The Kings African Rifles-The Nubian Soldiers

Unlike other migratory tribes settled in Kenya from the 15th Century onwards, The advent of the Nubians was more by default rather than by design. They were historical victims of Anglo- Egyptian imperialism, Arab slave trade, the European scramble for Africa, the first and second world wars. Nubian settlement in Kenya was reported in early 19th Century but precisely around 1897. Among the Nubians who settled at Kibera, are the group that formed the 3rd Battalion of the Kings African Rifles and the group that formed the 4th Battalion. The latter returned to Uganda and was settled there. By early 1900s, Kibera was known as a military reserve. It was surveyed in1917 and gazetted 1918, comprising of 4, 197.7 acres and situated south of Ngong Road, partially inside and partially outside the Nairobi municipal areas. During the Turkish rule of Egypt and Sudan between 1820-1881,the Nubian soldiers were the best servicemen in the field, employed in different parts of the empire, but mainly in Equatorial province, which extended from what are now Southern Sudan and the whole of what is now known as Northern Uganda up to Soroti and Batyaba. During their army service, the Nubians were thoroughly adapted to the equatorial environment. They developed intricate knowledge of the area and its people who were cut off from the Muslim north. They mingled freely with the Equatorians and developed marriage ties with them. They preserved their culture and way of life though intermarriages had a tremendous and lasting influence not only on the culture of their offspring, but also on the Nubianized Equatorian soldiers in the army. The same cultural influence is reflected on the Nubians in Southern Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and parts of Tanzania; for example, the ancient Nubians plaited their hair and danced the Doluka dance. For handicrafts, they made Kuta and birish(mats whose patterns are consistent with those made by contemporary Nubians in the diaspora). The ancient Nubians also ate Kisra and their marriage ceremonies are similar to those of today's Nubians.The following are the subtribes that were assimilated in the process of Nubianization process: Dinka, Shilluk, Nuba, Tagala, Fartit, Makari, Zande, For, Tukurur, Mundari, Baria, Fojulu, Muru, Abukaya, Mundu, Bakaa, Lotuka, Acholi, Lango Musoga, Alur, Lugwar, Madi, Kawa, Munyoro, Nyangwara, Nandi, Teso, Kuku, Jawama and Barna.Thirteen years after the collapse of the Turkish Empire and the 74 years since the Nubians were deployed in Equatorial Province, Captain Lugard employed the service of 8200 former Turkish soldiers in service of the IBEAC. This was easy because Amin Pasha, the governor of Equatorial Province in 1883 had abandoned the capital Gondokoro with a group of soldiers to return to Khartoum via Darussalam. He established a port at Butyaba where he left 10,000 men including wives and children and dependents. Salim Bey commanded this group till 1898. Captain Lugard's army was not religious in mission but to safeguard political and economic interests of the British (UK) in British East Africa which included Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika.Captain Lugard's contingent soldiers were composed of the following; Dongolawi Nubians like Salim Bey and Fadhamulla Bey, their children, resulting in intermarriages in the Equatora and Nubianized Sudanese soldiers. It is this connection and combination rather than any factor plus acculturation and unilineal assimilation that qualifies us as their descendants.
FOGOTTEN HEROSFew of the soldiers who fought in the first and second world wars are still alive today. Though they served courageously under the British in these wars and thereafter, it is sad to note that they have been relegated to the dustbin of history. Their descendants continue to languish in abject poverty coupled with institutional discrimination from the government.Their land was systematically taken from them with no compensation at all and this has the greatest negative impact on their lives and the lives of their dependents. What remains of the initial 4, 187 acres left to them is a mere 300 acres which they are still fighting to be given titles to.

These are the names of the army officers who served with Captain Lugard in the Imperial British East Africa (IBEA) from 1892 in the 3rd Battalion of Kings African Rifles to 1919. The ranking of Officer was used till 1919, when it was changed to R.S.M. (Regimental Sergeant Major).

Officer Surur Adam - Kisumu Officer Biru- Mumias Officer Seim Makayi- Machakos Officer Marus- Kisumu. Officer Rizik- Yontei Officer Dolbeit Ibrahim- Nairobi Officer Mursal- Yontei Officer Adam Abdutaib- Nairobi Officer Fadalla Ahmed-Nairobi Officer Shafi Ahmed- Nairobi Officer Juma Rehan-Nairobi Officer Mohamed Swaleh-Yontei Officer Rafayah Ajak- Nairobi Officer Adam Alhashim- Nairobi Officer Abdisharraf Ahmed-Yontei Officer Ali Suleiman- Yontei Officer Rizgallah- Kisumu Officer Salim - Goben Officer Ramadhan- Goben Officer Farah Rgi- Yontei Officer Mohammed Ajib-Goben Officer Abdallah Zena-Nairobi Officer Babala- Kapsabet Officer Seyd Abdul Rahman-Nairobi Below are the names of the Regimental Sergeant Majors (R.S.M.) who served in the 3RD Kings African Rifles (K.A.R.)RSM Ali Nabruk(rtd) RSM Juma Bagari(rtd) RSM Suleiman Hamid(rtd) RSM Ahmed Koor(rtd) RSM Ramadhan Marjan(rtd) RSM Juma Rakuba(rtd) RSM Hassan Aljab(rtd) RSM Abdallah Sharrif(rtd) RSM Ismail Somali(rtd) RSM Sebit Bekii RSM Warsama Mire Somali(39) RSM Juma Mohammed(39) RSM Saleh Frahan(39) RSM Khamis Juma(39) RSM Mohammed Marjan(39) RSM Juma Selim Arabi(39)

Testimonies3RD BATTALLION OF THE KINGS AFRICAN RIFLES. (PTY.NO.4215)

Translated autobiography OF MZEE JUMA RAKUBA ABDALLA"I was born in Fort Jesus, Ngomeni in Mombasa in 1898. I am 80 years old now. I started learning in the Islamic Madrassa in 1903 when I was about four years old.My father Mzee Rakuba Abdalla left working as an askari, the 3RD Battalion of the Kings African Rifles (KAR) in Kismayu in 1905, after which he traveled to Entebbe, Uganda where he built a house and made it his home.On 20th January 1914, I was employed in the Armed Forces in the 3rd Battalion of the Kings African Rifles in Nairobi. My number was PTY. 4215.In August 1914, the First World War broke out between the Germans and the British. The war took a period of four years from1914 till 1918.In 1915 war broke out between the British and Germans in Vanga, Tanzania. At that time, we were removing the British Ship which had gotten stuck on Lake Victoria. The ship was named SIBIL. The war spread to Longido and Namanga where I was shot in the leg by German bullets. The war spread further to Taveta, Korogwa, Ruvuma, and Port Mela in Portugal. We were commanded to return to Nairobi, Kenya. The war then ended in 1918.I served in the following countries during the First World War: Jasin, Majita, Longodo, Nyarangombe, Korogwa, Handeni, Lindi, Banda, Masasi, Ruvuma, Kilwa, Kivinje, Kilwa Kisiwani, Kipata, Daresaalam and Port Mela.We returned to Kenya when the war ended in 1918. I toured Marsabit, Moyale, Wajir, Isiolo, Barsiloi, Longlani, Kulal, Garbatulla, Gaduduma, and Meru after which I went to Britain to attend the coronation of King George the 6th in 1937. When I returned from Britain, I retired from the army."MZEE RAKUBA ABDALLAThe following is the translated account of Juma Rakuba (or Juma Rokuba to Nubians) as he narrates a brief account of his father, Rakuba Abdallah."His tribe was Muru and he was enlisted as an askari in Sudan in the Egyptian Army. In their headquarters in Magala District, in Southern Province. In 1892, General Salim Bey and Doctor Emin Pasha spent a period of 10 years on their way to Khartoum, because of the reeds of the ocean which blocked the route from Khartoum to Magalla. The Sultan of Misri (Egypt) did not also know where Salim Bey and Emin Pasha were. At that time, Queen Victoria had sent Mr. Lugard to Imperial British East Africa to meet with the Kabaka of Uganda. Mr. Lugard passed through Egypt and the Sultan informed him about his two askaris who had disappeared for more than ten years and he told Mr. Lugard that if he found those two soldiers who had disappeared, the Egyptian government would reimburse him his expenses incurred. There the Egyptian government gave him six soldiers who knew Mr. Selim Bey very well.

After a long and tiring journey Mr. Lugard found and met Mr. Salim Bey in Kabala in Uganda where Mr. Lugard gave Selim Bey a letter from The Sultan of Egypt. Whereupon, Salim Bey gave Mr. Lugard all the remainder of his things which remained from his journeys.In Kabala, the Baganda of King Mwanga and the Wanyoro of King Kabarega started fighting. Captain Lugard then decided to side with the Bagandas in that battle using Salim Bey's askaris.When they were returning the askaris of Selim Bey to Egypt, Lugard divided the askaris of Selim Bey into two groups; one to fight with the Bunyoros and the other half to go with Selim Bey to Egypt through Mombasa. On reaching Naivasha, Selim Bey fell sick and died there. To date, where he was buried there is a lot of water i.e. Lake Naivasha.His wife and askaris were taken to Mombasa and where they boarded a ship to journey to Egypt via the Suez Canal.This narration is from my father and some of the askaris of Mr. Selim Bey and Dr. Emin Pasha of Egyptian Troops. I, Juma Rakuba was born in Mombasa, Fort Jesus in 1894.The other half of the soldiers fought under the soldiers of Kabarega under Mr. Lugard under the flag of the Imperial British East Africa.Our fathers have no land and a place to inherit, but that is the will of God. My father was a soldier of the Egyptian army and Captain Lugard.When Queen Victoria died in 1901, the Imperial British East Africa was changed to Kings African Rifles COY. No. 588 PTE. Rakuba Abdalla, Kabila (Tribe) Muru Country Sudan, D.C. Amadi.My father retired in 1905 in the 3rd K.A.R., and we went with him to Entebbe in Uganda where he passed away in 1945.

AFTER THE BATTLE OF EL-MAHDI (FROM 1859-1860)Translated account of narration by Mzee Juma Rakuba.After the end of the battle of El Mahdi, The Sudanese were living in peace and conducting their business in Khartoum and concerning themselves with various religious duties. That is the time when King Fowad (Faud) of Egypt in conjunction with the British, planted their flag in the town of Khartoum, one to represent the king of Egypt and the other to represent the British rule. The two nations then signed an agreement to rule Sudan for the next 50 years. They also put two Consuls, one from Britain and the other from Egypt. They agreed to both conscript 200 soldiers to protect their interests and rule.This issue did not go down well with the town youth (the half-castes) Derwish who then decided to form their own army to take on the combined forces of Egyptian and British soldiers. Darwish returned to the villages to oppose this colonial rule.King Fowad of Egypt and the British put two Consuls in the town of Khartoum to take care and protect their business and interests. They wrote a letter about these half castes that had gone back to the villages some of whom were armed. They asked for military assistance so that they can tackle these renegades whose numbers were about five thousand soldiers who were spread out in the southern parts of Sudan and the northern part of Uganda.These two governments were able to get military assistance in the form of askaris and equipment so as to tackle the renegades.

As a result of this, war broke out from Khartoum till Arua, in Jebel Wetu, Arwa West Nile where the chotara army were defeated and vanquished.When the war ended the remaining soldiers intermarried with the tribes of Uganda, they started trading and conducting their businesses, building houses there. That place became their home till when Captain Lugard came from Egypt passing through Uganda. He then met the soldiers who were with Selim Bey there in Kabale in Uganda".

NUBIAN LAND QUESTIONT is following is a historical perspective of a long but sustainable struggle for settlement, which has over the years proved elusive. Today the original 4,197,acres of land occupied by Nubians have shrunk to a mere 550 acres to 300 acres designated for their occupation and is too small for comfort.The British Colonial government dumped the Nubian ex-soldiers in Kenya more than a century ago in the hope that in time they would not multiply, grow old, and eventually die off altogether.However the Nubians, with the resilience of spirit unmatched through vigorous intermarriages with local tribes, replicated and multiplied over the decades, not only in Kibera, but elsewhere in the countryside, where they had settlements to currently number close to 200, 000 people. Unfortunately, the land on which they settled especially in Kibera, has progressively shrunk presenting a daunting dilemma in the equation of realistic human settlement.

Yet, they have been in Kenya for a complete century without any land equity rights.A chronological examination of the Nubian settlement over the last eight decades reveals glaring contradictions and administrative insincerity over land equity that has left subsequent generations wondering if constructive human settlements is a policy matter in Kenya.Owing to lack of comprehensive land policy, Kibera, the backbone of Nubian's contention, has in time lost its exclusivity as a Nubian settlement and though urban expansion high population mobility, and the natural process of interaction and interdependence of tribes is accepted, this cannot be done at the expense of the cultural preservation and the degradation of the environment.The litany of our search for peaceful settlement begins at around 1895 when our forefathers moved between Mombasa Makueni (Machakos), Kibera, Eldama Rvine, KIbigori etcsoldiering and guarding the Kenya Uganda railway. They camped at the thick forest of Kibera (Kibra in Nubian Language meaning forest) enroute.

Records show that Kibera land was interlinked with the Maasai land, and was classified under an original agreement with the Maasai, recognized by the British government in 1904.At the time, assurance was given by the then army (KAR) and government in recognition of their war service, The Nubian veterans were not to go back to Sudan but could permanently be settled on this land. This was eventually accomplished and the land was fully granted in1912.Between 1912 and 1917, the Nubians firmly established themselves and the whole area of Kibera was gazetted by a government Notice declaring Kiberaland as a future permanent agricultural settlement for the ex soldiers an their descendants in 19176 as an alternative of being returned to Sudan.It was agreed that their services and that of their descendants would forever be required in East Africa were entitled to full rights a s citizens of Kenya. The ex-soldiers therefore established their permanent settlements in Kiberaand pursued their agricultural activities peacefully.However, Kibera was not only the settlement for the ex-soldiers in Kenya discharged from the army. Others were given the option to settle apart from Kibera, Edema Ravine, Libido kibosh, Kisumu,Kisii, Kericho,Mumias, and Kismayu.

In 925, the Kismayu settlement was disbanded when Italians invaded part of the Somali land and the ex soldiers were relocated in Meru, and Mazeras.Although then all settlements were recognized by the government as permanent and freehold settlements of the war veterans, and their descendants today over half a century, few if any have been given and accorded land equity rightsPlease note that Kenya was a British protectorate from the year 1890 and became a colony in of the British in 1920. The land of which the Nubians have established themselves at Kieran by 1917 was officially gazetted in the year 1918with an acreage of 4,197.9.However 10 years later in 1928 there was a sudden change of policy without explanation and the army discharge documents which recorded the ex soldiers settlements at Kieran were withdrawn by the then Kenyan Government and instead permits were issued T he land has since been de gazetted and declared a settlement reserve.The se permits merely stated that the holder had full rights to live in Kibera, build a house and cultivate as previously demarcated by the Army officers.As an afterthought in 1930, the administration called the Kibera veterans to a meeting also attended by the army officers requesting them to leave Kibera and settle in Marathi, 10 miles from Nairobi. This did not however materialize and the Soldiers continued to live in Kibera.At the outbreak of the second world war, many Nubians were enlisted in the army and fought gallantly to the end of he war in 1945, when they returned with honors to continue living in KIbera.They hand been granted pensions and gratuities then or now.After the war, the government began formulating new policies seeking to develop Kibera with a view of its proximity with Nairobi. These developments disturbed the community, which drafted many memoranda to the government about it in vainIn 1933, the government appointed the Carter Land Committee to study and report upon certain land problems in the colony of Kenya. As regards Kibera land, section 601 states thatThe legal position of the occupants of Kibera appears to be that, they are tenants at will of the crown, and the tenancy is liable to termination by the Commission of lands at any time. On the other hand, we cannot agree that they have no rights in equity.We consider the government has a clear obligation to its ex askaris either to repatriate them or find accommodation for them. They were told that, they might make their homes at Kibera and our judgement then ought not be move d without receiving a suitable land elsewhere and compensation for disturbance and we consider that similar obligation exists in respects of their widows or sons who are already householders of Kibera.’’The Carter Land Commission recommendation was accepted by the government and the decisions taken by the government on commissions was incorporated into government policy on Nubian settlement. This however did not solve the problem.

In January 1946, Nubians living in Kibera were served with notices that railway construction stuff would take over all the land laying between the new line and 100ft on either side and for that purpose, they had to vacate that area and demolish their houses. By January 1948, this was fulfilled, but they were not compensated.In 1950, the Nairobi city Council cut off a chunk off Kibera land for the construction of Woodley Estate, an Exclusive European residential area. This was followed by land for the Golf Course and that on which Kenya Science Teachers College stands today.Note that since 1948, the government started taking by stages pieces of land from the original4, 197.9 acres, in most cases from individuals, concentrating on the outskirts of or boundaries of Kibera. This process eventually took a big portion of. After Woodley Estate, The Caledonian Football Club. Over the years, the under listed organizations and institutions had their portions at the expense of the disregarded Nubian occupants.1- Harlequin Rugby and Football Club2-Italian Football Game3-Impala European club area4-Langata Prison Quarry5-Nairobi European Yatch Club6-The Royal Nairobi Golf Club7-THe Ministry of Works Housing Estate8-Other areas for private European lands.This slow process took a total of 3,046 acres without compensation. The remaining 1,150 acres was also progressively reduced also without compensation.The Nubian residents of Kibera have over the years sought tirelessly the legal position of the land at Kibera, the acreage involved and why the y was being deprived of portions of land without fair compensation or relocation. Here the Carter Commission's recommendations were being ignored. On 15th July 1960, the Minister of housing had a meeting with the delegation of Sudanese Association and the Kibera settlement-working committees. The Committee wanted to know the position of the land in Kibera and the acreage involved.

On October 1960, the Committee had a statement prepared which contain the following points;The government recognized that it had a moral obligation to the residents of long standing especially those ex- askaris of the Kings African Rifles, who were issued with permits to live there by the military authorities, and it has no intention desire to move them from Kibera. The present inhabited area is however usually satisfactory for a variety of reasons it lacks proper roads water supply, drainage the best being not made of it and owing to the scarcity of land within Nairobi city, it is essential to develop residential sites within easy reach of the city and many of the existing buildings at Kibera are below unacceptable standard. The Government therefore proposes to develop Kibera on lines compatible with its position on Nairobi's boundary. The ultimate creation of five neighborhood units is envisaged each capable of accommodating 3000 people thus providing a residential area of 15000 persons. The development would however be carried out in states, and in the first instance, it is proposed to construct two neighborhood units.It is intended in the first stage of development to accommodate the present residents who are mainly Sudanese ex- soldiers of the Kings African Rifles or their descendants.