I refer to recent and ongoing media reports on a group of individuals that have come together with the objective of petitioning the British government to pay hefty compensation for injustices perpetrated against the Mau Mau movement by the then British colonial administration. The intended suit can be described as nothing more than a sham, and an insult not just to the Mau Mau movement, but to the entire freedom movement in Kenya.

It is extremely far-fetched to attempt to make the British the number one culprits for injustices perpetrated against Mau Mau, when it is the Kenyan Nation that has been foremost in keeping the freedom movement distorted. The remains of the legendary Dedan Kimathi are for instance still interred at Kamiti maximum prison, 45 years after his hanging, and one wonders whether the said lobby intends for the British government to come and exhume Kimathi's remains for reburial in a more suitable place !

The whole issue of the Mau Mau movement in itself is unresolved with opinions on Mau Mau as diverse as the 42 ethnic communities that there are in Kenya. Was Mau Mau for instance a national movement intended for the removal of colonial rule and the creation of a free and just nation , or was Mau Mau an organisation which the Kikuyu used to gain power for their own selfish ends ? Was Dedan Kimathi a cult figure or was he a charismatic leader who had a vision for a better life for his people, and the Kenyan nation at large ? This latter question is of particular significance, because apart from the letter Kimathi wrote before his hanging , and which is on display at the Kenya National Archives, little else is known of the legendary Dedan Kimathi.

There are also unanswered questions on the other prominent freedom movement in Kenya, the Nandi resistance, bearing in mind that Mau Mau was not the only freedom movement that there was in Kenya ! Far too little research has been done on the essence of the eleven year Nandi resistance.

In the same token, was the legendary Kimnyole arap Samoei a cult figure, or was he a charismatic leader of the Nandi ? Why did arap Samoei agree to a peace meeting with the British ? ; did arap Samoei sense imminent defeat, or was he convinced that he was at best, attending a peace meeting of his equals ? The unresolved issues of the Nandi resistance have to be attended to with even greater urgency, because it is close to 90 years since the treacherous slaying of Kimnyole arap Samoei by the British, and the subsequent defeat of the Nandi warriors.

The two examples above represent just two prominent freedom movements in the history of this country, and even they remain unresolved. What about the contribution of the other 40 ethnic communities? What efforts over the years have been made to gather information on the other freedom movements, which though not as prominent as the above two, were instrumental in creating the Kenyan nation? It is plain to see that we have a big task of putting our heritage in it's proper perspective and the above lobby is better placed seeking funding from the British government to accomplish this task. The feeling of disenchantment and betrayal amongst the majority of Kenyans has a direct bearing to our distorted heritage.

We do not treat our heritage with the seriousness it deserves, and this is deeply regrettable. If we truly aspire to alleviating the problems we have (many of which are self-inflicted), and indeed aspire to building a great nation, we must start from the very basics. We cannot forever continue moving in circles.

Transmitted: 1999