Ofafa Jericho,Ofafa Maringo, Ofafa Jerusalem and Ofafa Jericho High School are very prominent in eatlands, but have you ever asked yourself where the names came from, well the estates and school stand today as living memorials to one of Kenya’s early heroes, Ambrose Ofafa, a man whose name echoes through Nairobi’s history as a symbol of service, sacrifice, and civic leadership. Few today know the man behind the name, but Ambrose Ofafa was once one of the most respected African leaders in colonial Kenya,a bridge between the colonial administration and the African population during one of the most turbulent times in the nation’s history.
Ambrose Ofafa was among the first Africans to rise to a senior position in the colonial civil service,a rare achievement in an era when opportunities for Africans were extremely limited. Born in the early 1900s, Ofafa came from the Luo community and quickly distinguished himself through education, discipline, and integrity. His competence and calm demeanor earned him a place in Nairobi’s public administration, where he worked tirelessly to improve the welfare of African residents who faced daily discrimination under colonial rule.
As a member of the Nairobi Municipal Council, Ambrose Ofafa represented African interests at a time when African voices were often ignored. He championed better housing, healthcare, and education for the growing African population in Nairobi. His leadership was marked by diplomacy and moderation,qualities that made him both respected by the colonial authorities and admired by fellow Africans. He was not a radical agitator, but a reformer,one who believed that gradual change, dialogue, and strong civic institutions could pave the way to African empowerment.
But his dedication came at a cost. During the height of the Mau Mau Emergency in the early 1950s, Kenya was engulfed in political tension, fear, and mistrust. The colonial government was cracking down violently on freedom movements, while Mau Mau fighters were taking up arms in the forests to resist oppression. It was a time when moderates like Ofafa were caught in the middle, seen by the colonial authorities as potential threats and by radicals as collaborators.
In 1953, tragedy struck. Ambrose Ofafa was ambushed and brutally murdered while traveling near Nairobi. His death sent shockwaves across the country. Many saw it as a cruel irony that a man who had dedicated his life to peace, order, and dialogue should die so violently amid chaos. To this day, the exact motives behind his assassination remain debated, some claimed he was targeted by Mau Mau sympathizers who viewed him as close to the colonial regime, while others believed he was silenced because his growing influence posed a threat to entrenched interests on both sides.
In recognition of his service and sacrifice, Nairobi’s Ofafa Maringo, ofafa Jerusalem,Ofafa Jericho Estate and Ofafa Jericho High School were named after him. These places were built to provide affordable housing and education for African families ,the very causes he fought for while alive. Every student who passes through the gates of Ofafa Jericho High School, and every family that calls Ofafa Estate home, walks in the legacy of a man who gave his life for the betterment of others.
Ambrose Ofafa’s story is a poignant reminder of Kenya’s painful but courageous journey to self-determination. He stood for dialogue in an age of division, and his life captures the complexities of a struggle that was not only fought in the forests but also in the council chambers and civic offices of colonial Kenya. Though time has buried his name beneath the dust of history, the estates and institutions that carry it continue to speak of a man who lived with purpose, served with honor, and died with his ideals intact.
~Script by Martin Munyanga
Real Estate dealer and Fashionist