Nyeri Mau Mau cry foul in pay deal
In a file picture taken in April 1953 captured suspected Mau Mau fighters are marched towards Githunguri court in Kenya at the time of the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Efforts by the Saturday Nation team to reach the association’s patron, Mzee Ndung’u wa Gicheru, at his home in Kiawara village in Kieni West to clarify the matter hit a snag after his wife denied journalists access.
Members of Mau Mau War Veterans Association in Nyeri County Friday said that none of the freedom fighters in the area is among the 5,228 listed for compensation.
They also claimed that Dedan Kimathi’s family had not been recognized in the list yet they are supposed to be key beneficiaries.
The group asserted that there were more than 6,000 Mau Mau members in the county and the municipality alone had 1,024 members.
The veterans stated that there were many imposters in the list and called for a thorough head count, noting that what the British government was offering was too little, and instead should consider paying Sh200 million per war veteran.
Efforts by the Saturday Nation team to reach the association’s patron, Mzee Ndung’u wa Gicheru, at his home in Kiawara village in Kieni West to clarify the matter hit a snag after his wife denied journalists access.
She said her sick husband was not in a position to talk to the media and was protecting his personal interests.
A former Mau Mau captain, Mr Nderitu Wambugu, said that by the British government accepting that the freedom fighters were subjected to torture means that they had the correct number of those involved and questioned how they came up with 5,228.
He alleged that the British government wanted to divide the freedom fighters into smaller groups and yet all of them fought for Kenya’s independence.
The veterans urged President Kenyatta not to allow the funds to be dispersed until they come up with a clear number of those to be compensated which they claimed to be more than 6,000 adding that no genuine fighter should be left out.
“We don’t have a problem with the Kenyan government, what we want is genuine Mau Mau freedom fighters be compensated,” said Mzee Wambugu.
Reported by James Ngunjiri, Stellar Murumba and Samuel Karanja
