21/10/2021
Molonket Ole Sempele the first Kenyan to study in the US. He arrived in North Carolina in 1908 where he joined a Black trade school, before moving to Boydton Academy and Bible Institute in Virginia. He later joined Tuskegee University in Alabama.
He raised his own sea fare by selling cattle. Even though his three years in America made little influence on his formal education, there was a great change to his political consciousness
His interaction with African Americans inspired him to start and form an African independent Church after his return to Kenya. He used the horrors he had witnessed in America such as the lynching of black people to emphasise his points about black liberation.
Molonket was not the only educated Maasai. Contrary to the perception held by many against the tribe, the Kaputei Maasai were among the first people to recieve western education when in 1894, 22 children were sent to the East African Scottish Mission at Kibwezi.
As an incentive, Maasai parents who allowed their children to go to school were given free food by Francis Hall the founder of Fort Hall in the present day Muranga. At Kibwezi they were taught to play cricket in their spare time and recieved training in industrial work.
Some Maasai knew the opportunities that came with colonialism and made efforts to learn by themselves something that really fascinated the colonialists. For example in mid 1880s a Maasai called Nakuludu of Keekonyokie clan gained prominence when he accompanied Count Teleki of Ethiopia to Lake Rudolf now Lake Turkana.
He would later return again to the Turkana country as a missionary when the African Inland Mission (AIM) gained a foothold in the Maasai land. What surprised John Stauffacher of AIM was the speed with which Nakuludu learnt English. As a result he was nicknamed "Professor" Nakuludu. His favourite hymn was "What a friend we have in Jesus" which he sang word by word in fluent English. But soon he disappeared from the mission
Another Maasai called Josiah Shanga whose mother was a Somali, had spent some time in England in 1904. He had been baptised by the CMS in Uganda in 1880s. Shanga was present when Bishop Hannington was killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga, and claimed to have held him in his arms until help came.
Enoch Ole Ledama was captured in Kenya and taken to the coast as a slave. When he was freed in Zanzibar , he decided to acquire an education before making his way back to Kenya.
Another Maasai called Harry Stephen of Loodokolini Maasai worked as a cashier in Zanzibar before returning to Kenya in 1902.
Aramato of Kisongo Maasai made his way to Taita Taveta CMS mission to study and later on proceeded to a Bible school at Free Town to become a pastor. During his stay at Free Town he discovered his mother who had been sold as a slave to the Giriama.
One young Maasai called Agale arrived at AIM mission in June 1906 with only one goal . He already knew how to write and read Swahili, but wanted to learn English . It turned out he was Lenana's brother.
The end of World War 1 saw the emergence political associations that agitated for the rights of Africans. During this period Many Maasai were employed as civil servants in Nairobi. Most of them became conscious of African nationalism and spread the gospel of nationalism to their tribesmen in the reserves.
Among them was Maitei Ole Mootian whose mother was Nandi. He worked at the Lands Office. Philip Same from Ngong worked in the Governor's office, and Ndongongo Ole Rimisek in the Department of Agriculture. At the Attorney General's Office was a Maasai called Kongo Ole Morimbi whose mother was a Dorobo. Interestingly the chauffeur of Jeevanjee who was among the richest and the most powerful Indian merchants in East Africa was a Maasai called Waikoko.
Gallery Research credit. .
