War veterans demand land from State
What you need to know:
- Freedom fighters from Meru denounce UK government compensation deal
- Club says pledge made two years ago to give members land not fulfilled
Mau Mau freedom fighters have called on the government to fulfil its promise and give them land.
The freedom fighters from Meru County also denounced the United Kingdom (UK) Government compensation deal reached by their association, claiming they were not consulted by the leadership of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association (MMWVA).
Two years ago, the MMWVA members said on Monday, the government promised to give them land as part of compensation plans.
“We were promised that each Mau Mau freedom fighter would be issued with two and a half acres as part of compensation. We are calling on the government to move with speed on this matter and deliver on it,” said Mzee George Wilson Njoroge, a member of the association.
Mr Njoroge, who was speaking to reporters in Meru Town, said MMWVA members were never consulted by the association’s leadership before settling on the out-of-court settlement with the British Government.
Britain released Sh2.6 billion as compensation to 5,228 beneficiaries who are to get Sh330,000 each.
“The 5,228 beneficiaries are in no way, whatsoever, inclusive of all the Mau Mau veterans who fought for the freedom of this country.
REGISTER AFRESH
“The process of releasing that money should be halted forthwith and all bona fide veterans registered afresh, or we will be forced to take a case to the British Government,” he said.
Another member, 81-year-old Samuel Kibui, suggested that members who were tortured and suffered serious abuse but were left out of the list of beneficiaries team up with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and other human rights agency to take their case to the British Government.
Mzee Kibui said there were close to 150,000 Mau Mau detainees.
“We wonder why victims detained during the Moi era were paid huge sums of money in compensation and yet the same government cannot advocate our rights in such a manner,” he said.
The UK, according to him, should re-evaluate the magnitude of their suffering and pay them at least Sh10 million each.
Controversy has marred the Sh2.6 billion compensation with various factions demanding that the deal be halted.
Veterans from Murang’a, Nyeri and Meru have also asked the British Government to increase the compensation amount.
saying that it was too little compared to the torture and losses suffered during the rebellion.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague owned up to the torture committed and publicly apologised for the atrocities committed by the colonial forces.
