Early Italian Contributions to the Building of Modern Kenya

Gail Paul

Has Muthaiga ever known close to 80 members remain quiet for nearly an hour?

Well, that is what happened at the presentation by Aldo Manos on the above subject. So much to learn and so much to appreciate.

Aldo Manos first came to Kenya to open up the United Nations Environment Programme back in the 1970s. Since he retired he has spent considerable time researching the contributions that Italians have made to building Kenya.

A lot of his focus was on the Italian POWs. Perhaps the bestknown story concerns a group who escaped from a Prisoner of War Camp in 1943 and climbed Mt. Kenya, where they placed a flag on Point Lenana. The Times wrote about it as “the adventure of a lifetime” and their escapade was described in ‘No Picnic on Mt. Kenya,’ by Felice Benuzzi, which he wrote after their return to their Camp.

Most of us knew of the little memorial chapel, St. Mary of the Angels, at the bottom of the Escarpment road, but who knew they built the steep road all the way up the Escarpment? Or the lesser known ‘cousin’ – the chapel at Ndarugu, financed by the Pope, and consecrated by the Cardinal of New York. Not to mention the road from Athi to Namanga, or the Ruiru Dam.

One of many amazing facts was that the well-known Mau Mau leader, Dedan Kimathi was a labourer at one of the Prisoner of War camps, and was well liked by the PoWs.

Aldo has produced a fascinating little booklet outlining the many early contributions of which he spoke, and he would be delighted if anyone can contribute any new facts. He can be contacted at info@prigionierlinkenia. org

Thank you Aldo for sharing such unusual information and the Club for setting up the background for the lecture.