Why Meru freedom fighters kin are unhappy with Uhuru

Relatives of a Meru freedom fighter, the late General Musa Mwariama, have cried foul after the president inadvertently said in his Madaraka Day speech that his wife who died in April was in attendance at the Kinoro Stadium celebrations.

While honouring freedom fighters from Meru on Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the late Jacinta Kabika Mwariama had joined them for the celebrations.

“Indeed, from this county, we owe a great debt to the sons and daughters of this county from General Mwariama, whose widow mama Jacinta joins us today, to generals Nkungi, Baimungi, Ruku and all the other heroes who fought for Kenya to be free,” the president said

Unbeknown to President Kenyatta, Ms Jacinta died on April 29 this year.

Ms Mwariama, who acted as a spy for the Mau Mau, died poor aged 74 and was living in a mud hut in Timau.

Her son Joel Mwariama claimed that the government did not send a representative to her burial on May 9 or condole the family after she died.

But State House is said to have invited Ms Cionabea Mwariama, who was General Mwariama’s first wife before he joined Mau Mau, for a state luncheon.

Ms Cionabea lives in Muriri, Tigania East.

“General Mwariama’s family has not been officially invited to the Madaraka Day celebrations. I am still stuck outside with the crowd,” Mr Joel Mwariama told the Nation on Friday morning.

The son of General Baimungi, who was also mentioned by President Kenyatta, said his family had also not been invited to the fete.

“I am surprised that President Kenyatta’s handlers are not aware Ms Jacinta Mwariama died a few weeks ago. At the burial ceremony held in Buuri, the national government was represented by the area chief,” wrote Mr Seth Mutugi.

Before her death, Ms Mwariama is said to have expressed her displeasure over constant mentions at public holidays as a ‘Shujaa’, yet the government had not done much to improve her quality of life.