Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua now says opposition chief Raila Odinga embodies the ideals of a real freedom fighter.

Speaking during a church service at Jesus Teaching Ministry in Embakasi on Sunday, March 26, Karua likened Raila to Mau Mau freedom fighters, who played a central role in the fight for the country’s independence from British colonisers.

She slammed a section of leaders from Mount Kenya, who she accused of tarnishing the name of the Mau Mau veterans.

The former justice minister said some of the leaders bragging about being children of Mau Mau freedom fighters have a history of oppressing the people.

“There are some leaders from my community who have been going around claiming to be children of Mau Mau. I want to ask them not to tarnish the name of Mau Mau,” Karua said.

“Mau Mau were freedom fighters. Freedom fighters never fight the people. They fight for the people. If the only thing you have achieved in any position you have occupied is oppressing the people and illegally seizing their property you can not be a product of Mau Mau. You must be a product of collaborators- home guards.”

She opined that the real Mau Mau are people who fight for the rights of the people, like Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga, who is among the leaders credited for the country’s second liberation for their role in the fight for democracy.

“If you want to know the real children of Mau Mau and they don’t have to be Kikuyu they are like my leader Raila Odinga,” Karua added, further asking Azimio supporters to turn up in large numbers tomorrow for the opposition’s demonstrations against the Kenya Kwanza regime.

“Anybody can be a freedom fighter. Mau Mau is not just a name, it reminds us about selfless people who fight for the nation.”

Karua’s comments appeared to be targeted at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has vowed to deal with the opposition leaders over planned demonstrations, pushing for economic and electoral reforms in the country.

The country’s second in command recently asked President William Ruto not to bother with the Azimio leaders, saying he would handle him in his capacity as the son of Mau Mau.

“Rais hata huyu mtu wa maandamano usishughulike nayeye, wachia mimi nitadeal na yeye (Leave this man (Raila) to me, I will deal with him),” Gachagua said during a thanksgiving church service at the Kerugoya Stadium in Kirinyaga county in January.

Reacting to the remarks then, Raila said Gachagua, a former district officer, was not even born when true freedom fighters like his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga were fighting for the country’s independence.

“He is bragging all the time that he is the son of Mau Mau. I want to tell him he was not even born when Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was fighting for the release of Mau Mau from detention,” Raila fired back at Gachagua.