A group of cultural elders from Kisii has revived calls for the repatriation of the skull belonging to Nyamatere Otenyo from London.
The skull is suspected to had been taken away by the British soldiers during a MauMau war expedition in Kisii region.
The famed warrior had led a battalion of Gusii warriors in resisting British colonisation when he was killed.
Legend has it that he was encouraged by his aunt, Moraa Ng’iti, to launch an attack against British forces.
He is famously remembered for injuring Northcote, a British colonial administrator.
The incident consequently triggered a widespread rebellion followed a massacre of about 900 residents in Kitutu Chache North area.
Justine Nyakundi, the Mwanyagetinge Heritage Elders Council said during the revenge attacks by the British soldiers, Otenyo was killed with his skull going missing since then.
“We are urging all concerned parties to follow this matter up and talk to the British government so that the skull is repatriated and buried among Otenyo’s people,” stated Nyakundi.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati, a self proclaimed Gusii Community spokesman, made similar calls when King Charles 111 made a visit to Kenya in 2023.
“We must have the conversation, especially now that Kenya is set to welcome King Charles III for an official visit. It will be necessary to present and prepare a memorandum proposing how the Gusii community can get compensation for the atrocities meted out to our people during the British colonial occupation of this region.”
“If possible, advocate for the return of Otenyo’s skull, for we are told that after being dismembered, it was taken to England. Therefore we are going to ask King Charles III; they must bring the head of our own Otenyo back to Kisii,” Arati stated at the time.
On Monday the Mwanyagetinge Heritage Council officials said the massacre of the Gusii natives during the expedition needs to be addressed and if possible compensation done.
“The effects of the slaughter can actually be evidenced by how various clans and families were scattered helter skelter.. Today you will find some members of some clan in Kisii while others fled as far as Nyamira,” said Nyakundi.
Historical anecdotes from the Wikipedia say Northcote had first gone to Kisii as part of a military force in 1904 which massacred people and raised the Union Jack.
In 1907 as the areas first administrator, and was on his way back from a punitive expedition when he was attacked by Otenyo with a spear after shooting dead Okwengu K’Akala at Got Ong’ong’o presently Got Ka’Nyakworo around Ruga Market Centre.
Although Northcote survived the attack, Otenyo’s ambush inspired widespread resistance which took a month to quell.
The warrior was arrested, tried in public, and then killed by a firing squad at Kisii Stadium.
His body was then beheaded and transported to London as proof of his death.
What remained of him was left on a public bridge as a warning to others.
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