Kenyatta House
Kenyatta House, located in Maralal, Samburu County in Northern Kenya, is a simple house, yet, it holds a lot of historical significance to Kenya’s independence and governance. The three-bedroom bungalow is where Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s founding father and first president, was partly held in detention by the British colonial government after being transferred from Lodwar Prison.
Kenyatta had been detained in 1953 by the colonial government after being accused of associating himself with the Mau Mau movement, a group that was pressing for freedom from a ruthless colonial government. Even though the house is over 50 years old, it still stands firm and majestic to signify the sacrifice and challenges Kenya’s founding fathers had to go through in order for Kenya to gain independence.
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The house sits on a hilly 28-acre piece of land, and it is considered to have been the transition between imprisonment and freedom because Jomo Kenyatta was allowed to receive visitors. Kenyatta House is a typical example of British colonial architecture designs that were famous in those days. The house has a small verandah with distinct colonial designs but lacks elaborate décor. Inside the 3 rooms in the house, Kenyatta’s photos are firmly hanged on the walls.
The house also has a small kitchen with a firewood oven and a flush toilet. Gazetted as a national monument in 1977, this laid back historical house holds the greatest secrets of agreements and meetings Kenyatta had with colonialists. These meetings paved the way for the country’s independence.
Kenyatta House is now under the management of National Museums of Kenya and receives numerous visitors.
