The Mau Mau veterans in Narok County are now calling on the government to push the British government to expedite compensating the few remaining freedom fighters so that they can enjoy their sweat before their sunset.
Wanjiku Wagachoka, 102, recalled her youthful days when she used to secretly carry food to the caves and in the forest, where the warriors who were fighting for the freedom of the country were hiding.
She painfully recalled that her husband was shot dead in the fight a few days after she was married, making her a widow to date.
The promise by the British government to compensate all Kenyans who suffered torture during the colonial era came as a relief to her family, as they had high hopes that they would enjoy the fruits of their labour.
However, she lamented, the promise has taken longer than she expected, and her body is continuing to weaken, bringing fear to her family that she could not have a chance to enjoy the compensation.
“We have waited patiently for the money we were promised by the past regimes in vain. I struggled raising my children single-handedly with the hope that we would be compensated by the government,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Pastor Mark Montoro, who observed that the Mau Mau fighters have been living in deplorable conditions despite having played a huge role in liberating the nation from the colonial government.
Montoro asked the county government to build a museum on a piece of land where the Mau Mau freedom fighters were buried in mass graves.
“The museum is important to teach the future generation about the past. They should know and appreciate that their forefathers fought for the freedom of the nation. This will make them patriotic citizens,” he said.
The Mau Mau Original Trust National Vice-Chairman Daniel Kamau lauded the national government for regularly disbursing the Older Persons Cash Transfer that has been sustaining the elders in the society.
However, Kamau called on the government to continue pushing for British government compensation so that the elders and their families can enjoy the fruits of their labour.
“Recently, all the Mau Mau groups joined into one group so that we can move as one people to expedite compensation. Our forefathers suffered under the colonial government, and it is only fair if we get the compensation early enough,” he said.
The Mau Mau Original Trust has been pushing for compensation from the British government for all Kenyans for the torture inflicted on them during the colonial period.
The British government had promised a compensation of 364 trillion British pounds that is yet to be released to the Kenyan government.
The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, has in the past announced that Britain is ready to engage communities that suffered during the colonial era.
Recently, the high commissioner dismissed claims that the government of Kenya is withholding compensation funds and advised the members of the public to refrain from engaging with unauthorised individuals.
