# Achieng Oneko > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Achieng_Oneko > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Achieng_Oneko.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achieng_Oneko > Source revision: 1321243581 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Kenyan politician}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} thumbnail|Achieng Oneko. '''Ramogi Achieng Oneko''' (1920–2007) was a Kenyan freedom fighter and politician, considered a national hero in Kenya. He was born in Tieng'a village in Uyoma sub-location in [Bondo District](/source/Bondo_District) in 1920Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), 9 June 2007: ''[http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=43059 Achieng Onekos's struggle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622101253/http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=43059 |date=22 June 2007 }}'' and educated at [Maseno School](/source/Maseno_School).{{cite web |url=http://www.masenoschool.sc.ke/content.php?pid=35 |title=Maseno Old Boys |publisher=Maseno School |accessdate=2011-08-04 |archive-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306055647/http://www.masenoschool.sc.ke/content.php?pid=35 |url-status=dead }} == Detention == Oneko was one of the six freedom fighters arrested by the British colonial government in [Kapenguria](/source/Kapenguria) in 1952. Other members of the group, known as "[Kapenguria Six](/source/Kapenguria_Six)" were [Jomo Kenyatta](/source/Jomo_Kenyatta), [Paul Ngei](/source/Paul_Ngei), [Bildad Kaggia](/source/Bildad_Kaggia), [Kungu Karumba](/source/Kungu_Karumba) and [Fred Kubai](/source/Fred_Kubai). They were arrested for allegedly being linked with the [Mau Mau rebellion](/source/Mau_Mau_Uprising) movement.The Standard: 16 June 2007:{{cite web|url=http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143970012 |title=''Fare thee well Achieng' Oneko'' |accessdate=2007-06-16 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007114739/http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143970012 |archivedate=7 October 2007 }} Oneko was charged as "Accused No.3." After they were convicted, all six appealed the conviction. The appeal judges found that Oneko had largely been convicted on the weight of a KAU meeting he had attended.{{Cite web|url=http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/86188/|title=Criminal Appeal 276, 277, 278, 279, 280 & 281 of 1953 – Kenya Law|website=kenyalaw.org|access-date=2018-12-16}} The statements at the meeting were mostly in Kikuyu, which he did not understand at the time. Although the judges acquitted him of the charges on 15 January 1954, he was still held in detention with the other Kapenguria Five.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} They were released nine years later, in 1961, two years before Kenya gained independence.[The Standard](/source/The_Standard_(Kenya)), 16 August 2004:{{cite web|url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/august/mon16082004/headlines/news15080401.htm |title=''A colourful career ends in dishonour'' |accessdate=2007-06-16 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040821095134/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/august/mon16082004/headlines/news15080401.htm |archivedate=21 August 2004 }} == Politics == The first parliamentary election were held on independence in 1963 and Achieng Oneko won the [Nakuru Town Constituency](/source/Nakuru_Town_Constituency) seat.Center for Multiparty Democracy: [http://www.cmd.or.ke/images/Politics%20and%20Paliamenterians%20in%20Kenya.pdf Politics and Parliamentarians in Kenya 1944–2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028212845/http://www.cmd.or.ke/images/Politics%20and%20Paliamenterians%20in%20Kenya.pdf |date=28 October 2008 }} Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of Kenya and soon appointed Achieng Oneko Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Tourism. However, in 1966 Oneko quit the government and joined the newly created [Kenya People's Union](/source/Kenya_People's_Union), a socialist party led by his comrade [Oginga Odinga](/source/Oginga_Odinga). In 1969 he was arrested by his former friend Kenyatta following an incident in [Kisumu](/source/Kisumu) during Kenyatta's visit to the town and was released in 1975. Oneko returned to politics in 1992 when he was elected as an MP at the first multiparty elections in Kenya. He represented [Ford-Kenya](/source/Ford-Kenya) party, led by Oginga Odinga. However, he lost his [Rarieda Constituency](/source/Rarieda_Constituency) seat at the next elections held in 1997. == Legacy == Achieng Oneko died of a heart attack on 9 June 2007 aged 87, at his home in Kunya village, [Rarieda](/source/Rarieda), Bondo District.Daily Nation, 10 June 2007: ''[http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=100004 Achieng Oneko dies, aged 87]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}'' He left a widow, Loice Anyango. His eldest wife Jedida, died in 1992. He has 11 children, seven sons and four daughters. His oldest son is Dr Ongonga Achieng.The Standard, 26 November 2009: [http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/news/InsidePage.php?id=1144029083&cid=159& RARIEDA: Oneko celebrated tomorrow] At the time of his death, Oneko was the only one of the "Kapenguria six" still alive. Mashujaa Day (previously known as [Kenyatta Day](/source/Kenyatta_Day) until the promulgation of the new Kenya constitution on 27 August 2010) is a national holiday in Kenya that commemorates the detention of the Kapenguria Six on 20 October 1952.Kenya Times, 23 October 2005:{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnews.co.ke/23oct05/nwsstory/opinion2.html |title=''Kenyatta Day a sad reminder of Kenya's distorted history'' |accessdate=2007-06-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519042817/http://www.timesnews.co.ke/23oct05/nwsstory/opinion2.html |archivedate=19 May 2006 }} == See also == * [Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania](/source/Luo_people_of_Kenya_and_Tanzania) == References == {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Oneko, Achieng}} Category:Kenyan rebels Category:1920 births Category:2007 deaths Category:Prisoners and detainees of Kenya Category:Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya politicians Category:Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) Category:Kenyan socialists Category:Kenya People's Union politicians Category:Alumni of Maseno School --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Achieng Oneko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achieng_Oneko) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achieng_Oneko?action=history)). 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