Description
Africa General Service Medal, EDVII, bar Nandi 1905-6, 204 Constable Langokwa, Kiambu Police, East African Police Force. One of only 10 men to earn the medal with the Kiambu Police for their role in the Nandi Resistance.
Confirmed on the roll, officially impressed: “204 Cons: Langokwa. E.A.P.F.”
The East African Police Force was comprised of a number of Towns in Kenya, they earned in total 422 Nandi bars, most of the local police forces were quite large with up to 100 men, but only 11 men made up the small Police Force of Kiambu, which is just a few miles north of Nairobi, 1 medal was cancelled leaving only 10 issued to the Kiambu Police.
By the time of 1905, the Nandi Resistance had already been ongoing for over 10 years without end, it was finally brought to an end by an act of treachery from Lieut later Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen CBE DSO, when he invited the Nandi Ruler, Koitalel Arap Samoei, the Orkoiyot of the Nandi to discuss a truce.
Meinertzhagen had heard that Koitalel was interested in procuring his body, to mix a potion that could “turn bullets into water”, he took matters into his own hands when they met, having initially agreed to bring only 5 men with him, he snook in another 75, and reportedly when Koitalel reached out to shake his hand, he drew his revolver, shot and killed him on the spot, this ended the resistance shortly afterwards.
