F.M. Dedan Kimathi 104^th Birthday

The Mau Mau rebellion experiences cannot be narrated from gun to tape without Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi’s name appearing as the movement’s religious and revolutionary leader. He was a front-line fighter in the struggle for Kenyan independence. Under his fierce eyes lied a soft heart in which love for his country exceeded his own. He undoubtedly put Kenya first in the bloody fight against brutal British colonialism.

In his role as a national liberator, Dedan Kimathi Foundation draws its mission to continue building on his legacy. Having been born on October 31st, 1920, the Foundation will be leading his 104th posthumous birthday on Thursday.

The event will take place at Kahiga-Ini Memorial Park in Tetu, Nyeri, where Kimathi was shot and captured before his execution in 1957. To honor his unmatched legacy, the participants will plant some trees in Kamwenja Teachers’ College and the park before sitting for a culturally diverse ceremony.

Preparations for the day are in high gear as the foundation environment conservation team spent the day, Monday 28th October, in Nyeri county conducting the event’s final touches.

As early as 9.00 AM, the team was at Kahiga-ini Memorial Park to plan on repainting the statue of the hero and clearing the site. The team was awed by the new ablution block and gazebo constructed by Nyeri County directorate of culture to give the park visitors a wholesome experience.

In the event, Dedan Kimathi Foundation will launch ‘Trees for Peace’ campaign as a tool towards embracing our differences as a people as trees serve humans without any sort of segregation.