Members of Mau Mau – a militant African Nationalist movement now want the government to either compensate the remaining freedom fighters and their siblings or to cease mentioning their names.

The freedom fighters took issue with the government for what they claimed to be being taken in circles for years whenever they raised the issue of compensation.

Led by Mau Mau veteran Johana Chege, the men and women who fought colonists noted with concern that despite the tribulations they underwent under the rule of the colonial government, the current administration has failed to appreciate their efforts.

Most freedom fighters, they said, are impoverished, many don’t have land and shelter while others have died as a result of ailments under the government’s watch.

“It is sad that we underwent untold suffering for peace and freedom in our country yet our efforts have never been appreciated. As we speak most freedom fighters are slaves of poverty, many live in very deplorable conditions while others have even lost hope in life. The government has been promising to do something to appreciate the work we did but they just utter words without implementation,” Chege stated.

Speaking in Thika under the Mugumo tree where the independence of the country was reportedly prophesied by Mugo Wa Kibiru – a famous Gikuyu healer and Prophet, Chege who was accompanied by other Mau Mau members urged the government to bring to a closure, the compensation issue which has caused them a lot of pain.

“Whenever we see genuine fighters of Kenya’s freedom suffering as people who never participated in the fight enjoy a good life, we feel devastated. The government has for many years been hoodwinked by people masquerading as freedom fighters and who enjoy the sweat and the blood we shed to make this country what it is,” he added.

The elderly and frail men and women urged President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to give them a listening ear to explain their predicament for a solution insisting they fought the bloody war with other generals such as Dedan Kimathi.

They made the plea in the wake of revelations that a section of ingenuine people camouflaging as Mau Mau fighters have been demanding funds from Kenyans to enlist them to benefit from the government’s compensation.

“It’s a pity that the government is allowing conmen to go around the county soliciting money from the few remaining mau-mau members, cheating them of a registration fee to qualify for compensation. The conmen are demanding up to Ksh60,000 from the poor freedom fighters,” Rose Gicharu, another Mau Mau veteran claimed.