Return Gusii freedom fighter Otenyo Nyamaterere’s skull, group tells Britain

Mau Mau War Veterans Association chairman Gitu wa Kahengeri. He has called for the return of the Gusii freedom fighter Otenyo Nyamaterere's skull from Britain saying it should be buried among his people and not in a foreign land. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • At the same time, Mr Kahengeri called on county governments to extend aid to war veterans to help them lead decent lives.
  • Mr Samuel Kobira urged the county government to support their call for Otenyo’s skull to be brought back.
  • Calls to have the skull returned gained momentum late August during a public lecture by Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Mau Mau veterans Monday supported calls by the Gusii Council of Elders that Britain return the skull of freedom fighter Otenyo Nyamaterere.

Mau Mau War Veterans Association chairman Gitu wa Kahengeri said the skull should be buried among his people and not in a foreign land.

“Let them return his skull so that he can have a decent burial back in his homeland,” he said.

He said paraphernalia belonging to Koitalel arap Samoei were returned by the imperialists and the same should be done for Otenyo’s skull.

“The Britons returned Samoei’s walking staff, among other items, let them return Otenyo’s head too,” he said.

At the same time, Mr Kahengeri called on county governments to extend aid to war veterans to help them lead decent lives.

“Most our members still languish in poverty and cannot afford even medical care.

“County governments can help them access medical care,” he said when the war veterans took a petition to the Kisii County Assembly Speaker.

PETITION RECEIVED

The petition was received by the assembly clerk.

Mr Samuel Kobira, the secretary of the Mau Mau War Veterans' Kisii chapter, urged the county government to support their call for Otenyo’s skull to be brought back.

He also called for the establishment of monuments in memory of freedom fighters.

Early this month, Gusii Council of Elders chairman James Matundura said they had written to the British High Commission several times demanding that Otenyo’s skull be brought back home.

“One of the letters to the British High Commission was written in 2011.

“In the letter, we had demanded that Otenyo’s skull, which is being displayed in a museum in Britain, be returned to Kenya,” said Mr Matundura.

Calls to return the skull gained momentum in late August at a public lecture by Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Cord leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Odinga said the freedom fighter played a major role in ensuring that land belonging to the Abagusii people was not taken by the colonialists.