THEY TOLD MY FATHER THAT I WAS DEAD AND SHOWED HIM MY ID - KIHIKO WA KIBUE

Kihiko wa Kibue is a Mau Mau war veteran was born in the Kinungi area of Naivasha. Kenya was under the rule of the King George of Great Britain at the time of his birth. His father, was working for a white settler but was deeply involved in Mau Mau activities in the area. Kibue narrates how Kenyans started taking the Mau Mau oath to unite in the fight against the new intruders and how war erupted. Kibue himself took the oath and began supporting the struggle for independence, initially as a scout before joining the forces in the forest. He gathered intelligence, which he passed on fighters. He was also among the young men who collected food and carried it to the forest to feed the fighters. After some time, Kibue fully joined the fighters. He was trained on how to shoot by Dedan Kimathi. He survived the harsh conditions until he was eventually captured by the colonial forces and sent into detention. He served time in several prison camps, including Lang’ata, Mackinnon Road, and Mwea, among others. When the war subsided, he was released and returned to his home in Gatundu. Later, Kenya gained independence, and Kenyans celebrated the news that the colonisers were finally leaving the country. Kibue, who is also a Mugongoni, or priest and expert in Kikuyu culture, also reflects on an important topic: Kikuyu culture. He explains why the community faces certain challenges today, noting that young people are not receiving traditional wisdom from the elders. He insists that Gen Z should take an interest in their culture and customs. #maumau #kikuyu #africanhistory #kenya #kenyanhistory