The Kabarnet National Museums in conjunction with Samosa festival has organized a two-month long exhibition in honour of Makhan Singh, the founder of trade unionism in Kenya.
Speaking during the launch of the exhibition at the Museums grounds in Kabarnet town on Tuesday, Lilian Amwanda, a curator at the institution stated that the celebration is to appreciate the kind of legacy left behind by the leader who played a vital role in the Kenyan freedom struggle.
She noted that the history of the unionist was somehow lost after he was detained by the British colonialists for 11 years but the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) saw it fit to inspire the current and future generations on some of his achievements.
“He is a forgotten hero who will be remembered for the word Uhuru Sasa, a Kiswahili expression meaning “Freedom Now” said Amwanda who was joined by her NMK Western Region Keeper Julius Ogega.
She encouraged institutions within the county and beyond to visit the museum during the period in order to gain more knowledge from the revolutionary trade unionists and other freedom fighters.
Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) Baringo Branch Secretary Peter Mboya who graced the event challenged the youth to rise above the occasion, noting that they are the ones who the destiny of this country relies upon.
Mboya said that the youth in this current dispensation should be given the liberty to formulate ways of helping the country to move forward.
His sentiments were echoed by Baringo County Labour and Employment director Rebecca Koskey who championed courageous and visionary young leaders in the society.
She said that the move to have vibrant leaders will assist a lot especially in the county with few unions.
Kosgey urged employers not to victimize their employees when they join unions to advocate for their rights.
The celebrations will head to Malindi after Baringo and finally to Nairobi County in honour of the trade unionist who advocated for the rights of African, South Asian and even European workers.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
