As Kenya prepares to mark this year’s Madaraka Day, descendants of the Mau Mau freedom fighters have renewed calls for compensation from the British Government, insisting that justice remains incomplete for families whose relatives suffered death, torture and oppression during the colonial era.
Speaking in Narok ahead of the national celebrations, the national Vice Chairperson of the Mau Mau Secretariat, Daniel Kamau, expressed optimism that ongoing efforts to secure compensation for descendants of the liberation movement would eventually bear fruit.
He said the compensation would help improve the livelihoods of families whose forefathers paid a heavy price in the struggle for Kenya’s independence.
Kamau revealed that during a recent African Union (AU) meeting he attended, more than 50 ambassadors acknowledged the suffering endured by Africans under British colonial rule.
He said the support demonstrated growing international recognition of historical injustices committed during the colonial period.
He emphasized that Kenya’s self-rule was achieved largely through the sacrifices made by Mau Mau freedom fighters, who endured imprisonment, torture, displacement and death in their quest for independence.
“Were it not for the Mau Mau freedom fighters, Kenya would not have attained self-rule. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for the freedoms we enjoy today,” said Kamau.
The Mau Mau leader noted that from the early 1900s through the 1950s, many Africans were killed, maimed or dispossessed of their land, prompting intensified resistance that culminated in the Mau Mau uprising between 1952 and the early 1960s.
Despite the country’s current economic challenges, Kamau urged Kenyans to celebrate Madaraka Day and reflect on the sacrifices made by the nation’s founding heroes.
He called on residents of Narok and Kenyans across the country to turn out in large numbers for county and sub-county celebrations as a show of respect and appreciation for those who fought for the country’s independence.
Kamau said commemorating the day was not only a celebration of Kenya’s self-governance but also an opportunity to honour the courage and resilience of freedom fighters whose legacy continues to shape the nation.
By Emily Kadzo and Emmanuel Karui
