Prof Ogot's quest to 'free' African history from colonial archives

Renown historian Prof Bethwell Ogot after being accorded a honorary degree from Maasai Mara university at his home in Yalla Siaya county on February 4, 2017. [File, Standard]

As young scholars, we looked up to Prof Bethwell Allan Ogot for intellectual affirmation. I recall in 1992 when I presented a paper titled Mau Mau in Western Kenya at the conference on Mau Mau, 40 years later, in Kisumu.

My paper raised eyebrows. I had come across archival material on correspondence between government officials discussing elements in western Kenya who were regarded as sympathetic to Mau Mau and in support of the movement.