The Forgotten Heroes of Independence: A Case of Dr. Taaita Toweett

This paper studies on the struggle and undertakings of Dr Taaita Toweett towards the achievement of independence of Kenya from 1958 to 1964. The paper starts by ventilating on the background of Toweett from childhood to the time he plunged to politics in 1958. The paper focuses on two objectives, namely, the emergency of Taaita Toweett in to active politics and his contribution and legacies of Toweett towards achievement of independence. The paper uses the great man theory postulated by great historian Thomas Carlyle. The theory describes the influence of the leaders like Napoleon and Shakespeare in ancient societies thus applicable in the analysis of Toweett activities in the straddle for independence in Kenya. Qualitative methodology and historical technique were used in data collection while historian research design and purposive sampling were the main techniques used to identify the oral informants. Archival information was also a source of written data collected. The main themes which guided this research paper are the emergence of Toweett into active politics in 1957, the first Lancaster House conference of 1960, the formation of National political parties and the second Lancaster House conference of 1962.