Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Trans Nzoia Voters List

Debrett - is a member of the firm of Kirkwood and Co., of Kitale; was a MLC, Kenya 1927-43; sometime in Wanganui Rifles (New Zealand Forces); S. Africa 1899-1902 with Brabant's Horse, and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, Bambarta Rebellion 1907, European War 1914-18 as Lieut.-Col. King's Roy. Rifle Corps (despatches, DSO, CMG)  

Red 25 - Member, Kenya Land Settlement Advisory Board; Chairman of Directors, Plateau Maize Growers Limited

Curtis - p. 120 - Conversation between Anne Thurston and Alban Mitford Barberton in 1983 re the slump of the 1930s - ' ..... They had a man up here called Colonel Kirkwood - he built the Hotel - and during the depression he used to do a very good lunch at the hotel for 1/50. Yes 1/50 - a 4 course meal for 1/50. He fed the down-and-out farmers. We used to go to town and have one good meal. He was a funny old man - quite uneducated - they elected him time after time to the Legislative Council. He was a good chap - he really helped the district. East Africa & Rhodesia - 31/3/55 - Colonel James George Kirkwood, CMG, DSO, died last week in Mount Kenya Hospital, Nyeri at the age of 83. He was for some years an elected member of the Legislative Council of Kenya. During the 1914-18 war he served on the Western Front, being awarded the DSO and CMG and several times mentioned in dispatches.

Red 22 - Vice-President, Trans Nzoia Farmers' Association - Lt.-Col. T.J. Kirkwood CMG, DSO

Trans Nzoia Scrap Book - Suam Sawmill - In 1936 Suam Sawmills Ltd., held an AGM in Kitale and declared a dividend - an almost unheard of event in those post-slump years. Celebrators adjourned to the bar of the Hotel and centred round Eddie D'Olier and Norman. Colonel Kirkwood, owner of the Hotel, tried to restrain them and had ice shoved down his neck; the Superintendent of Police got locked in one of his own cells. Eventually the ringleaders repaired to the Station, where an empty train was standing. Toilet paper from this was festooned around the station, and finally some of the revellers slept it off in the carriages.

Barnes - President of Kitale Rugby Club in 1928

EA Stud Book 1954 - Thoroughbred Stallions - Lt.Col. J.G. Kirkwood, Nakuru

Dominion - 1930 - European Elected member of Legco

Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Col. J.G. Kirkwood, CMG, DSO, 25th Batt. KRR Corps, BEF, France - Farm 1072

East Africa - 30 June 1927 - The new hotel being built in Kitale by Colonel Kirkwood is, a correspondent states, almost finished.

Web - President of Anzac Society newly formed in Nairobi 1932.

Macmillan 1930 - Kirkwood & Co. - Kitale - Few if any towns in the British Empire have had their development so greatly influenced by one man as Kitale has by Lieut.-Col. The Hon J. G. Kirkwood, CMG, DSO, MLC. That well known gentleman arrived in Kenya early in 1920 in connection with the soldiers' settlement scheme and selecting with excellent judgement the district with the most promising potentialities he settled at Kitale ……… In January 1926 Colonel Kirkwood was joined in partnership by Mr G.J.F. Forbes-Mangan and under the style of Kirkwood & Co. they started at Kitale a very small store for general merchandise but supplying more especially all kinds of building and farming requirements and it was attended with great success.

KFA - Present at 1922 meeting at Soy to discuss how best to form a co-operative society. On committee of Plateau Maize Growers' Ass. in 1923.

KAD 1922 - Vice-President, Trans Nzoia Farmers' Association.

Hut - Built Kitale Hotel

Gazette - 22/12/1926 - Liquor Licence - Colonel J.G. Kirkwood - Hotel Liquor Licence - Provisional, hotel premises to be built on Plot 1, Section V, Kitale.

Gazette - 26/9/1923 - Voters Register - Plateau North - Lt.-Col. James George Kirkwood CMG, Farmer PO Hoey's Bridge

Gazette 17 May 1956 probate

Alf Smith White Roots in Africa: He owned the Kitale Hotel and also published a small weekly newspaper called the Kitale Gazette.