Memory lane: Day Mt Kenya was nearly sold for 20 goats, beads

Mt Kenya

At the slopes of the sacred shrine, gunshots shattered the serenity as men, who only months ago would have slaughtered each other with spears were sipping gin from the same horns as they munched their way through a mountain of goat meat.

And as gourds of the potent muratina were emptied, boisterous laughter echoed across the valleys as they engaged their banter. The Union Jack fluttered in rhythm to the cold mountain breeze as the toast of the ceremony, John Boyes, who had managed to bring together the warring tribes and clans together, enjoyed the spectacle.