Her itage Collection
LAUNCH OF THE MCC HERITAGE COLLECTION The launch of the Heritage Collection was an historic evening at the Club with a marvelous display of Club memorabilia, some belonging to MCC and some kindly donated for the occasion by Members. Members Tinu Mhajan and Peter Mathenge gave fascinating talks about their own family histories and experiences of life in Kenya, and Steve Mills outlined plans for the Heritage Collection Project.
Members of the Muthaiga Heritage Committee from left – Tinu Mhajan, Paul Chemn’goren, Philip Coulson, Tom Lawrence, Steve Mills, Peter Mathenge, Gail Paul, Rachel Mbai, Tove Hussein and Tony Wainaina.
Before 1895 when the British Government took on the responsibility of formally documenting Kenyan history, many peoples and cultures had already shaped and coloured Kenya’s vibrant past. First came the Bantus and Nilotes over two thousand years ago, there is evidence of Chinese visitors in Lamu in the 1300s, at the same time Arab and Indian sea merchants also came down the coast in search of trade. The Portuguese exerted their influence for 200 years from the early 1500s before being ousted by the Omanis, and by the 1850s Europe was also looking to expand their empires and the ‘Scramble for Africa’ began. Britain’s interest in East Africa was Uganda and the source of the Nile, but it was simpler to gain access from Mombasa than from Cairo, hence the origins of British East Africa. The name ‘Kenya’ only came into existence in the early 1920s when it formally became a British colony, taking its name from the mountain. 16
Britain’s direct influence ended in 1963, having been the resident power for just under 70 years. Kenya has been independent for an even shorter span of time - just less than 60 years - but more change has happened in this period than any other. All of this amounts to Kenya’s colourful past, and through the microcosm of Muthaiga Club’s hundred-year history, the Heritage Collection is an attempt to celebrate the past and make sure that it is safeguarded for generations to come, in the form of artefacts, archives and art. As one of the most historical Clubs in Africa, MCC’s Heritage Committee will be creating a series of displays of historical memorabilia in Reception and would be delighted if Members would share any interesting artifacts, books, artwork or memorabilia attached to the Club, that they might own, to help prevent a fascinating part of Kenya’s heritage from being lost.
Muthaiga Country Club December 2021 - February 2022
Tom Lawrence Chairman of the Heritage Collection Committee and Nigel Hunter admire a silver cigar box, which was presented to Nigel’s grandfather Wilfred, on his retirement as President of MCC in 1955, after 24 years. Engraved with the signatures of all the Committee Members at the time, Nigel has offered to bequeath it to the Club, subject to his daughters’ agreement.
Please get in touch with the Secretary secretary@mcc.co.ke to help make this project a success. www.mcc.co.ke
