President William Ruto yesterday cleared the hospital bill for ailing Mau Mau freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi’s wife, Mukami Kimathi at the Nairobi Hospital where she has been hospitalised.
The ailing widow of the late Mau Mau hero, Field Marshal Kimathi had appealed for help from well-wishers to help her settle the Sh1million hospital bill.
Mukami, just like other freedom fighters who are in their heydays are still pushing for Sh21trillion compensation by the British government over atrocities meted on them during the freedom struggle.
Similarly, in what may be one of the country’s national heritage, the British government is yet to make is public the gravesite of Kimathi or surrender his remains to the Kenyan government.
Through their caucus, Mau Mau Original Trust, the freedom fighters alleged the British government in 2015 released the funds through the World Bank, but the previous governments failed to start transferring the money to the country for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries.
Yestrday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua visited the 92-year old freedom fighter at The Nairobi Hospital where she has been receiving treatment, announced that her pending hospital bill was cleared by the President, facilitating her release
Gachagua expressed concern that Mau Mau fighters and their families are struggling to meet basic needs like quality treatment despite putting themselves or their parents putting their lives on the line in liberating Kenya from colonialists.
“Our freedom fighters and their children live in abject poverty and squalor. On the other hand, the black colonialists took the land and gave it to home-guards and collaborators. It is very sad. It is a tragedy,” he said.
Gachagua challenged families which benefited from the land repossessed from the colonialists to share it out to those who have nothing.
“The families will have a place to call home instead of the large tracts of land remaining idle,” he said.
Gachagua was concerned that past regimes have done so little to help the remnants of freedom fighters and their families. The Kenya Kwanza Administration is having engagements towards improving the lives and remnant freedom fighters and their children.
“Mau Mau fighters were discreet. This engagement will be discreet the same way our fathers and mothers planned on how to drive colonialists off our land with only a panga and sheer resolve to attain freedom,” the Deputy President said.
Mukami is one of the few heroes and heroines who are still alive, 59 years after Kenya gained independence. She has been in and out of hospital due to ailments mostly related to old age.
As she gets better and ready for discharge from hospital, President William Ruto settled the over Sh1.3 million medical bill of Mama Mukami.
In this regard, Gachagua reiterated that the president is determined to make available medical insurance to cover everyone as per the Kenya Kwanza Plan. This will help those who cannot afford quality medical care and reduce poverty.
The Deputy President was in the company of various leaders.
