KAIKAI'S KICKER: Kenya’s independence struggle and heroes behind it should not be distorted or diluted

Peterson shared a video clip whose contents inform my plea that the story of Kenya’s independence struggle and the heroes behind it should not be distorted, diluted, or in any way disfigured or indeed, caused to be forgotten.

 In the clip, the country’s top political brass lined up to commemorate what President Jomo Kenyatta on the day, described as KANU day, the day of the party of independence the Kenya African National Union.

President Kenyatta was on the auspicious day surrounded by what may be described as one of Kenya’s most gifted political generations; a band of sure-footed adult males that together with Mzee, enjoyed absolute sway of the country’s political reins.

It was only 5 years into independence, and October 20, had acquired a new meaning.

In his posting, Professor Derek Peterson called the October 1968 event an attempt by the KANU leaders to monopolize the memory of Mau Mau. While some may pick an argument with Derek’s assertion about 1968, the reality today would easily bear him out.

As we celebrated Mashujaa Day in Kirinyaga, one would appreciate the fact that the day has been evolving over the years and with that evolution, some historical facts are increasingly being relegated to the sidelines.

For one, the pressure to generate and recognize new heroes is creating generations that have no idea what ‘Operation Jock Scott’ is and the role it played in the founding of the day we celebrate today as Mashujaa Day.

Operation Jock Scott was a security operation launched by the colonial government with the aim of arresting all independence struggle leaders and all their perceived sympathizers including religious leaders and educationists associated with the independence struggle.

Over 150,000 Kenyans, mainly Kikuyus, ended up in detention and concentration camps because of an operation that started on the night of October 20, 1952.

And while I am all for the recognition of new heroes including sportsmen and women, our story of independence and the struggle that preceded it, should neither be clouded or hidden in the inner pages.

Let Mashujaa Day tell Kenyans new generations about the heroes that made it possible for us to be today.

Let stories be proudly told of unique literary pioneers like Gakaara Wa Wanjau, a writer who was held in detention for 8 years; let the story of his resilience be told and honoured – he never lost his creativity while in jail and his play was written in 1956 titled, ‘reke acirithi ni mehia make’ meaning ‘let his wickedness judge him’ had better not be mocking the handling of our story of the independence struggle, and the heroes that paid its price.

That is my kicker!