Ex-Mau Mau fighter dies amidst pay row
Lawyer Paul Muite (left) when he visited an ailing Ndungu wa Gicheru at his home in Kiawara, Nyeri county on August 18, 2012. Photo/ FILE
What you need to know:
- Mr Gicheru was a patron of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association which recently raised an alarm over alleged imposters list.
- His son accused the government of neglecting his father who had already lost his land and missed out on education.
- Earlier this month, journalists attempted to contact the late Mr Gicheru for an interview over alleged imposters on the compensation list but his wife denied them access to him saying he was too ill.
An ex-Mau Mau freedom fighter Ndung’u Wa Gicheru has died in Nyeri County.
His death comes just weeks after the British government apologised for the atrocities committed and announced a Sh2.6 billion compensation package.
Alleged imposters list
Mr Gicheru was a patron of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association which recently raised the alarm over an alleged imposters list. (READ: Nyeri Mau Mau cry foul in pay deal)
Earlier this month, journalists attempted to contact him for an interview over the claim but his wife denied them access saying he was too ill.
In an interview with the Nation on Thursday, the group's chairman Elijah Kinyua said the death should be a wake-up call to the government to honour freedom fighters.
“General Gicheru was among the first people to take up arms against colonialists in 1952. The government should come in and support the family in this hour of need,” he said.
Gunshot wound
According to Mr Gicheru's son, Josephat, the war veteran had been ailing for the past five years and doctors attributed it to a gunshot wound sustained during the war.
“My father was rendered a cripple after he was shot in Kiendogoro, Aberdare forest in 1956 and when he died, that bullet was still in his leg,” he said.
On Wednesday night, they were forced to rush him to hospital after his health deteriorated. He was however pronounced dead on arrival at the Mathari Mission Hospital in Nyeri.
Missed out on education
His son accused the government of neglecting the old man who had already lost his land and missed out on education.
“The government was aware about Mzee’s ailing condition but did nothing to help him considering the fact that he contributed largely to where Kenya is now,” he said.
