COLLABORATION; COWARDLY BUT WISE
COLLABORATION; COWARDLY BUT WISE
GREG Adero
Its said that cowards live longer and history proves this. When the British invaded Kenya in the 1880s, African communities reacted by either resisting or collaborating with the British. Of course none of the Africans was happy with the British inversion due to land alienation, racial discrimination, forced labour, forced taxation amongst other evils brought by the white man, some communities still chose to ally and welcome them. It could have been seen as a cowardly, egocentric and traitorous move by the African chiefs but to me it was a wise and a strategic move, for if you can’t beat them, simply join them.
I bigin with Nabongo Mumia of the Wanga. Apart from now having a whole county (Mumias) named after him, Nabongo Mumia benefited himself and the entire Wanga clan a great deal. He was made a Paramount chief for the whole of western Kenya and got protection by the British from attacks of neighbours like Nandi, Bukusu and Luo of Ugenya.
Mumia had a chance to resist the British after acquiring firearms from Arab and Swahili traders but he took this wise move as an advantage to expand his territory, protect his people from bloodshed and benefit from western civilization particularly education.
As a result, many mission schools were set up, emergence of African elite from luhyaland who fought for independence of Kenya and later many african churches one being DINI YA MSAMBWA of ELIJAH MASINDE.
In Luo-Nyanza, Chief Odera Akang’o of Gem followed the same suit. He wanted protection from Nandi, Luo of Uyoma, Seme and Sakwa, and amongst other benefits western education. Odera whipped those who did not take their children to school and as we speak, throwing a stone in Gem is illegal because you are likely to hit a professor.
Not personal but for his people’s gain, Lenana also chose to collaborate. Though he didn’t get any foreign education, Lenana managed to get back Maasai women and children who were held in Kikuyu custody. He also got food for his people who were sterving after a prolonged drought, locust inversion, small pox, rinderpest among other calamities.
These calamities could have made Maasai vulnerable to attacks from their enemies – Nandi but the British assured them of security.
I will pick only one community that resisted so that you see the reparcations of resistance. At long last every community lost independence whether you resisted or collaborated but the resistors counted more loses. Apart from bloodshed and loss of many lives from British bullets, the Nandi who resisted for almost eleven years got no reward. No mission station for western education was ever built in Nandi and their cattle were confiscated and rewarded to the communities that were loyal to the British. As we talk of Mumias, Odera Akang’o University, Lenana school and other institutions and places named after collaborators, the name Koitalel arap Samoei remains only to be read in books.
Of course History have taught me NEVER to be hostile, violent or aggressive in approaching issues. The only thing you need to do is to be reserved and smart in decision making.
GREG Adero
Its said that cowards live longer and history proves this. When the British invaded Kenya in the 1880s, African communities reacted by either resisting or collaborating with the British. Of course none of the Africans was happy with the British inversion due to land alienation, racial discrimination, forced labour, forced taxation amongst other evils brought by the white man, some communities still chose to ally and welcome them. It could have been seen as a cowardly, egocentric and traitorous move by the African chiefs but to me it was a wise and a strategic move, for if you can’t beat them, simply join them.
I bigin with Nabongo Mumia of the Wanga. Apart from now having a whole county (Mumias) named after him, Nabongo Mumia benefited himself and the entire Wanga clan a great deal. He was made a Paramount chief for the whole of western Kenya and got protection by the British from attacks of neighbours like Nandi, Bukusu and Luo of Ugenya.
Mumia had a chance to resist the British after acquiring firearms from Arab and Swahili traders but he took this wise move as an advantage to expand his territory, protect his people from bloodshed and benefit from western civilization particularly education.
As a result, many mission schools were set up, emergence of African elite from luhyaland who fought for independence of Kenya and later many african churches one being DINI YA MSAMBWA of ELIJAH MASINDE.
In Luo-Nyanza, Chief Odera Akang’o of Gem followed the same suit. He wanted protection from Nandi, Luo of Uyoma, Seme and Sakwa, and amongst other benefits western education. Odera whipped those who did not take their children to school and as we speak, throwing a stone in Gem is illegal because you are likely to hit a professor.
Not personal but for his people’s gain, Lenana also chose to collaborate. Though he didn’t get any foreign education, Lenana managed to get back Maasai women and children who were held in Kikuyu custody. He also got food for his people who were sterving after a prolonged drought, locust inversion, small pox, rinderpest among other calamities.
These calamities could have made Maasai vulnerable to attacks from their enemies – Nandi but the British assured them of security.
I will pick only one community that resisted so that you see the reparcations of resistance. At long last every community lost independence whether you resisted or collaborated but the resistors counted more loses. Apart from bloodshed and loss of many lives from British bullets, the Nandi who resisted for almost eleven years got no reward. No mission station for western education was ever built in Nandi and their cattle were confiscated and rewarded to the communities that were loyal to the British. As we talk of Mumias, Odera Akang’o University, Lenana school and other institutions and places named after collaborators, the name Koitalel arap Samoei remains only to be read in books.
Of course History have taught me NEVER to be hostile, violent or aggressive in approaching issues. The only thing you need to do is to be reserved and smart in decision making.
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