Title: Sad ode to a fallen fighter By: Cyprian Fernandes Source: Goan Voice Newsletter, 17 July 2011 at www.goanvoice.org.uk
For everything he achieved in his life: freedom fighter, one of the architects of Kenya's constitution, the biggest player in the legal defence of the Kenya leadership in detention during the Mau Mau emergency, setting up the network of the Kenyan diplomatic corps, Kenya's first Foreign Minister, Kenya's second Vice President, Joseph Zuzarte Murumbi - the son of a Goan shopkeeper and a Maasai -- died of a broken heart. He resigned the vice presidency because could not stomach the Cabinet exploitation of the Settlers' Transfer Funds Scheme by giving themselves huge loans and buying massive tracts of land at the cost of millions of landless Kenyans. Murumbi was probably the first African leader to step out of politics and into a public life unhindered by his past. He was a successful businessman. This allowed him and his wife Sheila to indulge in their favourite love: classical African art and rare books. She was a former librarian. They hooked up with Alan Donovan and together they set up the African Heritage, Africa's First Pan African Gallery which brought art lovers from the world over. Kenya became a mecca for lovers of African art and rare books. He left behind over 6000 books and sheaves of official correspondence. The National Archives department has set up a library containing some of the 6000 "rare books" (those published before 1900) entrusted to them upon Murumbi's death. Murumbi sold his vast art collection to the Kenya government at a concessionary rate. He specifically stipulated that the collection would be preserved at his Muthaiga home, which would be expanded to become the Murumbi Institute of African Studies, with a library, hostel and kitchen, which UNESCO had already agreed to fund. Unfortunately, the government sub-divided the land and allocated it to powerful government officials and their families which shocked Murumbi. He slipped away on June 22 1990, after suffering a heart attack. His wife, Sheila, died in October 2000. A Ford Foundation grant worth US$ 50,000 assisted the Murumbi Trust to restore, interpret, preserve and label the unique, historic collection of political, artistic, textile, material and cultural artefacts, displayed in permanent glass showcases at the Kenya National Archives 20 years later. It had been Murumbi's final wish to be buried near his old mentor and friend, Pio Gama Pinto, the victim of the country's first political assassination in l965. As the cemetery was full, Murumbi was buried nearby in the City Park and the remains of Sheila Murumbi were interred next to her husband in 2000. Subsequently, their graves were vandalized and the plot was threatened to be taken over by private developers. After a public outcry, the graves were at last rehabilitated and some of Murumbi's favourite sculptures placed nearby the gravesites. In 2009 the Murumbi Peace Memorial was unveiled in the park. In homage to Joe and Sheila Murumbi, it has been proposed to build a Murumbi Memorial Gallery in Central Park in central Nairobi, just near a site where Murumbi had proposed a National Art Gallery. The Murumbis built a 30-room retreat on their 2000-acre Intona Ranch in Transmara, land given to them by the Masaai. The house fell into neglect after Sheila died. From being a luxurious retirement home with many servants and part of his famed art collection on the walls and hallways, the imposing house doesn't even have doors and windows, thanks to vandals. Now the Maasai want the property back, a finance company claims a mortgage and the Murumbi faithful want the property to remain the estate of the late Murumbis Alan Donovan who has been carrying the lone lit candle is desperately trying to get Murumbi's biography published. An unpaid researcher and book editor (or paid if funds can be raised) are urgently needed to sift through thousands of notes and documents. Murumbi's ageing contemporaries also need to be interviewed urgently. If you can help in cash or kind drop me an email and we will put you in touch with Alan. Please help. Comments to [email protected] Check out his website http://cyprianfernandes.blogspot.com
