The East African Magazine
Date: 28.06.2015
Page 3
Article size: 547 cm2
ColumnCM: 121.55
AVE: 182333.33
How Murumbi
took the path
less travelled
His autobiography, written by Alan Donovan, will
be launched in September, writes RUPIMANGAT
van why he chose the name. "If Kenyatta was arrested, the
rumbi was Kenya's Murumbi had continued on the central committee of the KAU
second vice­president path he was on, and remained (Kenya African Union) was ar­
serving from May to as vice president until Kenyat­ rested... anybody who had any
December 1966. He ta's death and become presi­ love for his country, without any
served as Kenya's first foreign dent, Kenya may have turned promptings at all, should have
minister for four years, opening out as a completely different come forward at that time to
every Kenyan embassy in Afri­ country — with less corruption help. I didn't know what I was
letting myself in for, I didn't
ca. He campaigned zealously for and tribalism."
Instead, Murumbi chose an­ even think of that... I converted
Kenya's Independence and was
one of Africa's greatest private other path — and resigned from all my energies towards help­
art collector.
ing in the colonial affairs, not
the government, disappointed
In addition, Murumbi had with what he saw. "He couldn't only in relation to Kenya but
his life history documented. His stomach the corruption," said other countries... I didn't go to
autobiography,^! Path not Taken Donovan. Although Murumbi Gatundu as other ministers did
written by Alan Donovan, is set had the utmost respect for to say, 'Mzee you must make me
to be launched in September.
Kenyatta, he was disappointed a minister... I've never looked at
It took 10 years for the au­ by the politics of the day. After politics from a tribalistic angle...
tobiography to be completed. the assassination of his mentor 1 looked in a much broader per­
From the late 1960s to 1974, and freedom fighter Pio Gama spective, that I have a duty to do
Joseph Zuzarte Mu­
few feet from him.
extensive
library
Joseph Murumbi's Africana
library consisted of
approximately 20,000
volumes and over 50,000
documents. In his will, the
library, art and rare objects
were not to leave Kenya. It
was this clause that saved
part of the Murumbis' rare
collections from being
shipped out to some
distant.
"The art and house are
property of the Kenyan
for my country.'"
people," wrote Murumbi.
scripts with Ann Thurston who
Murumbi talks of the people He continued to build
Murumbi wrote about the
was a researcher at the National
"Kiambu Mafia" and politics who helped in the freedom his library, his collection
Archives of Kenya.
struggle — Africans, Indians of both old and new
becoming increasingly tribal.
Murumbi started on the tran­
Pinto in 1965, Murumbi quit.
"It has all his transcripts
Born of a Goan father and and the British. He also talks
— 90 per cent of the complete a Maasai mother in 1911, Mu­ about the colonial governor works "to build a legacy,
set published in this book in rumbi was sent to an English Evelyn Baring, whom he refers a heritage for future
his words," said Donovan, who school in India. The school had to as the "Butcher of Kenya," generations."
first met Murumbi and his wife
Anglo­Indian children who saw who brought in British troops
Sheila at the launch of Dono­
themselves as superior to the for Operation Anvil during the
van's exhibition of Turkana Indians. Murumbi decided to Emergency from 1952 to 1960.
He also wrote about the
arts and material culture in identify with his mother's Afri­
Lancaster House constitutional
Nairobi in 1970 at Studio Art can heritage.
68 — where Murumbi was the
Set in five parts, the book talks in the 1960s, British prime
only African present. Murumbi explores different periods of his minister Harold Macmillan's fa­
was so enthralled with the col­ life — his early years, the emerg­ mous 1960 "Winds of Change"
lection that he asked Donovan ing nationalist, Independence, speech, and Ian Macleod, the
to return to Turkana to make a after politics and other inter­ colonial secretary (1959 to 1960)
views.
collection for him.
and his equally famous declara­
"He wanted to write his mem­
Murumbi entered politics to tion that "Kenya is an African
oirs on paper so that history is address the injustices of the co­ nation and there must be ma­
never lost, and before he forgot lonial regime. He wrote: "Power jority rule," which fast­tracked
never interested me. I felt that Independence.
them," said Donovan.
Joseph and Sheila are buried
After finding no one who I was in the struggle for Inde­
could write the transcripts into pendence; when I was invited in Nairobi City Park. It was
a narrative, Donovan decided to to become a minister, I thought Murumbi's wish to be buried
publish them in his own words. there was a contribution 1 could next to his mentor Pinto in the
Curious about the title of the make... I did that even when cemetery nearby — but as it was
full, Murumbi's body lies just a
autobiography, I asked Dono­
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The East African Magazine
Date: 28.06.2015
Page 3
Article size: 547 cm2
ColumnCM: 121.55
AVE: 182333.33
• A*,
,A.­J"
j^Ma*,
The cover of the yet to be launched book on Kenya's second vice­president Joseph Murumbi written by Alan Donovan.
Picture: The Murumbi Trust 2015
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya