On the outskirts of Nairobi, where the city’s bustle fades into the quiet of Kiambu County, stands a weathered container size wooden cottage – a silent sentinel of Kenya’s turbulent past. This is Mwakenya House, once a stronghold of resistance that pulsed with the heartbeat of revolution, now being transformed into a shrine of remembrance.
In the shadowy corners of this unassuming structure, brave men and women dared to dream of a free Kenya. The name “Mwakenya” itself whispers of rebellion – short for “Muungano wa Wazalendo wa Kuikomboa Kenya,” a union of patriots determined to liberate their homeland. Born from the clandestine December Twelve Movement (DTM), named for the very day of Kenya’s independence, these groups emerged as a fierce challenge to the neo-colonial elite and their imperialist allies.
Here, under the cover of night, the cyclostyling machine whirred to life, birthing the forbidden words that would fuel a nation’s resistance. Each page of “Pambana” and “Mpatanishi” that emerged was more than mere ink on paper – it was a battle cry against oppression, a beacon of hope in the darkness of dictatorship. These publications, crude in form but revolutionary in spirit, became lifelines in a nation suffocating under censorship and state terror.
These walls, now weathered by time, once sheltered freedom fighters on the run, offering temporary reprieve from the regime’s ruthless pursuit. Later, they welcomed back the movement’s heroes, bearing the scars of imprisonment, their spirits unbroken. The house echoed with whispered plans and fervent debates, a crucible where the future of Kenya was forged in secrecy and danger.
But the true hero of this tale is a woman whose courage outshines even the bravest of soldiers. Mama Leah Wanjiru Mungai, known affectionately as Mama Gicheha, stood defiant in the face of tyranny. Now in her 90s, she is a living testament to the power of a mother’s love and the indomitable spirit of resistance.
Mama Gicheha’s family paid a heavy price for their defiance. Her sons were torn from her arms – jailed, exiled, or forced underground. Waruiru Mungai, the eldest of the four sons, operated underground in DTM/ Mwakenya activities among the working class in the suburbs of Nairobi during the reign of the one – party dictatorship. He assisted many political activists to free into political exile across the border and safe houses while serving as a liaison with political exiles out of the country. He was also a key link of the underground cells of Mwakenya and the leadership of the movement. Kang’ethe Mungai languished in prison for over six years for his Mwakenya activities. Ndungi Mungai went to Australia, seeking both education and asylum from political persecution. Young Gicheha Mungai found refuge in Tanzania, only to perish upon his return to the homeland he fought to free. Yet, in an act of supreme sacrifice and solidarity, Mama Gicheha and her family have gifted this hallowed ground to the nation. In August 2020, they allocated this one-eighth acre plot, ensuring that the flames of remembrance will never be extinguished.
Today, Mwakenya House is being reborn as the Mashujaa Heritage Archives & Library. Soon, a monument – the Mashujaa Roll of Honour – will rise here, etching the names of Kenya’s freedom fighters into eternity. This transformation is more than a renovation; it’s a resurrection of forgotten histories, a testament to the sacrifices made by those who dared to dream of a just and equitable Kenya.
This is more than a building. It is a bridge between past and future, where the echoes of struggle meet the hopes of tomorrow. Here, in this sanctuary of rebellion, the spirit of Kenya’s fight for liberation lives on, urging us to remember that the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Mwakenya House stands as a poignant reminder that true liberation must be fought for, cherished, and protected. It is a cornerstone of Kenya’s rich political history – a history that, thanks to the efforts of those like Mama Gicheha and the Mashujaa Heritage Archives & Library will not be forgotten. In its transformation, it beckons new generations to cherish and defend the hard-won freedoms of their nation, for the fight for justice is far from over.”
