Achieng Oneko
Encyclopedia
Ramogi Achieng Oneko was a Kenya
n freedom fighter and a politician. In Kenya, he is considered as a national hero.
He was born in Tieng'a village in Uyoma sub-location in Bondo District
in 1920 and educated at Maseno School
.
in 1952. Other members of the group, known as "Kapenguria Six
" were Jomo Kenyatta
, Paul Ngei
, Bildad Kaggia
, Kungu Karumba and Fred Kubai. They were arrested for allegedly being linked with the Mau Mau rebellion
movement. They were released nine years later, in 1961, two years before Kenya gained independence .
seat . Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of Kenya and soon appointed Achieng Oneko Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Tourism. However, in 1966 Oneko quit the government and joined the newly-created Kenya People's Union
, a socialist party led by his comrade Oginga Odinga .
In 1969 Oneko was arrested by his former friend Kenyatta following an incident in Kisumu
during Kenyatta's visit to the town. Oneko was released in 1975 .
Oneko returned to politics in 1992 when he was elected as an MP at the first multiparty elections in Kenya. He represented Ford-Kenya party, led by Oginga Odinga. However, he lost his Rarieda Constituency
seat at the next elections held in 1997 .
village, Rarieda, Bondo District.
Oneko left a widow Loice Anyango. His eldest wife Jedida died in 1992. He has 11 children, seven sons and four daughters. His oldest son is Dr Ongonga Achieng
At the time of his death, Oneko was the only one of the "Kapenguria six" still alive. Kenyatta Day, a national holiday in Kenya, is held in Kenya to commemorate the detention of the six on 20 October 1952.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n freedom fighter and a politician. In Kenya, he is considered as a national hero.
He was born in Tieng'a village in Uyoma sub-location in Bondo District
Bondo District
Bondo District is an administrative district in the Nyanza Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Bondo. The Bondo District has a population of 238,780 . The district is relatively new; it was created in 1998 from southern parts of the Siaya District...
in 1920 and educated at Maseno School
Maseno School
Maseno School is one of the oldest schools in Kenya. It was established in 1906 by the Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society as a school for the children of African chiefs. The first administrator of the school was Rev...
.
Detention
Oneko was one of the six freedom fighters arrested by the British colonial government in KapenguriaKapenguria
Kapenguria is a town lying north east of Kitale on the A1 road in Kenya. Kapenguria is capital of the West Pokot District. Kapenguria forms a municipality with an urban population of 13,000 and a total population of 56,000 ....
in 1952. Other members of the group, known as "Kapenguria Six
Kapenguria Six
The Kapenguria Six - Bildad Kaggia, Kung'u Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng' Oneko - were six leading Kenyan nationalists who were arrested in 1952, tried at Kapenguria in 1952-3, and imprisoned thereafter in Northern Kenya....
" were Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
, Paul Ngei
Paul Ngei
The Honourable Paul Joseph Ngei was a Kenyan politician who was imprisoned for his role in the anti-colonial movement, but who went on to hold several government ministerial positions after Kenya became independent....
, Bildad Kaggia
Bildad Kaggia
Bildad Mwaganu Kaggia was a Kenyan nationalist, freedom-fighter, and politician.-Early life:Kaggia was born in 1922, at Dagoretti, now part of Nairobi, where his father had moved from his home district of Muranga District....
, Kungu Karumba and Fred Kubai. They were arrested for allegedly being linked with the Mau Mau rebellion
Mau Mau Uprising
The Mau Mau Uprising was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960...
movement. They were released nine years later, in 1961, two years before Kenya gained independence .
Politics
The first parliamentary election were held on independence in 1963 and Achieng Oneko won the Nakuru Town ConstituencyNakuru Town Constituency
Nakuru Town Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections. The entire constituency is located within Nakuru municipality....
seat . Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of Kenya and soon appointed Achieng Oneko Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Tourism. However, in 1966 Oneko quit the government and joined the newly-created Kenya People's Union
Kenya People's Union
Kenya People's Union was a socialist political party in Kenya led by Oginga Odinga. The party was banned in 1969.- History :In March 1966 a left-wing faction of the governing Kenya African National Union left the party and formed the KPU...
, a socialist party led by his comrade Oginga Odinga .
In 1969 Oneko was arrested by his former friend Kenyatta following an incident in Kisumu
Kisumu
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
during Kenyatta's visit to the town. Oneko was released in 1975 .
Oneko returned to politics in 1992 when he was elected as an MP at the first multiparty elections in Kenya. He represented Ford-Kenya party, led by Oginga Odinga. However, he lost his Rarieda Constituency
Rarieda Constituency
Rarieda Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of two constituencies in Bondo District. The entire constituency is located within Bondo County Council.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :- External links :*...
seat at the next elections held in 1997 .
Legacy
Oneko died of heart attack aged 87 on 9 June 2007 at his home in KunyaKunya
Kunya can refer to:*Kunya an honorific in Arabic names*Kunya Urgench, a town in Turkmenistan*Kunya River, a river in northwestern Russia*Kunya, Russia, an urban-type settlement in Pskov Oblast, Russia...
village, Rarieda, Bondo District.
Oneko left a widow Loice Anyango. His eldest wife Jedida died in 1992. He has 11 children, seven sons and four daughters. His oldest son is Dr Ongonga Achieng
At the time of his death, Oneko was the only one of the "Kapenguria six" still alive. Kenyatta Day, a national holiday in Kenya, is held in Kenya to commemorate the detention of the six on 20 October 1952.