Many colonial settlers in Kenya isolated themselves from native Africans but that was not the case for John Boyes, who once claimed to have bought Mt Kenya.
Boyes managed to endear the Kikuyu, an act that saw him taken as a blood brother to the Kikuyu community through marriage and traditional rituals.
In his books, King of Wa-Kikuyu and Company of Adventures, he disclosed that he lived in the community for decades and married three local girls.
[caption caption="John Boyes"]
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The Briton was nicknamed ‘Karianjahi’ (one who eats cowpeas) and won the goodwill of influential Kikuyu chiefs Karuri wa Gakure and Wang’ombe.
In a ritual overseen by Wang’ombe wa Nderi, Boyes’ hand was slit and the incision's blood was allowed to mix with the elder’s blood which labeled him as a brother.
On January 27, 1933, he appeared before the Morris Carter Land Commission which was collecting evidence from Kenyans with complaints of disinheritance claiming he had bought the second largest mountain in Africa.
“I have a legal claim to Mt Kenya according to the native law which I propose to place before you for your consideration. During the blood brotherhood ceremony, it was decided that I should take the mountain,” he told the commission.
He alleged that he acquired the mountain for four goats and some rolls of clothes.
Witnesses agreed that chief Wang’ombe had received the goats but it was not clear what the purpose of the transaction was.
Boyes claims were, however, dismissed by the commission.
“We find that the claims are so wild and extravagant and conflicting that not even the Kikuyu could criticize us for inquiring substantiation from other sources before we affirm as a fact that any practice of making such payment existed,” the commission noted.
[caption caption="Chief Wang'ombe courtesy of AP"]
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