In the arid desert land of the Chalbi, a curious phenomenon can be found – the densely forested Mount Marsabit. The mountain’s name is derived from a Rendille word, which means “surrounded by mist.” Legend has it that in the heart of the cold of Mount Marsabit, which lies in amidst the sweltering heat of Kenya’s only true desert, was the kingdom of a remarkable and well-loved king. His name was King Ahmed.
In this land of contrast, where overwhelming heat meets great altitude, the mist rises every night, cloaking the terrain in a thick white blanket. The mist lends the mountain an aura of mystery and enchantment. It is in this land that the powerful king lived.
King Ahmed of Mount Marsabit was a beautiful elephant. His tusks were rumored to be the biggest and heaviest in all of Africa and he held in his proud bearing the hearts of the people of Marsabit. So magnetic was King Ahmed’s charm and majesty, that in time it won him the admiration of children throughout the nation.
The 1970s were a dangerous time for the majestic king as his tusks gained the wrong kind of envy. King Ahmed’s life was constantly in danger. In acknowledgement of this, and because of their great love for the elephant, the children of the nation began a letter-writing campaign to protect their hero. All the letters of these children were addressed to the nation’s founding father, pleading with him to protect the mighty King Ahmed.
Their persistence was rewarded with five rangers who became the elephant’s bodyguards. King Ahmed became the first animal in Kenyan history to be made a living national monument. The elephant grew to be familiar with his protectors over time as they strolled through the thick forests of the mountain in the middle of the desert. King Ahmed was safe until the day of his natural death. The hearts of the nation’s children could rest. Today, a monument to the great king, also known as Bwana Tembo, can be found at the Nairobi National Museum, featuring his beautiful tusks.
While the King of Marsabit might be long gone, his mountain stands. As an oasis in the dry land, Marsabit’s nomadic tribes continually gather at the lakes in Mount Marsabit to water their massive flocks. The rich plant life of the mysterious mountain also provides fodder to the undulating herds. With its thriving rainforests, the green in the midst of the desert ensures a resting place for the nomads themselves.
Presently, the national park surrounding the mountain continues the legacy of King Ahmed with protection, conservancy and the ultimate good of the Kenyan people. Were you one of the children who wrote a letter to protect him? Maybe you know someone who did. Tell us about it!
