Historical revisionism and making of British subjects

By Peter Kimani

The next instalment of Ngugi's memoirs shall feature his years at his alma mater, Alliance High School in Kikuyu.

The citadel of knowledge was, and still is, a preserve of the top students in the country.

Emerging as the top pupil in Limuru’s Manguo Primary, Ngugi was the only one picked to join Alliance, when the legendary Carey Francis was at the helm.

A strict disciplinarian, Francis was described by Ngugi as "a complex character."

In a recent interview with this author, Ngugi expressed his surprise, and obvious hurt, that his name appears to have been obliterated from all references to Alliance’s prominent old boys – for the obvious reason that a section of Kenyan politicians found themselves at odds with Ngugi’s writings.

Such historical revisionism mirrors the talk in Ngugi’s childhood that claimed he would not be allowed to report to Alliance, because his brother was in the forest fighting with Mau Mau freedom fighters.

Whatever the case, the Alliance years should provide interesting perspectives on the colonial efforts at making British subjects out of Ngugi and his ilk, and how it shaped their attitudes towards the Empire.

Interestingly, Ngugi says the colonial education, and the subsequent studies at Makerere, provided a much-needed escape from the turmoil at home.

The East African Educational Publishers indicate they are finalising the next instalment of the memoirs.