Shikuku faced death every day of his life

By Allan Olingo

Martin Shikuku popularly referred to as Son of Oyondi cut himself a niche of humility and sided with the poor when politicians amassed wealth illegally and fattened their wallets.

Shikuku, who passed on two days ago aged 78, faced death every day of his life, dug his own grave, bought a coffin and readied four bulls for mourners.

When Kanu — the independence party — was at the apex of its dictatorship in the single-party era, he teamed up with like-minded liberals to fight for the freedom that many today enjoy.

While his peers and colleagues decamped to the then leafy suburbs of Lavington, Karen and Kileleshwa, Shikuku stayed in Eastlands.

He did not care about the affluence.

Renowned as a freedom fighter, Shikuku goes into the annals of history alongside other reformists whose contribution to Kenya’s second liberation is notable.

He started fighting for freedom quite early in independent Kenya. He and other fiery parliamentarians pushing for change were nicknamed the ‘bearded sisters’.

They include James Orengo, Abuya Abuya and Mutai Chelagat as well as the late Mwashengu wa Mwachofi, George Anyona and Chibule wa Tsuma.

A storm in the house

Whenever these ‘sisters’ caught the speaker’s eye, there was a storm in the house. You could see brilliance, intellect, substance, public interest and unrivalled patriotism, which has since deserted the August house.

The Standard’s News Editor, Martin Mutua, who had a close working relationship with Shikuku in and outside Parliament, says Shikuku was down to earth and would interact with people with ease.

“He used to say that he did not need the services of a bodyguard because he had not stolen from anyone. In Parliament, he was an articulate debater and would do vey well especially on passionate and emotive debates,” says Mutua.

Mutua adds: “Apart from Kibaki and later Orengo, who was  his student on debating, Shikuku was one of the best debaters Parliament has ever had. He could even debate for two hours while entertaining the members because then, there was no limit to the time a member would take on the floor of the house.”

Being among those who attended the Lancaster House Conference in Britain where the country’s old Constitution was crafted, Mutua feels the Government should have done better in making his livelihood better.

“Just like the others, Shikuku died a neglected man. It is wrong for people shed crocodile tears now. They knew his important role and the Government could have come out to support him, which it did not. At one time he told me that he was living on his sweat and was proud of it,” Mutua says.

In his tenure in Parliament, he mastered the standing orders and did not have to refer to the book.

At one point he challenged the late George Saitoti to state what standing order number one said and if he would, then he (Shikuku) would resign as an MP, Saitoti failed the challenge.

Together with Jean Seroney, then deputy Speaker and MP for Tinderet they were to become the first members of parliament to be arrested within parliament precincts in 1975 for saying Kanu (the president’s party) was dead.

Even after detention, he never changed and was still outspoken on the issues affecting the common people.

Shikuku was gallant soldier in the people’s struggles for freedom,” said Imenti South MP Gitobu imanyara.

“The real tribute that we can pay in his memory is to implement the constitution faithfully,” added Imanyara.