By Kepher Otieno and Anderson Ojwang
The family of freedom fighter Ramogi Achieng Oneko has organised a memorial to celebrate the second anniversary of his death.
On Friday, The Standard on Saturday learnt the Onekos had invited families of the Kapenguria Six and other freedom fighters for the function.
Oneko’s eldest son, Dr Achieng’ Ongong’a, said preparations had been finalised and the event would be held at their home in Uyoma, Bondo District.
He said: "Elders from the clan have laid out an elaborate traditional ceremony, complete with rites reserved for a man of his stature."
At his Kunya home on the shores of Lake Victoria, locals will join national and international guests for daylong prayers and celebrations. Leaders across the political divide have been invited.
The late Achieng’ Oneko Photo: File/Standard |
Oneko, together with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Kung’u Karumba, Paul Ngei and Bildad Kaggia — famously known as the Kapenguria Six — were detained for advocating self-rule.
Oneko was the last of the Kapenguria Six to die. He passed on in June 2007 aged 87.
All through his life Oneko was celebrated as a nationalist. In 2002, he said: "The question of ‘House of Mumbi’ or ‘Gor Mahia’ is not applicable. Nationalism must be nursed and nurtured. Without nationalism we cease to be a republic."
In an interview with The Standard at his home on October 17, 2002, Oneko told off advocates of
Negative ethnicity.
"Nationalism is my thinking. I will defend any government in power and be critical of all misgivings and wrong doing."
Oneko was the first MP for Nakuru town after independence, a cosmopolitan constituency that did not have many voters from his Luo community.
During the interview, he asked Kenyans to build strong parties based on national ideals.
"That is my position and that is why on most occasions I do have few friends. Let us build strong parties," he said.
When leaders gather today, they will have the challenge of carrying on with his ideals at a time Kenya is staggering towards reform.
The colonial government arrested and detained the six in 1952. They were alleged to be party to the Mau Mau rebellion. They were released in 1961, two years before independence.
Struggle for truth
Born in 1920, Oneko was a respected freedom fighter, a journalist and private secretary of Kenyatta.
President Kenyatta appointed him the minister for Information, Broadcasting and Tourism in the first Cabinet but quit in 1966 after the fallout between Kenyatta and then Vice-President Oginga Odinga.
He joined the newly-created Kenya People’s Union, a socialist party led by his friend Odinga.
In 1969, Oneko was arrested following chaos that erupted in Kisumu during Kenyatta’s visit. He was released in 1975.
Oneko and Odinga continued with the struggle for freedom and challenged the single party system.
In 1992, he was among the founder members of Forum for Restoration of Democracy (Ford) a pressure group that worked to see the repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution to pave way for multi-partism. Ahead of the 2002 General Election, Oneko asked other opposition leaders to let President Moi retire in peace.
"Moi has served the country for 24 years as a President. We should not behave like Zambians by changing the Constitution so as to prosecute the President," said Oneko.
