Mau Mau veterans demand Sh618 trillion from British Government

Mau Mau veterans have called on the British Government to release Sh618 trillion that they pledged as reparation for injustices committed during the colonial rule.

Led by their National Chairman Field Marshall Ngacha Karani, the veterans, under the auspices of Mau Mau Original, said that the money is supposed to be shared among the country’s 47 counties to compensate Kenyans for the suffering under British rule.

Ngacha said that in 2003, the then British High Commissioner Edward Clay undertook to have the funds released in line with practices of the International law on colonial injustices in accordance with ICC findings, but the pledge is yet to be fully honored.

He said the reparation was calculated in proportion based on the 1946 National Census.

“By then, the population of Embu County stood at 101,000 though the numbers have now tremendously increased thus creating more shares for the funds,” said the chairman.

The Chairman was accompanied by Kirinyaga Vice Chairman General Henry Kathii,  Embu Chairman Kiura Njeru and several other veterans from Mwea.

They regretted that compensation for injustices inflicted upon them had dragged on for long, saying every Kenyan is entitled to a share of the compensation funds.

Addressing the Media in Embu, the freedom fighters called on the government to spearhead the fight for their rights, pointing out that majority of Mau Mau veterans have since passed on, though their descendants will benefit from the reparation.

They faulted the British Government for the payment given last year saying the Ksh3 billion remitted was below expectations considering the suffering that the veterans went through during colonial period.

The veterans noted that if released and shared equally among the 47 counties, burdens of poverty, some of which they attributed to economic losses and consequences of colonial subjugation, will be eased significantly.

The veterans further said that every Kenyan should be the country’s peace ambassador to help Kenya stay united.

By Antony Muchiro