UK government dismisses Mau Mau compensation payout claims

The British government has no plans to pay Mau Mau veterans or their families and dependents any money. 

Through its High Commission in Kenya, Britain has dismissed claims that it has released funds to pay Mau Mau descendants in the country.

In a letter addressed to Kiruga Thuku, a Member of the Nyeri County Assembly and signed by British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan on Thursday, the British administration clarified that no payments have been made to the Kenyan government, individuals, or groups since the final settlement in 2013.

According to Wigan, the British Government resolved all claims relating to the Emergency Period in a 2013 agreement, marking the end of compensation payouts.

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READ: Britain agrees to pay Mau Mau Sh1.8 billion over torture

“These extortion rings are also promising people that they will be given land as a form of compensation once they register with them. It is also a big lie that the government of Kenya or the President is withholding any monies belonging to the descendants of Mau Mau,” the MCA’s letter read in part.

The con game seems to have been passed from one generation to the other with the grandchildren picking from where their forefathers left before they died, got old and have been paying monthly contributions to various associations linked to the Mau Mau freedom fighters.

Beatrice Muthoni, a victim, picked from where her father-in-law, now deceased, left in paying monthly contributions with the hope of acquiring land and compensation.

Since Muthoni’s husband is also dead, she continued from where the father and the son left. She is a member of some other 20 Mau Mau associated groups which she contributes to between Sh1,000 to Sh1,500 annually.

“I am a member of other groups such as the Emai Association, Mau Mau Warriors, Mau Mau War Veterans, Mau Mau Original, Matigari Welfare Association and Mau Mau Remnants. Leaders of those groups promise to push the government to allocate us land,” said Muthoni, 58.

Everywhere Muthoni goes, she carries with her all the receipts and badges which she has been given by all the groups to clear doubts that she is a descendant of Mau Mau freedom fighters.

Her officials believe that when one needs government services, a member of the Mau Mau freedom group is given priority upon putting on the badge.

Alice Thogori from Karima village in Othaya joined such associations in 2010 after her mother, Nyakarima wa Githaga, passed on. The deceased, according to Thogori, used to feed freedom fighters and died before she got land.

Like Muthoni, Thogori registered with Mau Mau warriors at Sh600 then she was enrolled to Mau Mau original for Sh700 and other such associations. She renews her membership every year.

“In total, I believe I have spent over Sh100,000 in various associations to register and renew my membership. But I don't regret it because the officials use the amount to knock on various government offices,” Thogori said.

Victor Njuguna, another Mau Mau descendant, was convinced by his uncle in 2008 that the government had set aside land in Mpeketomi, Lamu County to settle the Mau Mau descendants.

He and his family of four contributed Sh16000 each. One share, which was equivalent to one acre of land, was going for Sh4000.

“We contributed Sh64000 while my uncle contributed Sh112000 for his family of seven so that each member would get at least two acres. To date we have never heard from the association,” said Njuguna.

Other groups have a different strategy to solicit money from Mau Mau descendants. They register groups and ask members to cough out some money to facilitate suing the British government to compensate them.

ALSO READ: Mau Mau compensation suit enters crucial stage

Many groups popped up after the successful litigation against the UK government that then agreed to pay Mau Mau victims Sh2.8 billion for the torture meted out against them by colonialists during the Mau Mau uprising.

Charles Njoroge, another victim, and others were last year approached by a group of individuals who said they were part of the group that successfully saw Kenyans get paid by the UK government and that there were other efforts to file yet another suit.

“My sister and I gave Sh200,000 to include our parents since we were required to give out Sh50,000 each. The individuals have since gone under and I think we have been swindled,” observed Njoroge.

Ngatia Gachara, the chairperson for Vemahika Union has pleaded with the government to honour its promise to curtail cartels from taking advantage of unsuspecting Kenyans.

“The only way this business opportunity will be closed for cartels is by the government allocating land to Mau Mau freedom fighters who have lived as squatters after shedding blood for independence and democracy,” said Gachara.

Gachara said some of the problems the country is facing could be a result of the curse of Mau Mau victims, observing that most of them are living in abject poverty with bullets lodged in their bodies while little has been done by the government to compensate them.