This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
95 Cambridge Street: A Hub of Activism and Surveillance ¶
Located in London's upscale Pimlico area, 95 Cambridge Street was the residence of Jomo Kenyatta between 1933 and 1937. The house, now a heritage site, was a hub of activism and surveillance during Kenyatta's stay.
On September 8, 1936, a Colonial Office letter revealed the financial struggles Kenyatta faced during his time at the house. The letter, addressed to Mr. Wade, highlighted the predicament Kenyatta was in, with his landlord, Mr. Hosken, seeking payment for the rent.
As reported by the British intelligence boss, Sir Vernon Kell, in 1933, Kenyatta was associating with Nancy Cunard, an activist and the daughter of a billionaire shipping magnate. The intelligence described Kenyatta as 'slightly splay footed, almost invariably hatless, but sometimes wears a blue beret.'
The house was also a center of political activism, with Kenyatta being the vice-chairman of the International African Service Bureau, led by George Padmore. The Bureau published the African Sentinel from an office at 94 Gray's Inn Road.
However, Kenyatta's financial struggles were not limited to his rent. He was accused of failing to account for the money sent to him by the Kikuyu Central Association (KCA), which had hired the house for him. The KCA chairman, Jesse Kariuki, wrote to the landlord in April 1936, expressing concern about the amount Kenyatta owed.
Police reports indicate that the KCA Murang'a Branch had started raising funds in April 1936 to send two young educated Kikuyus to England to investigate Kenyatta's affairs. The funds were raised to the tune of £400 (approximately Sh51,720 today) for Kenyatta's ticket to Kenya.
Despite his financial struggles, Kenyatta maintained his address at 95 Cambridge Street and also lived at 15 Cranleigh House, Cranleigh Street, which he shared with a Jamaican girl, Ms. Amy Geraldine Stock. The intelligence described Stock as a 'Labour Party speaker in whose company Kenyatta is frequently seen.'
As the British intelligence continued to monitor Kenyatta's activities, he remained a key figure in the anti-colonial movement. His stay at 95 Cambridge Street was a testament to his commitment to the cause, despite the financial and personal challenges he faced.
