Kenyan independence hero Bildad Kaggia dies after a long illness

Bildad Mwaganu Kaggia was a nationalist and a freedom fighter. Kaggia joined the Kenyan army when the Second World War broke out and was deployed in London as a company quarter-sergeant at a war office meant to rehabilitate African soldiers. During his time there, Kaggia studied political science, journalism and trade unionism through correspondence. Convinced that western religions were a stepping stone to colonialism, Kaggia returned to Kenya with a mission to Africanise religions. He started his own church, which included African customs and traditions. He later joined and sat on the central committee of the Mau Mau. When Kenya gained independence, Kaggia became a member of parliament and served as minister in Jomo Kenyatta’s cabinet. He retired from active politics in 1974, largely due to clashes with Kenyatta over land policies. He died on 7 March 2005 at the age of 82.