The Untold Story: Gusii Survival Techniques and Resistance to the Establishment of British Colonial Rule

The Untold Story of the Gusii of Kenya: Survival Techniques and Resistance to the Establishment of British Colonial Rule. There is little written about the resistance to the establishment of the British colonial rule in Gusii. The scant knowledge available on this historical phenomenon in Kenya is inaccurate and intentionally distorted in favour of the colonial master. The truth, contrary to the incorrect histories presented by the British, is that the Kings African Rival soldiers suffered a humiliating defeat in their initial encounter with Gusii warriors. It was a landmark historical event. Otenyo Nyamaterere is incorrectly portrayed as a frustrated and deranged lone-ranger who was high on narcotics when he attacked with a spear and injured the first District Commissioner of Kisii, Geoffrey Northcote. In a fierce rebuttal to this falsehood existing in colonial narratives, this book attempts to correct this erroneousness portrayal of a lead warrior who valiantly came out in defense of community and its lands.

And there is context to this resistance. Over many years, the Gusii had honed their fighting skills and survival strategies from the many years of struggle against the hostile and warlike neighbours – the Maasai, the Kipsigis and the Luo. These skills and strategies that came in handy when later the Gusii faced a more formidable external aggressor – the Kings African Rival soldiers. The Gusii warriors fought with valour, demonstrating great fighting skills in their encounter with these forces of conquest even as the latter were better armed. Inevitably the warriors lost, defeated due to the British superior weaponry. The Gusii weapons and hand to hand combat fighting could not match the British gun power.