Ms Evalyne Wanjugu planting a tree during a past ceremony. Photo/Courtesy
The Family Of The Late Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi Was Divided With Ms Evalyne Wanjugu Splitting From Other Siblings, Making Her Own Arrangements, Including Event’s Venue And Guests, Away From Others
By MKT Correspondents
Worth Noting:
- It is after he met the youth that the Commissioner moved to his boardroom where the other members of the Kimathi family and other leaders were waiting for him.
- The team, led by their coordinator Mr James Njuguna Mahuria of Jeremiah Mugi Foundation briefed the Commissioner and two other officers who were accompanying him their preparations.
- Mahuria and his team noted that the 67th memorial will be more than just a tribute to the fallen Mau Mau hero with several other issues lined up.
- The event, Mahuria disclosed, is set to among other things, also have the compensation of the remaining former freedom fighters and their descendants discussed.
Kenyans yesterday expressed their disappointment following reports that the family of the top former freedom fighter, Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi was reading from different scripts over his 67th memorial ceremony, slated for Tuesday next week.
Reports indicated that the most prominent descendant of the late Kimathi, Ms Evalyne Wanjugu was not in terms with her siblings and she was making arrangements alone, with the others joining hands with several groups and organisations to plan another ceremony.
The issue came in the limelight on Wednesday when a section of the late Kimathi descendants visited Nyeri Central Sub-County Commissioner Maina Ngunyi together with leaders of several former freedom fighters and their descendants members.
The purpose of the visit was for them to brief the Commissioner on the progress they had made on Tuesday’s event.
However, in their deliberations, it emerged that Ms Wanjugu had on Tuesday paid a similar visit to the same office.
Indeed, as they arrived at the Commissioner’s office in Nyeri town, they found several youths, donning T-Shirts with ‘Dedan Kimathi Foundation’ inscription. The young men entered the officers office where they stayed for about 30 minutes. The foundation is associated with Ms Wanjugu.
It is after he met the youth that the Commissioner moved to his boardroom where the other members of the Kimathi family and other leaders were waiting for him.
The team, led by their coordinator Mr James Njuguna Mahuria of Jeremiah Mugi Foundation briefed the Commissioner and two other officers who were accompanying him their preparations.
Mahuria and his team noted that the 67th memorial will be more than just a tribute to the fallen Mau Mau hero with several other issues lined up.
The event, Mahuria disclosed, is set to among other things, also have the compensation of the remaining former freedom fighters and their descendants discussed.
The team said they had invited President William Ruto to grace the event and hoped that once at the venue, the issue of compensation would be addressed once and for all.
However, as he responded to the issues they raised, the Commissioner disclosed having met Ms Wanjugu the previous day.
She was said to have been making preparations through the Dedan Kimathi Foundation while several of her siblings are separately doing the same alongside several other organisations that comprises former freedom fighters as well as their descendants.
Last evening, Ms Wanjugu confirmed she had advanced in her plans for the event which she said would be taking place at Kahira-ini area, at the edge of Aberdare ranges where the late Kimathi was shot and captured by guards affiliated to the colonialists.
When asked whether she was aware her siblings were making similar arrangements or the family had agreed to join hands and have one event, she feigned ignorance, promising to get in touch later.
However, she disclosed that yesterday, part of her Foundation team spent the day clearing the site at Kahira-ini where the event will take place.
“I will call you once I am through with what I am doing,” she told Mt Kenya Times newspaper.
She is said to have invited the Nyeri County political and government leadership to grace the event.
Yesterday, Mahuria said his team got in touch with Ms Wanjugu yesterday and agreed to work together.
He however said they had not agreed on the venue. Going by the past such events, Kahira-ini has been the favourite site.
Mahuria’s team has been planning to have the ceremony at Kabiru-ini Show grounds near Nyeri town.
On Wednesday, the Nyeri sub-county Commissioner termed as unfortunate, the division in the Kimathi family and vowed to reconcile them, a move that was supported by Mahuria and his team.
Several people interviewed by this publication expressed their dismay on learning that the family of the most prominent freedom fighter were pulling strings differently.
John Githinji, from Kiambu said it was disheartening to hear such information.
Mary Muthoni from Murang’a said kenyans should pray for the family with Charles Muriithi from Nyeri wondering why such as family should not sit down and resolve their differences.
Mahuria said they expected hundreds of Kenyans to attend the ceremony where his team has set aside 24 bulls and over 50 goats yo be feasted that day.
The ceremony will also serve as a platform to address the ongoing debate over Mau Mau compensation and land restitution, he disclosed.
The remembrance will bring together Mau Mau veterans, descendants, historians, and political leaders to discuss the delayed compensation process.
The government is expected to make a major announcement regarding Mau Mau compensation, a long-standing issue that has faced political interference.
Yesterday, Mahuria and Mau Mau veterans chairman Bishop David Kiarie urged the former freedom, their descendants and Kenyans to be patient saying the issue of compensation will soon be addressed once and for all.
They paid tribute to the late President Mwai Kibaki, acknowledging his role in advancing Mau Mau veterans’ rights, including introducing the public Benefit Organization (PBO) Act in 2013, which is the base of facilitating compensation.
The team also hit out at a Nyeri County politician who they accused of involving himself with compensation matters, which he little understands about.
On Wednesday, Mahuria outlined that they were working under Mau Mau Children Post Colonial Elites whose partners include his foundation, Mau Mau War Veterans Association, Mau Mau Indigenous Knowledge and MMV Association CLG.
He made the revelations in a press briefing on Mau Mau Compensation and Historical Truths where he outlined various issues in regards to land matters in the country.
Through thorough research, he said, he had unearthed several issues including the fact on land ownership where he stated that Queen Elizabeth never owned any land as claimed by some leaders but instead, it is Christian Mission Society (CMS) that owned.
He explained how CMS appointed one Jeremiah Ngari Mugi as a trustee with the property remaining under the oversight of the foundation which is named after him.
The statement noted that the foundation has official documentation showing that the land in question was designated for missionary activities, education, and community welfare initiatives under CMS trusteeship.
The Mau Mau compensation funds, he said, were officially released in 2013 under the Public Benefit Organization (PBO) Act where the process was designed to be inclusive, with prior consultation required from the families of key historical figures, including Dedan Kimathi.
“The release of these funds was intended to recognize the sacrifices made by Mau Mau veterans and their families. However, political interference and misinformation have stalled the rightful distribution of these funds,” the statement read in part.
He accused some leaders of dwelling in matters beyond their jurisdiction terming the move as illadvised and meant to hoodwink the public.
He noted that intrusion of leaders into such matters was akin to historical betrayal where records confirm that colonial collaborators were instrumental in betraying the Mau Mau war marshals, leading to the execution and imprisonment of key leaders.
The statement further called on politicians to stop politicising the legacy of Mau Mau, citing use of UDA colours in the offices of Nyeri County Assembly.
“We now call upon Mau Mau descendants to officially mandate us to) take legal steps toward reclaiming their rightful compensation,” he said, concluding, “The sacrifices of the Mau Mau veterans must not be forgotten, and their descendants deserve the compensation and restitution promised to them”.
During the Wednesday meeting with the Commissioner, the family of another prominent former freedom fighter, the late Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima was represented by Bishop George Kamunya who also expressed his wish for unity of the Kimathi family as well as unity of purpose for the former freedom fighters and their descendants.
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