MORE ABOUT JOSEPH INIMA
1.0 Birth
Joseph Inima was borne on 7 July 1924 as second child of Daudi Gilwoni and Rhoda Andeso. Inima hails from the Bagisinde Clan and Jepkomon [vagusi] sub-clan. The mother of Inima hailed from Vayonga Clan and Vayose sub-clan.
2.0 Circumcision
Inima was circumcised in 1931 but stayed in seclusion until the year 1932. His caretaker [mudiri] at Gidagadi Village was his uncle Reuben Isuri Kaguri.
3.0 Education
His father was a travelling teacher who served many schools including Mutsanzi, Gisambai, Givogi, Gamoi and Gidagadi. Inima travelled and schooled in the many schools his father taught. He sat his elementary exam at Kima.After this exam he attended Friends School Kegoye. His classmates at Kegoye included Thomas Ihagi, Musa Onyango, Zachariah Uduso, Thomas Kabagi, and Musa Muraya. His teacher at Kegoye was Javan Anzingale.
4.0 Caretaker [Mudiri]
In the year 1938, Inima took time off from school to become a care taker of the newly circumcised Juma 1 age-group. The new initiates included Thomas Ihagi, Luka Kilavuka, Samson Chamara, Jacob Lugoha and Wellington Agevi. Inima remembers that there was a serious desert locust invasion in this year.
5.0 Return to school
In 1939, Inima returned back to school at Munzatsi and proceeded to class 4. His teacher was Samuel Agesa. His classmates included Thomas Ihagi, Jotham Kedera and Musa Onyango. They did their Class 4 exam at Kakamega and Kaimosi. Inima passed this exam but all his classmates failed. In 1940 Inima proceeded to class 5 at Kakamega. His principal at Kakamega was a whiteman called Chapman. In the year 1941 the school went on strike because of poor food. Inima and other students were expelled from school.
6.0 Taking care of family
In the year 1937 his father backslided from Christianity and married a second wife. This caused a temporary separation with his family and also a serious strain on the family. After being expelled from school Inima had to find work to take care of his siblings. Inima did various odd jobs including working in the goldmine at Kakamega, working as a shamba boy for Mr. Cains at Thika and latter as a houseboy for Mr Ellen in Nairobi. In 1942 Inima got employment with Paycorps, who served the Second World War. Inima reported to Mr Archers, who took a keen interest in him. Archers taught Inima typing skills. His salary was 14/= per month, which was alot of money then. However, Inima fought with one of the racist Paycorps employee, an Asian called Pinto. Following this fight he was send to prison for a few months and did time in Nairobi. After prison , Inima proceeded to Mombasa where he met a Second World War 17 Battalion leader, Mr. Bristol. Bristol conscripted Inima into the war in the year 1942. Inima developed a good working and strong friendship with Mr. Bristol. Inima was rapidly promoted to become a warrant officer and latter a Regimental Sergeant Major[RSM].
7.0 Travelling during the Second World War
With Mr. Bristol , Inima travelled to many countries including Somalia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and finally India. Inima was transfered to the 29 Battalion while in India where he worked under General Montgomerry. With Montgomerry they did war against the Japanese in Burma until the war was stopped in 1945. By the time war ended Inima was commanding a battalion of 1900 African soldiers. From Burma he was airlifted back to Kenya to prepare for the victory parade in Birmingham , London. Inima was among the few World War leaders who shook hands with King George 4 during the victory parade festivities.
After the war most African soldiers were demobilized and returned back to their homes. However, Inima was absorbed into the army where he worked for a further 6 years.
