After years of research I am now able to display Jomo Kenyatta’s early portrait, his real father and why he dropped [his] Kikuyu names (Kamau). Mzee Jomo Kenyatta is believed to have been a Kipsigis who grew up among the Kikuyu.
The legend is like this. After the demise of the great Nandi Oloibon Kipnyolei arap Turugat (Simbolei) his sons went to other parts of Kalenjin land. One of them, Chebochok arap Boiso was to stay in Londiani in Kericho District. While in Londiani arap Bosio met a young lady later to become the mother of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
It is believed that their friendship resulted in the birth of Kenyatta whom we are told was originally called Johnstone Peter Kamau. Kamau’s mother Wamboi is reported to have been a widow who used to herd cattle in Londiani. She later sought employment in European farms in Central Province. While in Kikuyu land, Wamboi got married to Muigai who is wrongly believed to have been Kenyatta’s father.
After sometime, Muigai divorced Wamboi “for having a child from Lumbwa (kipsigis) people. She went back to work in European farms. In 1913, all brothers of Koitalel arap Samoei were rounded up and banished to Central Province for opposing the evil plans of the white man. They were Kipchomber arap Koilegen (Kochich-lem), arap Boiso and Kibuigut. They were detained in Nyeri and Forth Hall now Maragwa. While in Kikuyuland, Kenyatta’s mother was assigned the role of taking care of the three detainees. Why the white man did chose Kenayyat’s mother. Is it possible that Wamboi was able to speak Kalenjin, or did the detainees choose her for reason detailed above?
When arap Koilegen was about to die in July 1916, he summoned Kenyatta to his house for briefing. Kenyatta was then a student at Thogoto Mission School. He gave him a beaded belt known in Kalenjin as Kenyattet, a container for holding stuff (tobacco), a flywhisk and a monkey skin called Siombuut. He then told Kenyatta that when the white men go back to Britain he would lead the nation. He instructed him to drop Kikuyu names, Peter Kamau which he did. After that he instructed him to go to Loita and seek further advice from Maasai Laibons and in particular Ole Mokompo who died in the early 70s.
After being blessed by the Oloibon, he was told, “Shomo Kenyatta!” i.e. go with this belt.Through divive power, Kenyatta thought his name was Jomo Kenyatta. Jomo is devived from Maasai verb Shomo arap Bosio, Kenyatta’s father died in 1929 after being tortured by the white man. When he died, Kenyatta was schooling in London. His demise shocked Kenyatta so much that for three days, Kenyatta was indoors crying and mourning the death of arap Bosio. Why then mourn arap Boisio!?
Back to Nyeri, arap Boisio again befriended a young Kikuyu lady named Margaret Muthoni who was President Kibaki’s father’s sister. They married and had children who now live in Kericho District. Before arap Koilgen died, another old man form Tugen named Chepkeres arap Toroitich visited him, he later blessed him and told him that one of his grandsons would one day rule Kenya.This later came to be true when Daniel Kapkorios arap Moi became president.
Sadly throughout the time he was in power, Moi never assisted the descendants of arap Koilgen,the Talai clan.They are squatting in Kericho Township since their land was taken by the white man. Moi later gave power to Uhuru Kenyata and Kibaki will do the same.
