President William Ruto introduced the biography “The Price of Freedom”, chronicling the life of late independence activist Ramogi Achieng’ Oneko, during the Mashujaa Day luncheon at State Lodge in Eldoret.

The book draws on Oneko’s personal notes, written before his death in 2007, and incorporates eyewitness accounts and other historical sources to present a detailed narrative of his involvement in the independence struggle.

Oneko, a member of the Kapenguria Six, was arrested on 20 October 1952 and subjected to a trial later deemed a colonial sham, marking a pivotal moment in Kenya’s fight for self‑rule.

In the foreword, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga describes the work as a story of Kenya’s unfinished journey, linking the historic struggle to contemporary challenges of land, nationalism and governance.

Oneko’s early activism included co‑founding Ramogi Press in 1947, which printed multilingual newspapers such as the Luo‑focused “Ramogi”, helping the Kenya African Union mobilise support in Nyanza.

He later served as KAU secretary‑general and was part of a 1951 delegation to London, where he presented a paper to the League of Nations calling for the return of ancestral lands taken from Kenyans.

Editor Dr. Barrack Muluka, who oversaw the book’s publication, characterises Oneko as a stubborn nationalist and political romantic idealist, reflecting the complex legacy of Kenya’s early leaders.

The biography also tackles contentious topics such as land injustice, tribal politics and the assassination of Tom Mboya, offering readers insight into post‑independence challenges.