Jusab Lalani

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Hussein Jusab Lalani 1908–2004

Chapter Seven. History of My Father & Forefathers
My paternal grandfather, Jusab (pronounced Yusuf) Lalani, was an avid traveller; he travelled 35 years of his lifetime. Grandfather would leave India and be gone for three years. His travels covered countries such as Java, Sumatra, Singapore, Penang and Delagoa Bay (Lorenço Marques now known as Maputo) on the southern coast of Africa. In those days, he used to cross the oceans in coal-fired steamboats. There was no food provided on these boats, hence you were to carry your own rations to cook your meals. Grandfather was an excellent cook. A typical trip would last three years.
Grandfather came to settle in East Africa in 1908 accompanied by his brother, Shariff Lalani, and his eldest son, Rahematali Lalani, who was 8 years old. He came as a trader and landed in Mombasa after 15 days of travel on those slow boats. After the railway was built, he travelled upcountry and opened up a grocery store in Londiani, in the interior of Kenya. Londiani was at the crossroads of Kenya and during those days, new settlers from England, South Africa, etc, were coming in to open the country. About one-thousand new settlers were invited by the British government. Londiani, in those days, was known as Londiani 64 or Farm 64 because of the big farm there which was designated Land Title 64. Londiani was a rest campsite for travellers who were venturing into the Kenyan interior and opening up their farms. The Kenya Highlands had excellent land for farming and there was an abundance of water.
The Dutch settlers coming from South Africa travelled by caravans of bullock carts—each chuckwagon covered in tarpaulin and carried by 14 oxen. The journey from South Africa to Kenya took about one month travelling through some rugged country. After such a long travel, Londiani was an ideal and much needed resting site. The local Africans called Londiani, “Kampi Ya Moto”, meaning “camp by the fire”. It always rained in Londiani and a big campfire was kept burning day and night. Grandfather always kept hot boiling tea ready for any new arrivals. Before venturing further in the the Kenya Highlands, these travellers bought their supplies from Grandfather and paid him in gold Guinea coins. They never asked the price as all transactions were on trust. Grandfather conducted a booming business.
It was during this period that Grandfather invited his other friends and relatives from Veraval, India to come to Kenya as he saw a great deal of potential for business opportunities. Some of Grandfather’s friends who arrived were Haji Noormohamed (father of Juma Hajee) and Ali Kassam. Both were asked to venture further inland towards Eldoret as all the new settlers were heading that way to open their farms. Eldoret was non-existent then, but a small campsite known as Burnt Forest situated outside Eldoret was where all the original small shops started springing up. Haji and Ali both did very well with their shops at this camp. In fact, Haji became so famous that a creek was named after him (Hajee’s Creek—still known by that name today). After a few years, they moved to a new town known as Eldoret. Juma Hajee expanded their business and so did the sons of Ali Kassam. They would become some of the most prominent trade merchants in Eldoret.
Around 1912 as the First World War was shaping up, there was already a dispute between the Germans and British over Tanganyika and Kenya. Grandfather was not comfortable with the situation and sold his business and returned back to India. Grandfather was well educated and proficient at writing and drawing up deeds, etc. He was an excellent Notary Public, hence he started his small business in Veraval, India. His business did very well as the average public were illiterate in those days and did not know how to draft deeds and documents. Grandfather used to charge a small commission for his services.
Africa was his last travel.