrator & memoirs
On his behalf, thank you
King'u, Lee and this Mzee should be protected.
They are a treasure
What an informative story! This Mzee is a full library
He is!
This senior citizen have a more detailed precolonial history of Central Kenya than all the books in libraries and Kenya archives combined
They sure do know a lot
Mzee Karuga is full of wisdom. A walking encyclopedia.
A very well informed man.
I love this History lessons🎉
Glad you like it
Very good history lesson.
You could say that again!
Very good history lesson and historical facts.
Agreed
This was one very enlightening docementary. How can someone interested in learning more contact you, the interviewer or Mr. Koinange? Also, is anyone surprised and disappointed as I am that possibly most Kenyan young people are more familiar with thukumi iria itagwo Karen (Blixen) than they do about Chief Koinange and many other important African figures?
You may contact us using this email:
@@maumauchronicles4296 Asante
Can this man be supported to document all this history inform of a book
Thanks for the suggestion. If you would like to speak to us about it, please send an email to
The Elders here at Machakos County have recounted to us how kenyatta is one of them; hailing from Mutituni. Shed more light on this testimony, for the Elders tell no lie.
The Akamba were also in Mau Mau??????????????????.
Yes they were.
Yes, the Kamba were in Mau Mau.
@@SierraKiringi-xi3vp much remains unknown . But eventually the history will clear up . 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪
Good work, now do another interview in kiswahili or English.
My grandfather was in that Norfolk 1922 demonstration but he wasn't shot. 16/3/1922.
Kindly profile the colonial forts built in Kenya, such us Fort Hall, Fort Smith etc
Noted
Is there a part two of this recording. I wanted to hear more... umemkata mid-sentence.
Lots of good stuff here
Thank you.
How about we teach this kind of history in our schools? Or some of us are too busy learning about our colonialists' history. Bure kabisa! Sad ati ona andu ega aria mararia uhoro uyu no mahuthirire maritwa ma ukombo. Andu airu ni aroge! Also, imagine begging the white thieves who stole the land to "allow" us to live where in OUR OWN LAND?! That's wild. 🤬
Schools will probably not teach our history. It is up to each of us to dig deep on our own.
Mzee know history well .
very good history.my mother is from that family tree agaciku a mbari ya njunu.you have forgotten to narrate how the said gatheca or senior chief koinange went back to muranga and promised his clansmen that there was vast land in kiambu.he brought them to his farm and instead of giving them the land he had promised made the slaves in his farms.todate theres that animosity and bitterness.he lied to his kinsmen.
l went to High School with Joseph Gathecha. He was a very brown fellow but now deceased. May be you knew him? They were called ndungata not ngombo. Best read also Harry Thuku's Autobiography (1970)
I am from “ mungari wa mbari ya njunu” My father tells me their ancestral land was around Tigoni before brutally settling them in rift valley. Why a whole community was removed from their land is another topic. The elite betrayed the villagers.
@@jamesgatonye9032 My grandfather and his 4 wives were forcibly relocated from the Westlands area after WW1 and their land given to the English victorious soldiers of the war. Chief Kinyanjui Gathirimu oversaw this exercise. Many clans in the Westlands area were victims too.
Rich history.
Wao, this mzee is a walking library
Isn't he?
what is the name of this gentleman
Leonard Karuga Koinange.
An Uncle of mine
OATH, MUMA/MAU MAU great insight
True
Chief Koinange spent 1950's in Mau Mau detention camps.Mzungu released him when he became too sick so he can go die at home instead of in detention.He died shortly after his release.
That is correct
Chief Koinange used to hide a cache of guns and ammunition in a bunker under his house.His son shot himself accidentally in the bunker while fixing ot preparing a gun.I read this in a history book
That is factual.
"A Grain Of Wheat" by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o?
Great storyteller.
True that!
Where did Mbiyu Koinange get the money to travel to the USA in 1927? He was in Alliance High School in 1926.
The first Kenyan, a Maasai, had travelled in the US around 1914. Mbiyu was the son of a "Christian" chief who loved education. Remember also that there no flights then. It wouldn't have been too expensive.
Was easy as son of a chief. Actually admission no 5 at AHS.
Kenyatta, our first president, mobilized the collection of money
Kuringa Thenge What Does It Mean
It is to take an oath, that is, to swear.
mbarí njúnu from mang'u my relatives
Glad to know
Where in Muranga do they hail from? My Mam's family is also called Njunu.
@@gachuhisiezi jua vizuri but mbarí ya njúnu iko mang'u and I also heard some of their family members moved to kiambaa
Kamatimu,mbiyu,nyabara,wagithomo too much on many Kikuyu words origin that most people can't understand until they get such history
True. Many use these words but have no idea where the words came from.
Snr Chief Koinange Could be a Saint.
The man did his best as a patriot
Nima wiyathi umite kuraihu ta tiri wa kioro.
Hau ni ma!
Were land grabers
Our Story not the mzungus fake his Story
True that
Chief Koinange arii wa muhirigaa urikuu?
Mugaciku ,mbari ya njúnú
@@kamaunjoroge8629 what of charles Njonjo , Njenga Karume , Harry Thuku, chief Muhoho, chief Njirii and Chief Waruhiu?
Thindigua is not the same as Thimbigua.
True. Please explain the difference.
Mbiyu Koinange came up with the idea nd organized the 1969 Oathing of all Kikuyu men which Jomo Kenyatta had rejected but Mbiyu nevertheless managed to convince Jomo.
May be you can join these Chronicles and narrate about this for one hour. l used to see buses carrying people "Guthii kwa Michael kunyua cai". l was in Primary School. 1969. After Mboya's shooting/Kisumu Massacre.
We hear people used to take the oath nude. Some were badly beaten. Any money you had was confiscated.
One bus l saw was named "Murata Wa Nyoka".
Koinange killed general marete for Land and land rover very selfish ata yeye alikufa tu
What are you talking about? Which Marete? If you talking about Gen Baimungi, remember Koinange died in 1960. Please check your facts.
No. Baimungi wa Marete was killed by then Minister of lands and settlement Jackson Angaine together with Marete's own bro over a piece of land given to Marete by Jomo .Today in Meru Marete's land is owned by the Angaine family.
Mbiyu koinange minister in the office of the president is the number one suspect in the murder of JM Kariuki according to the 1975 report of the parliamentary select committe on the assassination of JM Kariuki.
This interview is about his father, Chief Koinange, a real nationalist!
@@maumauchronicles4296
There were some twins at Starehe Boys Centre who were said to have been sired by Mbiyu, the cabinet Minister. They answered to the name Karuga. This was in the very early 70's. They were in Starehe Primary School as boarders. May be you could ask the narrator about this. lt was whispered that Mbiyu had neglected them.
Thayu from the US
Thaai!
Maheni
Please make the corrections. My mother studied at Mary Leakey school Kabete wakati wa Canon Leakey. She knew Chief Koinange. Please correct Mr Karuga.
Please make the corrections. My mother studied at Mary Leakey school Kabete wakati wa Canon Leakey. She knew Chief Koinange. Please correct Mr Karuga.
l wonder how this narrator is related to the former Principal of Kenyatta University College? (J. K. Koinange)
@@SierraKiringi-xi3vp This is his younger brother, well, step-brother.
What do you mean, Maheni?
Why did you take our land?