He Came, He Saw, He Conquered
~ F. M. DEDAN KIMATHI ~
Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi is highly revered for his unmatched contribution in the Kenyan Freedom struggle. His participation as a recruit in the second world war, that saw hundreds of his Kenyan comrades die while fighting for the British ignited a spirit to fight for the dignity of Kenyans and Africans at large. Kenyans losing their land to the British, being forced to work for them and being denied freedom in their own country only made Dedan Kimathi’s spirit yearn to fight to liberate Kenyans from the ruthless British treatment.
His input in the installation of the Mau Mau as a fully functional formal millitary structure that engaged the armed British Colonialists in a deadly fight to reclaim their land and acquire freedom places him in the heroes books in an African perspective while the British termed him as a terrorist.
A look into this photo taken on the day he was captured in October 2056 speaks volumes. Fear does not seem to be part of him despite knowing his fate had to be a barbarous death. His legendary quote, ‘It is better to die on our feet than to live on our knees in fear of colonialism’ must have been his living principle as the vehemence in his eyes depict a brave leader whose thirst for justice could not be compromised.
His steadfast stand to change the state of his nation inspired other nations to fight against oppression. A good case is Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, who spent over 27 years in incarceration as he fought against apartheid in South Africa. He later visited Kenya in 1990 in high expectations to see Dedan Kimathi’s graveyard and meet his widow Mukami Kimathi. It was an embarrassing moment for Kenya as the then President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi had never expressed any interests in acknowledging the Mau Mau as the group behind national liberation.
Borrowing a leaf from South Africa, every 18th July is celebrated as Nelson Mandela Day during which the South Africans pay tribute to the hero for bearing the pain of liberation of their nation. For his outstanding bravery and determination to stand against injustice, the South Africans observe the entire July as Nelson Mandela month during which the citizens engage in humanitarian activities in his honor.
In Kenya, Dedan Kimathi paid the ultimate price for national liberation. He died a cruel death by hanging despite having hundreds of chances to redeem himself. The day he was executed remains unrecognized by the government of the country he fought for; his remains remain buried in undisclosed place within Kamiti Maximum prison as the comrades he was with in the forest continue to beg the governments they formed space for to recognize their efforts and give them land that the British stripped them.
To many, there seems to be a high degree of negligence and little lack of direction in matters to do with the freedom fighters. The promise by the government of the day to open Kamiti prison gates to allow searching of the hero’s remains seems to be the only source of hope the freedom fighters and remnants have to honor the dying wish of Shujaa Mukami Kimathi. She always pleaded with the government to help her find his husband and give him a descent burial in recognition of the blood he shed to water the national freedom tree.
