- The mysterious safe is safe to have been left by Jomo Kenyatta after he was arrested in October 20, 1952
- According to a former caretaker, the safe was opened by thugs after they heard it contained money
A mysterious safe found in Githunguri, Kiambu County that reportedly belonged to President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta has been opened. It was suspected that the safe contained important documents and money.
The safe has since been opened. The two-by-two metres long big black box designed with heavy and hard metal was made in 1946. Jomo was said to have left it after he was arrested in October 20, 1952 after the colonial government ordered the closure of Kenya Teachers College Githunguri where he was a lecturer. Then, the old lion used to stay at an old house adjacent to the college.
Besides money, the mysterious safe was thought to have contained the original map of Kenya and Jomo’s letters to other leaders who led the struggle of independence and colonial office.
According to the residents, the safe has never been opened since 1952. But when finally opened by unknown people, it was found empty and questions are being raised on who could have pulled a heist on the historical safe box.
George Gitau Boro a former caretaker, says that, “It was opened by thugs after they heard rumours that there was money in it. A prominent person is behind the theft because the authorities are doing nothing.”
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Gitau, who was there the day it was brought in a lorry, added that he has always told those who cared to listen that “Kenyatta was not a fool, he was the only one who had the key to that safe; I don’t think he left anything useful, but because of greed, they didn’t heed my advice.”
Gitau, also the chair of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association, warned that those who opened it “should come forward and apologise before a curse strikes them. We will slaughter a goat and conduct a cleansing ritual.”
Kariuki Mumo, a Githunguri resident laments the opening of the safe, arguing it was the pride of Githunguri people. “This is the only monument that we have in this town which we hope will one day become a tourist attraction. It’s sad that people can vandalise it knowing very well it’s a preserve of history”.
The Kenyatta House in Githunguri was gazetted by the National Museums of Kenya as a national heritage in 2008.
