Argwings Kodhek's 1957 Illegible Handwritten Letter Amuses Kenyans: "What Was He Saying?"

• Kenyans on social media were captivated by a handwritten letter penned by the late Kenyan politician and lawyer Argwings Kodhek
• Kodhek, a significant political figure and the first black lawyer in East Africa piqued interest with his historical communication made in 1957
• Historian and journalist Levian Opiyo sparked widespread interest by sharing Kodhek's 1957 letter, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of Kenyan history

Kenyans on social media have been fascinated by a handwritten letter by the late Kenyan politician and lawyer Argwings Kodhek to the colonial government in 1957.

Kodhek, who died in 1969 after being involved in a grisly road accident, was a prominent politician and the first black lawyer in East Africa.

Historian and journalist Levian Opiyo amused many Kenyans after sharing a letter that Kodhek wrote in 1957 to the colonial office.

"What was Argwings-Kodhek even saying in this letter he sent to the Colonial Office in 1957? The handwriting!! Too difficult to read," he said.

While some Kenyans managed to decipher the first sentence of the handwritten letter, others hilariously compared it to a doctor's prescription.

Kenyans react to Argwings Kodhek's letter

Here are some of the comments that the letter ignited:

Francis Machila said:

'I remember how my class four teacher used to cane me because my handwriting was poor till I learned how to write legibly."

Bob Robert Robert's said:

"The whole letter is a signature."

Noah Adoga K said:

"I can easily read the whole letter because it's quite the same as my own handwriting."

Jakim Okoth said:

"... before I fly back home" is all I can read. Agwenge was angry, and not even words could express it better."

A Kenyan man who was able to read and understand the letter helped others understand:

William Kungu

"In the first paragraph, he says, " I am in receipt of your letter in which you explained that you were so busy then, as the only Minister in attendance, that we would not meet. I appreciate the position. I have since got other documents, a memorandum from the African Congress and those people from Kenya with kindred ideas".

Argwings Kodhek debarred

The year 1957 was not a good year for Kodhek as he was debarred by the colonial government.

This was after he became a lawyer for the Mau Mau fighters at the height of the clamour for independence.

His daughter previously revealed how he saved former freedom fighter Waruru Kanja from being hanged by the British colonial government.

"He took up these cases pro bono," she said.

Mama Fua's letter amuses Kenyans

In other news, a mama fua's handwriting also left netizens amused on social media.

She had written a note to her employer to inform them that she had borrowed their charger.

The mama fua also informed her employee that she had used her KSh 100 and would refund it.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.