What happens when they attack? We DEFEND!

At the dawn of the 20th century, British officials were streaming further into the Kenyan hinterland from the sea. Exploration ranged from the coast to the western region of Kenya and with that came the appropriation and invasion of land.

The Abagusii were amongst the fiercest warriors of the time and they were among the most rebellious of communities. Battle after battle raged, many died and women and children suffered immeasurably from the British incursions.

Despite all the bloodshed and torment, the Abagusii warriors remained resilient.

When they attack? We DEFEND!

One Abagusii warrior of great respect was Otenyo Nyamaterere. Otenyo was brought up by his aunt Moraa who was a revered woman in the community. She would talk to the young boy of his greatness and the role he would play in defending his people from foreign and local aggressors. And so he grew, understanding the rights of his people against foreigners.

Otenyo conquered and managed to escape any war with the British and the Kings African Rifles. He was equipped with the leadership skills to lead his tribesmen into battle.

One might wonder how the Abagusiii rallied against soldiers with metal guns. The secret was the spears and arrows they went to battle with. Those, they smeared with a poison so rich it would kill a man within minutes. 
The British soldiers grew angry with the persistent Abagusii warriors and word was sent all the way to London of the notorious attacks.

A British officer who had risen in the ranks was assigned the task of killing the leader of the Abagusii. His name was Northcote – or Nyarigoti by the Abagusii, and he intended to complete his mission. On Northcote’s first attack, many Kisii warriors, women and children lost their lives. Additionally, the soldiers steered away over 50,000 head of livestock. Otenyo survived but lost many of his fellow warriors.

They attack, we defend!

He rallied up survivors and prepared for a counter attack against Nyarigoti and his team. Theirs was a simple plan; to keep with poisoned arrows and spears, and wait till the British least expected.

On the day of the ambush, the Abagusii stayed put among the trees and bushes of the British camp. When Northcote and a few officers passed by their hiding place, they jumped into action. Otenyo’s focus was on Northcote, who retrieved his gun but Otenyo was more swift and managed to spear the Brit in one of his shoulders. Falling to the ground Northcote cursed his attacker, Otenyo Nyamaterere laughed knowing that he had overcome the British invaders. At a time when subservience was expected of Africans the fact that he had speared the dreaded Northcote made Otenyo a heroamongst heroes.

The Abagusii returned home knowing they had overcome the enemy. Shocked, the British officers nursed their wounds. Sadly Northcote survived and dispatched word to other officials to send reinforcements from Kisumu for assistance. Meanwhile the news of the Abagusii resistance was passed on to the king who demanded Otenyo’s head. The people however shielded their warrior as he continued to lead one skirmish after another.

One skirmish after another, Otenyo would slip in fight and then disappear but by early 1908 his luck ran out. He was wounded and captured and tried quickly before execution by firing squad followed by a beheading. His head was ferried to England where it was placed in one the British museums while his body was abandoned within his residing area, clustered in gunshot wounds.

But his name…his name has never been forgotten – Otenyo Nyamaterere. Son of the Bogeka clan. Defender of his people until the end.