How Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was attacked in London

As the country marks the 40th anniversary since the death of Kenya’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, we take a look at one instance when he was attacked outside a hotel in London.

One bright morning in July 1964, Kenyatta was making his way through the lobby of Hilton Hotel and as he was just about to enter his Daimler, a young physician’s clerk ran towards him, bumped on a policeman and landed on the 74-year-old Prime Minister at the time.

A policeman who was at the scene jumped on the assailant and they were hurled against the open door of Mr. Kenyatta's car so hard that its side was dented.

Other publications reported that “the hinges on the door sprung so badly that it could not be closed.”

As this was going on, John Tyndall, an official of the British National Socialist Movement, started a harangue with a powered speaker from the opposite side of Park Lane.

“Kenyatta, go back to Africa! This is the man who murdered our white brethren in Africa!” he shouted.

Apparently, Tyndall was referring to the Mau Mau period that preceded Kenya's independence.

The attacker, 21-year-old Martin Allen Webster, was however overpowered by security personnel at the scene and was arrested.

Kenyatta remained in his car until the two (Tyndall and Webster) were taken away and later issued a statement saying he was not hurt.

Kenya’s founding father urged his people back home to remain as he played down the incident.

When news of the attack reached Duncan Sandys, Britain's Secretary for Commonwealth Relations, he was unimpressed and took Kenyatta back with him to Marlborough House.

A formal complaint was also lodged by Kenya’s High Commissioner in London Dr. J. Njuguna Karanja to Sir Alec Douglas Home, the British Prime Minister.

Sir Alec condemned the attack terming it deplorable.

Tyndall and Webster later appeared in court on charges of assault and intent to provoke breach of peace but were both released on bail.

According to the New York Times, Webster said: “I may have bumped his shoulder as I went by him.”