Regional Museums in West Pokot
Kapenguria Cells: The Kapenguria 6 Exile
“The opaque window [at Kapenguria Cells] throws back the light from the sinking sun, blocking the world from accessing its secrets, but the echoes of its dark past have been immortalised. Except for the grey plaque whose tiny black letters engraved on the metal plate give a brief account of the proceedings that took place within its walls 60 years ago, the room is otherwise ordinary” – A. Kareithi
Despite the fact that a reasonable number of locals were tried and sentenced at Kapenguria ‘African Court’, it is the trial of the Kapenguria Six – Bildad Kaggia, Kungu Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei and Achieng Oneko – that was its watershed. The Kapenguria Six had been arrested on the night of October 21, 1952, among thousands of perceived Mau Mau and KAU veterans, on an operation dubbed Jock Scott and flown to the remote, far-flung Kapenguria.
The center of interest was, of course, Jomo Kenyatta, who would go on to become Kenya’s first president. The bearded Kenyatta, 60 at the time, and was a student of B. Malinowski at the London School of Economics and who was awarded a doctorate of philosophy on anthropology, was charged with managing an unlawful society and being a member of unlawful society. The society in question was Mau Mau, which had been proscribed as dangerous to good governance in Kenya by an order of the Governor-in-Council on August 12, 1950.
By the same token, Fred Kubai, chairman of the Nairobi Branch and a member of the KAU [Kenya African Union] executive committee, Achieng Oneko, the secretary general of KAU, Bildad Kaggia, the secretary of the Nairobi Branch of KAU, Paul Ngei, the assistant general of KAU, and Kungu Karumba, the chairman of the Chura Divisional Branch of KAU had, alongside Kenyatta, had been arrested and remanded on account of being member of an unlawful society.
“Inside Kenyatta’s cell, there are no surprises except for a picture of a young man in a vest, busy using a plane. The caption helpfully explains that at one time Kenyatta, whose year of birth is given as 1889, was a carpenter. The room also has a mat that Kenyatta used to lie on at night as he agonised over what they had in store for him. A metallic bucket he used to relieve himself in also occupies a prominent position in the room. Away from the compound, in another secluded place, another cubicle that acts as an office of sorts has conspiracy theories”.
The intention was never to give the six a fair trial, but more to keep them away from the escalating social unrest taking root countrywide. On that account, the trials dragged-on for as long as possible, before they were sentenced to seven years with hard labour. The next stop for the Kapenguria Six was Kapenguria Cells, which would later be refurbished as Kapenguria Museum.
Situated within Kapenguria town, the Museum was opened to the public in 1993 and displays a memorial library in honour of all heroes who participated in the struggle for independence known as Uhuru Memorial Library. Then, there’s the Pokot ethnographic gallery which houses artefacts and a photographic collections on the Pokot Tribe, the Pokot Cultural Homestead, and the Cherangany-Sengwer Gallery. The Kapenguria Six have all passed on, but their legacies are perpetuated.
The regional museums in Kenya offer a fascinating journey through the country’s history and heritage. They look back at ancient civilizations, cultures as they were centuries ago, cottage industries, colonial legacies, and archaeological finding – in specialization or as a combination – to give insights on the past and present.
Index of Regional Museums in Kenya
Baringo County - Kabarnet Museum, Kipsaraman Museum, Biretwo Museum, Busia County - The Kakapel Cultural Center, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Tambach Museum, Homa Bay County - Abasuba Peace Museum, Kajiado County - Olorgesailie Museum, Kericho County - Fort Tenan Prehistoric Site, Kilifi County - The Gede Ruins, Malindi Museum, Rabai Cultural Landscape, Kisumu County - Kisumu Museum, Lamu County - German Post Office, Lamu Museum, Takwa Ruins, Marsabit County - Desert Museum, Koobi Fora Museum, Meru County - Meru Museum, Njuri Ncheke Museum, Migori County - Thimlich Ohinga, Mombasa County - Fort Jesus Museum, Nairobi County - Karen Blixen Museum, Judiciary Museum, Railway Museum, Nairobi National Museum, Nakuru County - Kariandusi Museum, Hyrax Hill Museum, Nandi County - Koitalel Arap Samoei Museum, Narok County - Narok Museum, Nyeri County - Nyeri Museum, Paxtu House, Samburu County - Kenyatta House Maralal, Trans Nzoia County - Kitale Museum, Wajir County - Wajir Museum, West Pokot County - Kapenguria Museum
Privately Run Museums Around Kenya: Rhodia Mann Museum, Treasures of Africa, The Adamson's Museum, Taita Hills Museum, African Heritage House, Rev. Wray Museum, Maa Museum Enashipai Resort, Swahili House Museum Lamu, Museum of Illusions, Kapkatet Kipsigis Cultural Museum, The Gikuyu Museum, Memorial Peace Museum
Touring West Pokot County in Kenya offers a chance to explore a region known for its iconic, rugged landscapes, vibrant cultures, and rich traditions. Located in the extreme northwest part of the country, bordering Uganda, West Pokot County is primary inhabited by the Pokot community, known for their pastoralist lifestyle.
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Explore Destinations Nearby Kapenguria Museum
A Guide to West Pokot County
A Summa Digest of West Pokot
About West Pokot Way Back When
32 Destinations in West Pokot County, arranged as one would visit these - south to northeast - with the aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Kaisagat Viewpoint, Barnley's Guest House, Kapkoris Hill Viewpoint, Dini ya Roho Church, Mount Murpus, Chewoyet High School, Kapenguria Museum, Kapenguria Town, Chelanga Gardens, Tartar Falls, Kacheliba, Holy Cross Church Kacheliba, Alale Gold Mines, Suam River Beach, Kamatira Forest, Lounon Village, Cherangani Hills, Marich Pass, Marich Pass Center, Kang'alan Escarpment, Kolloa Cross Monument, Weiwei Irrigation Scheme, Tamkal Valley, Mount Koh, Sekerr Range, Mount Mtelo View Lodge, Nasolot National Reserve, Turkwel Dam, Turkwel Gorge, State Lodge, Riting
Know More About West Pokot County: Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
West Pokot has significant variations in temperature with the lower lands experiencing temperatures of up to 33oC, and highlands experiencing modest temperatures of 15oC.
West Pokot County is marked by a variety of topographic features – dry plains in the north, a hatful of ranges and hills in the mid, and in the south east Cherangani Hills.