The Awori Family, Kenya's First Dynasty Family, A Brief History
Every now and then, I refer to the Awori family in my discourses on various issues, both politically and economically, as far as Kenya's history is concerned. The family is quite intriguing and is a study in itself. Unlike most Kenyan dynasties, the Awori family is not politically built, but rather a story of determination, wit and futuristic vision by its founders.
Which is why today, in response to the trending list of Grace Wakhungu's siblings I've decided to write a brief history of the emergence of the Awori Dynasty.
The Awori family has been around and thriving since the 1800's. Their grandfather, Awori Khatamoga was already a great man in his own right by the 1800's. He was a renowned elephant hunter whose fame went mpaka the Coast. He had figured out the matters of international trade long before Kenya existed as an entity. He imparted his spirit into his kids though, Canon's greatness begun on a slightly different trajectory.
Khatamoga, the ever generous and easy going man, allowed Bishop Hannington remains to be buried in his land after being killed by Kabaka Mwanga. It was a tiny twist of events, but one that cemented the future of his name in Kenya and Uganda forever.
In fact, Grace's dad was named "Musungu" because he was born on the night the Bishop's remains arrived in the homestead. It's this relationship that also brought the name "Hannington" into the family.
Grace's dad, Canon Yeremy Musungu Awori was the one who carried Khatamoga's candle forth. But he did it in a different way. Having been orphaned at the age of 7 and adopted by his uncle, he was sent to school instead of his cousins. It's while there that he was baptised in 1918, and later became one of the pioneers of Christianity in Western Kenya.
When he got married, he built up a formidable family through education and modern farming practices, through discipline, grit and hardwork.
By the way, he had sixteen kids and not the 14 in this trending list (he still holds the KNOWN RECORD of most children from one father and mother in Kenya).
Khatamoga and Canon Awori were simply the founders of a great family akin to a mixture of the Rockefellar and the Kennedy families in the US. The Kennedy's in terms of political achievements, and the Rockefeller family in terms of influence.
The Awori family was the first true Kenyan dynasty, but unlike most of the others, it was not built on corruption, theft and allegiance to the colonialist.
Indeed, this is unlike what happened in the Kiambu area, where the whole community adopted the new "mzungu" ways of Christians and farming and by collaborating with the mzungu, and thus benefited the most from the colonialists.
By the time Kenya came under the colonial powers, the Awori family was already great in its own right.
Canon built his great family on discipline, grit and hardwork.
Let's at least give that to them.
It is unfortunate that Grace (and anyone else in the family who hasn't been nabbed yet) has been caught up in Kenya corrupt ways. But that's modern Kenya for you. But for now, let us tell the positive side of the family.
Which is why today, in response to the trending list of Grace Wakhungu's siblings I've decided to write a brief history of the emergence of the Awori Dynasty.
The Awori family has been around and thriving since the 1800's. Their grandfather, Awori Khatamoga was already a great man in his own right by the 1800's. He was a renowned elephant hunter whose fame went mpaka the Coast. He had figured out the matters of international trade long before Kenya existed as an entity. He imparted his spirit into his kids though, Canon's greatness begun on a slightly different trajectory.
Khatamoga, the ever generous and easy going man, allowed Bishop Hannington remains to be buried in his land after being killed by Kabaka Mwanga. It was a tiny twist of events, but one that cemented the future of his name in Kenya and Uganda forever.
In fact, Grace's dad was named "Musungu" because he was born on the night the Bishop's remains arrived in the homestead. It's this relationship that also brought the name "Hannington" into the family.
Grace's dad, Canon Yeremy Musungu Awori was the one who carried Khatamoga's candle forth. But he did it in a different way. Having been orphaned at the age of 7 and adopted by his uncle, he was sent to school instead of his cousins. It's while there that he was baptised in 1918, and later became one of the pioneers of Christianity in Western Kenya.
When he got married, he built up a formidable family through education and modern farming practices, through discipline, grit and hardwork.
By the way, he had sixteen kids and not the 14 in this trending list (he still holds the KNOWN RECORD of most children from one father and mother in Kenya).
Khatamoga and Canon Awori were simply the founders of a great family akin to a mixture of the Rockefellar and the Kennedy families in the US. The Kennedy's in terms of political achievements, and the Rockefeller family in terms of influence.
The Awori family was the first true Kenyan dynasty, but unlike most of the others, it was not built on corruption, theft and allegiance to the colonialist.
Indeed, this is unlike what happened in the Kiambu area, where the whole community adopted the new "mzungu" ways of Christians and farming and by collaborating with the mzungu, and thus benefited the most from the colonialists.
By the time Kenya came under the colonial powers, the Awori family was already great in its own right.
Canon built his great family on discipline, grit and hardwork.
Let's at least give that to them.
It is unfortunate that Grace (and anyone else in the family who hasn't been nabbed yet) has been caught up in Kenya corrupt ways. But that's modern Kenya for you. But for now, let us tell the positive side of the family.
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