Mau Mau suit against British government is not an economic issue per se -but a moral one !
From: Mary Gakere

Recently, in Meru, Prime Minister Raila Odinga charged the Kenya government with a responsibility of pursuing the British government on behalf of the Mau Mau (Kenya Freedom Fighters), in their quest for a measure of justice for atrocities that were committed against them during the Mau Mau era.

Such a move by our government must be praised by all who value our freedom, democracy and self determination.
However, care must be taken in these proceedings rest we buckle up everything in a hurry and rather than bring justice, restitution and honor to our Mau Mau heros, we may instead provide the British with a quiet and an easy way out. This was not and is not a question of minor dereliction of duty by British officers and their collaborators (home guards) or an isolated case. It was not a question of a few injuries, a few broken limbs and scratches here and there- this was a massive, grand campaign, to dehumanize, oppress, torture, subjugate – untold pain and suffering was committed against a people who were previously free in their own land. This was a crime against humanity of the first order and if Raila and our government want to help, like they ought to have done almost 50 years ago, they must devise a genuine program, a renewed struggle with British for atonement, restitution and reparations, for our people so that both parties; Kenyans and British can begin a healing process.

The uneasy and hypocritical relationship of denial that endures today- on both sides is temporal and potentially dangerous. We must face each other and revisit those painful moments and struggle, yet again. This time, to bring honor to those who perished, restitution for those still surviving and their children, redemption for the British, reparations for our country and healing for the masses.

This program; a movement, if you will, cannot be accomplished by quick and hurried law suit brought against the British government ; namely, to pay money to Mau Mau victims. In my opinion, it’s not as simple as that. In fact, British might very well agree with your claim for their self interest -pay money and have our people sign a disclaimer, probably as follows:
“ Without accepting any wrong doing, and knowing that this suit might have no merits- Britain agrees to pay so much millions pounds—- and – Mau Mau people and Kenya government, hereby release and indemnify British people and government, their heirs–bra– bra– bra— of any wrong doing and future claims whatsoever relating to Mau Mau claims and or colonial episodes in Kenya——–”

Only a fool would venture for such a quest. If we are not careful we will sell our freedom fighters, their children, their honor and sufferings for a few million pounds and shall be ashamed in future, for betraying our country and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

In fact, how much is it all worth, how can we begin to quantify in dollars or pounds the pain, suffering and agony that was endured? Let us start with a dialogue. Let us open the dark chapters of our history so as to shed some light on them and ourselves.

If we make it an economic issue, who is to say the British cannot come tomorrow, take our land, put people into reserves and internment camps and colonize us all over again- after all, whatever amount of money we shall sue them for – say 50 years from now, they can again pay just as they will pay this time around. May even pay us with the same money that they got from enslaving our people, taking our land and labor- taxing us without representation.

Prime Minister Raila, must be praised for changing the course of this quest for justice- from a claim laid by a few surviving Mau Mau people against British, to our country’s quest for reparations, restitution, healing and redemption.

As such, we must do it right. It should never be an economic issue per se. This is first and foremost a moral issue. As for our hurting Mau Mau victims still alive, I would propose that a bill be moved in our parliament and law passed that sets aside funds to assist them ( like we should have done many years back), then proceed against British government in a meaningful and effective way that will not only end our history chapter of shame, but guarantee that British or any other nation will not prey on our people- resources, and freedoms ever again.

Prime minister and our government should summon a public dialogue in Kenya. Have the people openly define the struggle that our people and country went through. Define the crimes and evils that were committed against our people culminating into a crime against humanity. People must be allowed to see what those who claim to be champions of freedom and democracy – the Western countries, are capable of doing in denying or taking away that same freedom and democracy from fellow men. This way we make our people appreciate their freedom more and know that sometimes the only way to keep it is by firmly holding on to it. And letting another take away your freedom and dignity have dire consequences.

The wrongful acts committed against our people must be tabulated in an open dialogue: Land stolen, labor stolen, enslavement, forced taxation, forced labor, putting people in reserves, hunger, poverty, confiscating their livestock, restriction of movement, denial of education, banning our culture and traditions, mass arrests of innocent people, mass punishments (like taking peoples livestock in Nyeri and Murang’a under the guise that they were Mau Mau sympathizers) collective punishment, throwing people; including women and children into internment camps. Detentions without due process, brutal interrogations and torture, sadism by British soldiers and subjects. Anarchy by letting loose all British settlers in Kenya to dehumanize, maim even rape, kill and even murder our people. Land crown act; taking our land away by the British Crown. Curtailing our freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of movement, banning our political organizations- frustrating our political voice and leading our people into desperate measure in search of ways to regain their freedom and liberty. Mau Mau was our people’s last result. Our self defense. Their resolve to fight British against such insurmountable odds is the best testimony of a man’s claim to his God given unalienable right to freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

We should strive for British’s public admission of all the atrocities that colonization perpetrated against our people. There should be a public apology. British should enact a law in their parliament that issues a public apology to the people and nation of Kenya for colonialism. They should take responsibility for all the pain and suffering and murders and deaths that were a result of their alien and uninvited presence in our country. New Zealand has apologized to the Samoans for the atrocities they committed against them.

Justice should come to our people and country from Britain. British government should be held accountable and pay reparations to Kenya for all the atrocities of colonialism. And they should pay restitution to Mau Mau freedom fighters and their children for the injustice they committed against them. ( Italy paid Lybia; Germany paid Jews ; U. S. paid Japanese people) .

There should be a pledge – a bill enacted and law passed in British parliament that they will never again colonize, dominate or forcefully impose their will on our people and country.

Njau Njembura Njoroge. : 04/02/2010

To all Kenyans and friends of Kenya, please add your voice to this cause. Now is the time to stand with those who were denied freedom in their quest to guarantee our freedom. If yours is a different view from the one advanced in this article, please air it too because, we need to dialogue before our politicians mess up this important milestone of our country’s history in their attempt to score some political points using mau mau victims. I like what they’re saying so far but we must watch them closely we cannot just trust them. Mau Mau was a people’s natural response to an unbelievable nightmare that had engulfed their lives, their space and their dignity.

Since it was a grass root movement with no elites prompting or external help whatsoever, we must make sure that our government does not run with the ball, collude with the British and bring us half baked solutions that fail to answer the great question:-Why did so called civilized and christian people (British) treat our people worse than they would animals without any provocation or justification whatsoever?

Kenyans should be fully involved and informed of every step that is taken in making British people and government answerable and accountable for the atrocities here-mentioned. Help in educating our people. Give your own views.