When the British arrived in Kenya, they took three fundamental things from the Ameru people: our freedom, our land, and our culture. These were not mere possessions—they were the essence of our identity, our sovereignty, and our connection to the divine.
Over time, through resistance and struggle, the British were forced to return two of these: our freedom and our land. But they never gave back our culture. They took it with them, leaving behind a people disconnected from their ancestral wisdom, their communal values, and their spiritual foundations.
The elders of the Ameru have long argued that culture is the force that frees people from slavery. It is culture that defines a people’s way of life, their governance, their morality, and their relationship with God. Without it, a society drifts—struggling to govern itself, to find unity, and to assert its place in the world. This is the challenge Kenya faces today.
The British strategy: Destroying culture to control a people
Colonial conquest was never just about military defeat. The British understood that to truly rule a people, they had to break their spirit. They did this by systematically dismantling indigenous cultures.
For the Ameru and other Kenyan communities, culture was rooted in deep traditions—oral histories, governance structures, sacred rituals, and a unique spiritual connection with God, whom our ancestors knew as Murungu. These traditions provided order, discipline, and moral guidance.
But colonial rule sought to replace this with European systems. The British imposed their laws, their religion, and their ways of thinking. They ridiculed and outlawed African traditions, dismissing them as backward. In mission schools, children were punished for speaking their native languages. In churches, African spirituality was demonized. Over generations, an entire people became estranged from their own identity.
By the time the British left, the damage was done. Land and political independence had been restored, but the cultural foundations that once held our society together were severely weakened.
Culture as the foundation of true freedom
Many African nations gained independence but have struggled to govern themselves effectively. This is not because Africans are incapable of self-rule, as some colonial apologists claim, but because colonialism severed them from the very systems that had allowed them to govern themselves for centuries.
Before colonization, the Ameru had a well-structured governance system. The Njuri Ncheke, the council of elders, managed justice, conflict resolution, and leadership transitions. Decisions were made collectively, based on wisdom and experience. Leadership was earned through merit, not political manipulation.
Today, this system has been largely replaced by Western-style governance, which often prioritizes individual power over communal well-being. Corruption, tribalism, and political instability thrive because the cultural values that once guided leadership and accountability have been eroded.
Similarly, spirituality among the Ameru was deeply intertwined with morality and ethics. The loss of cultural spirituality has created a moral vacuum. Many now seek identity in materialism and political patronage rather than in shared community values.
Reclaiming our culture: The path to true liberation
If culture is what frees people from slavery, then reclaiming our culture is the only way to complete the journey to true independence.
This does not mean rejecting all aspects of modernization. Rather, it means restoring the values, wisdom, and traditions that sustained our ancestors. It means strengthening indigenous governance structures, reviving traditional knowledge, and re-establishing our relationship with God on our own terms—not through the lens of colonial religion.
Practical steps toward cultural restoration include:
- Revitalizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems – Traditional institutions like the Njuri Ncheke must be strengthened, not sidelined. Their role in governance, justice, and leadership should be integrated into national decision-making.
- Reclaiming African Spirituality – The Ameru’s understanding of God, morality, and the universe should be embraced rather than suppressed. African spirituality should not be viewed as incompatible with faith but as a legitimate expression of our people’s relationship with the divine.
- Strengthening Indigenous Languages – Language carries culture. Schools should teach children in their mother tongues, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their heritage.
- Promoting African Communal Values – Modern society glorifies individualism, but the Ameru have always thrived on communal responsibility. Restoring these values can help combat corruption, social breakdown, and leadership failures.
- Documenting and Teaching Our History – Our story should not begin with colonialism. Our children must be taught about our rich history before the British arrived—the achievements, governance systems, and philosophies that made the Ameru a strong and proud people.
Conclusion: The fight for our culture is the fight for our future
The British may have left physically, but their greatest conquest remains—the theft of our culture. Until we reclaim it, Kenya will continue to struggle with governance, identity, and purpose.
Our ancestors understood something profound: a people without culture are like a tree without roots—they cannot stand strong, and they cannot grow tall. To rebuild our nation, we must go back to the foundation that colonialism tried to erase.
The time has come to reclaim what was taken from us. Our freedom and our land were restored, but our true liberation will only come when we restore our culture.
Gitile Naituli is a Professor of Business Management and Leadership at Multimedia University of Kenya and a former Commissioner at NCIC
