A group of Mau Mau war veterans has renewed their push for compensation from the British government for the atrocities meted on them during the struggle for independence.
Led by the National Chairman of Mau Mau Trust Ngacha Kariuki, the freedom fighters have urged President Ruto’s administration to hasten the compensation of approximately 364 trillion British pounds (Sh54,802,258,784,000,000).
Addressing the media on Thursday, Kariuki exuded confidence that the compensation would be paid out now that a new government was in place. He added that they have already written to President Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding the matter.
“I want you to know that it is 364 trillion British pounds…this is what the British Government has in record, and I have also sought other records because I know Britain has paid similar amounts before,” he said.
“We want out people together with their kids to be paid… the letter that I have written includes our children,” he added.
Kariuki argued that the amount they are demanding (Sh54 quadrillion) is enough to offset Kenya’s public debt and compensate war veterans and their kids.
“Hii pesa inaweza lipia serikali deni yote na pia watu wa Kenya wapate haki zao,” he added.
Kariuki said the veterans have lobbied for compensation for years, including in 2014 and 2015 when they presented a petition before the National Assembly.
He noted that former National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi, who is now the Attorney General, supported the petition in 2014.
“We have taken this matter to parliament, in 2014 and 2015…. One of the people who supported this motion is former speaker Justin Muturi,” Kariuki said.
“I have gone back to parliament with the motion and asked the speaker to remember what he said in the 9th page of 2015’s Kenya’s Hansard.”
Do you consider those who…
Do you consider those who died in the forest fighting?
Yes, we need to be given…
Yes, we need to be given this money. It is our money. They need to return our artifacts and all the money they have collected showing those artifacts in their museum. They need to return the remains of our ancestors who they keep in jars as trophies.
Slavery mentality.
Slavery mentality.
They won’t, can’t get paid…
They won’t, can’t get paid. British courts recognise greed and will simply not honour. And by the way,when will these so called freedom fighters compensate the thousands of innocent peasants, women and children whom they killed or mutilated in the course of their coercive campaign to force the people to support their thuggery? Was that also not an abhorrent violation of human rights? Double standards in deed!