To the editor, The Sunday Nation- Nairobi
My Appreciation of the series of articles by Mzee Mervyn Maciel (aka ‘Bwana Karani ‘), a Kenya born Goan and former senior Kenya Civil Servant
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| 20 Aug 2025, 19:17 (14 hours ago) |
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To many people, newspaper writers are simply invisible figures who are out there to share their opinions or stories with anyone willing to read them. However, what some may not realize is that behind those pieces lies a strong bond that gradually develops over time between the writers and their readers.
This bond can become so strong that when a regular columnist announces their final article, it leaves one with a deep sense of emptiness.
A couple of weeks ago, I experienced this feeling when I read “Kwaheri! Why I Am Taking a Break from Writing This Column” (Sunday Nation, 15 June 2025), which turned out to be Mervyn Maciel’s final article.
Upon reading this, I immediately searched for his email address, which I found in one of his articles. After a while, I wrote to him, expressing my gratitude for his pieces of history and for sharing his life journey in Kenya. I also hinted to him that I would be travelling to England for studies in mid-August this year. Which I did.
Interestingly, his reply, which was almost instant, was nothing short of a surprise to me. Mzee was upbeat, even offering to welcome me to his “humble manyatta”, which I found to be a truly African gesture. I felt humbled.
When I arrived in Ulaya last week, Maciel was ready with a clear description on how I should set off from Worcester to Sutton via Victoria, our meeting point.
When I was ready to leave for London from my university campus on August 20, 2025, I did not know that my first shock in the UK was awaiting me. On arriving at Worcester Foregate Street Railway Station, I was slapped with an expensive one-way train ticket, enough to fly from Eldoret to Nairobi and back. I started missing the matatus and nganyas of Kenya.
As a student on scholarship and operating on a shoestring budget, I sent a regret message to Maciel, who was already waiting for me in Sutton, that I would not make it for our meeting. Interestingly, he was quick to console me, saying that there was no hurry and that we could still meet when it was appropriate. I was deeply touched by his humility and level of understanding.
What he did with the food that he had prepared for me is a story for another day.
Although he cited his age and declining health as reasons for the abrupt end to his contribution to Sunday Nation, I could not help but feel that he still had more to offer. His stories were not only educational but also eye-opening, especially for readers like me, who were born in the mid 80s. The stories are undeniably rich with history lessons about Kenya and the Goan people. Things which are not found in history books.
Having read many of his stories, a few of them stand out due to their historical impact. For instance, while setting “the record straight” in “Goan Contribution to the Colonial Administration”, (SN, 30 March 2025), Maciel sheds light on a community that made immense contribution to the development and growth of the country, cutting across nearly all professions, yet there is very little documentation about it. One even wonders why Goans are not legally recognised among the tribes in Kenya, in spite of their presence predating independence.
His tales of working in Marsabit and Turkana, a “hell on earth” where people “sweat from morning to evening”, demonstrate the spirit of a man who was not only ready to serve, but also determined to sacrifice and make a difference in a community he lived with.
Other stories were captivating and entertaining, often bordering on tragicomedy. In “My Lucky 1964 Escape from the Zanzibar Coup”, (SN, 27 October 2024), one can vividly picture the young Maciel crawling through the streets of Zanzibar, with bullets whistling above him. That he survived the intense exchange of fire between opposing soldiers, all in the name of fetching milk for his child, is nothing short of a miracle. It makes you wonder: to what extent should a father go in fending for his family?
At the age of 96, Maciel is nothing short of extraordinary. He is still able to write and share his stories with a passion that defies age. What makes him even more remarkable is his curiosity and sharp memory of events from long ago. Not only does he keep up with the world, but he also understands the complex concept of Artificial Intelligence, a cutting-edge technology that even many from younger generations are still grappling with. His life is a powerful reminder that curiosity, creativity, and the desire to learn is not limited to age.
Although it was sad for Mzee to bid us kwaheri (goodbye), it is only fair to accept this reality, for nothing is permanent under the sun. As I look forward to meeting him again one day, may he enjoy a peaceful and well-deserved rest.
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Dear All,
Johnie Chumo, A Kenyan, who has commented favourably on my articles before, has recently arrived in the UK on a scholarship, doing a postgraduate course at Worcester University.
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