Fred Kubai (1917–June 1, 1996) was one of the

Kapenguria Six The Kapenguria Six – Bildad Kaggia, Kung'u Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng' Oneko – were six leading Kenyan nationalists who were arrested in 1952, tried at Kapenguria in 1952–53, and imprisoned thereafter i ...

, members of the

Kenya African Union The Kenya African Union (KAU) was a political organization in colonial Kenya, formed in October 1944 prior to the appointment of the first African to sit in the Legislative Council. In 1960 it became the current Kenya African National Union (KAN ...

arrested in 1952, tried and imprisoned. He was a

Kikuyu Kikuyu or Gikuyu (Gĩkũyũ) mostly refers to an ethnic group in Kenya or its associated language. It may also refer to: *Kikuyu people, a majority ethnic group in Kenya * Kikuyu language, the language of Kikuyu people *Kikuyu, Kenya, a town in Cen ...

, and a leader of the Kenya Transport Workers Union and the East African Trade Union Congress. Kubai organized attacks against the European government in Nairobi. In May 1950, he was tried and acquitted of the assassination attempt of a city official. On 22 October 1952, Fred Kubai, together with

Bildad Kaggia Bildad Mwaganu Kaggia (1921 – 7 March 2005) was a Kenyan nationalist, activist, and politician. Kaggia was a member of the Mau Mau Central Committee. After independence he became a Member of Parliament. He established himself as a militant, f ...

Kung'u Karumba Kung'u Karumba was a Kenyan nationalist and freedom-fighter. He was a member of the Kapenguria Six, along with Bildad Kaggia, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng Oneko. Kungu Karumba along with five other men, including Jomo Kenyatta ...

Jomo Kenyatta Jomo Kenyatta (22 August 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He played a significant role in the ...

Paul Ngei The Honourable Paul Joseph Ngei (18 October 1923 – 15 August 2004) was a Kenyan politician who was imprisoned for his role in the anti-colonial movement, but who went on to hold several government ministerial positions after Kenya became inde ...

, and

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 in 1920 and educated at Maseno School. Detention One ...

, was charged with organizing the

Mau Mau Uprising The Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960), also known as the Mau Mau uprising, Mau Mau revolt, or Kenya Emergency, was a war in the British Kenya Colony (1920–1963) between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the Mau Mau, and the ...

Early life and military service

Fred Kubai was born in 1917 in

Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

. He attended Buxton High School located in

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

, graduating in 1931. Fred Kubai had four wives and after separating with his wives fell in love with his house help Christina Gakuhi. In 1991, he wrote a will that saw Christina Gakuhi entitled to all of his properties. He then worked for the East African Post and Telecommunications as a

telegraphist A telegraphist (British English), telegrapher (American English), or telegraph operator is a person who uses a telegraph key to send and receive Morse code messages in a telegraphy system. These messages, also called telegrams, can be transmitte ...

from 1931 to 1946. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he also served as part of the telegraph battalion in the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

Lodwar Lodwar is the largest town in north-western Kenya, located west of Lake Turkana on the A1 road. Its main industries are basket weaving and tourism. The Loima Hills lie to its west. Lodwar is the capital of Turkana County. The town had a popu ...

Labour leader

In 1946, Kubai ended his telegraphist career and joined the African Workers Federation. The following year, he formed the Kenya African Road Transport and Mechanics Union, which later came to be known as the Transport and Allied Worker Union.

Mau Mau

On 22 October 1952,

, Fred Kubai,

, and

were charged with organizing the

. They were found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison.

References

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kubai, Fred 1917 births 1996 deaths Kikuyu people Prisoners and detainees of Kenya British colonial army soldiers Alumni of Buxton High School Kenyan trade union leaders British Army personnel of World War II