The children of Mau Mau freedom fighters have cautioned opposition leaders against using the Mau Mau liberation movement for political purposes.
They say that politicising the Mau Mau name risks damaging relations between surviving veterans and the government, which could affect ongoing and future compensation efforts.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Robert Ndirangu, the Mau Mau Children Youth Representative, said the Mau Mau struggle was about Kenya’s independence, not partisan politics, and that it united communities across the country.
“Opposition leaders should stop using the Mau Mau name in their politics. They should do their politics without involving Mau Mau,” he said.
Ndirangu warned that continued political use of the Mau Mau legacy could harm veterans’ compensation. “We, as the children of Mau Mau, cannot agree to the use of the Mau Mau name in a way that deteriorates the relationship between the veterans and the government, because that may affect their compensation, and we cannot accept that,” he added.
He specifically called on opposition figures, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and leaders of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), to refrain from invoking the Mau Mau legacy in rallies or public statements.
