Info For You Lot Dedan Kimathi; Iconic Kenyan Liberty Fighter As Well As A Symbol Of Undying Spirit Of Kenyan People
Dedan Kimathi Waciuri (31 Oct 1920 – xviii Feb 1957) was an iconic liberty fighter, the TRUE founding Father of Independent Republic of Republic of Kenya together with the wood leader of the Land together with liberty Army (which the British derogatory called Mau Mau) which led an armed armed forces struggle known every bit the Mau Mau uprising against the British colonial authorities inwards Republic of Kenya inwards the 1950s. He was a scarred, stocky ex-clerk who had fought together with jockeyed his means to the leadership of all the guerrillas together with gained the pop title, "General Russia." Dedan changed the championship past times calling himself Field Marshal Sir Dedan Kimathi together with appointing a parliament of his ain to preside over. He was the symbol of the undying spirit of Kenyan people.
The tough guerrilla fighter with a trademark long Rastafarian hairstyle was the leader of the Republic of Kenya Land together with Freedom Army together with self-proclaimed President of Kenya. His guerrilla warfare activities lay excruciating hurting together with constant fright inwards the British reason grabbers that imposed their dominion inwards Kenya. He was feared inwards equal stair out past times friends together with enemies alike, every bit he does non forgive people who betray the drive of Mau Mau grapple against the British.
Kimathi gained the condition of revolutionary together with martyr to the drive of dark liberation inwards Republic of Kenya when he was was shot together with captured inwards the forests nigh Nyeri. Clad inwards a leopard pare together with carrying a .38 revolver, Kimathi was charged with carrying a lethal weapon –a majuscule offence nether the emergency regulations therefore governing Kenya. He was sentenced to decease together with hanged at Kamiti prison house on 18th Feb 1957.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 highly controversial character, Kimathi's life has been dependent to intense propaganda past times both the British authorities who saw him every bit a terrorist. He was defendant of beingness an unpleasant together with unsafe cult leader who represented a reversionist, primal together with unspeakably savage baring of the African soul. He was defendant past times the British of killing the settler white farmers together with their African collaborators; every bit a outcome he was tagged every bit a terrorist by The British Nairobi government and a cost tag of £500 was lay on his head. In 1 of their propaganda Ian Henderson, the adult man who Pb the British man-hunt of Kimathi said "Nobody has helped the authorities every bit much every bit Kimathi, together with for that argue he should live given a salary. He has killed to a greater extent than Mau Mau than whatever fellow member of the Security Forces." The question, however, is, if Kimathi has killed to a greater extent than African Kenyans why should the British border to kill him? The truth was that as Peter Baxter lay it inwards his piece of work "Ian Henderson together with the hunt for Dedan kimathi" that "The functioning to capture or kill Kimathi was undertaken on the agreement that only past times his removal from the active theatre could the thing of the Rebellion live finally set to rest. Mau Mau no longer presented whatever item threat to exterior society, together with inwards whatever instance been superseded past times the mainstream political procedure which was heading piece of cake but sure inwards the direction of bulk rule, every bit it was throughout most of Africa, but therefore long every bit Kimathi remained at large the rebellion was active."
Baxter continued that "Dedan Kimathi was the high priest of Mau Mau. He was non the only gang leader operating inwards the forests of the key highlands, together with nor was he consistently the most powerful, but he was the only 1 sufficiently imbued with the cultural together with esoteric mystique necessary to projection his icon – similar that of Che Guevara inwards the context of Republic of Cuba – every bit the defining iconography of the revolution."
Whilst the British used vile propaganda to discredit Dedan Kimathi every bit a bloodthirsty murderer, cultist together with a terrorist, Kenyan nationalists together with the people saw him every bit the heroic figurehead of the Mau Mau rebellion. He was afterwards viewed with disdain past times the Jomo Kenyatta regime together with subsequent governments. In fact, the Republic of Kenya initiative of all president Kenyatta denounced Mau Mau together with Kimathi, however, Kimathi together with his beau Mau Mau rebels are immediately officially recognised every bit heroes inwards the struggle for Kenyan independence past times the incumbent government.
Nelson Mandela admitted that he was inspired past times the liberty fighting strategies of Kenyan Mau Mau, specially their leader Dedan Kimathi. In is 1990s see to Kenya, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela publicly requested therefore President Daniel arap Moi to allow him see the grave of Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi. Mandela had assumed that, beingness a key pillar inwards the grapple against British colonialism inwards Kenya, Kimathi would land have got a large, State-funded mausoleum extolling his valuable contributions inwards the grapple together with reflecting a national reverence for his sacrifices.
After asking for the whereabouts of Kimathi`s widow Eloise Mukami Kimathi every bit good every bit General China, 1 of the key leaders of the Mau Mau uprising, Mandela told thousands of Kenyans at Kasarani Stadium: “In my 27 years of imprisonment, I ever saw the icon of fighters such every bit Kimathi, China together with others every bit candles inwards my long together with hard state of war against injustice. It is an honour for whatever liberty fighter to pay observe to such heroes.”
The Standard of July 14, 1990 reported Mandela saying: “Kimathi died but the spirit of liberation remained live together with that’s why the people of Republic of Kenya are costless today. How many sons together with daughters have got paid with their ain lives because of demanding for their rights?”
Kimathi was born to wealthy household unit of measurement on 31 Oct 1920 inwards Thegenge Village Tetu division, Nyeri District. He was of the Ambui clan, 1 of the ix clans of the Agikuyu tribe inwards Kenya. Ambuis are hot-tempered together with fearless that at 1 fourth dimension they attacked the waters of River Gura with simis together with spears after it had broken its banks together with swept away their arrowroots. Kimathi`s manly somebody parent was polygamous together with had 3 wives but he died before Kimathi was born. In recent well-researched biography on Dedan Kimathi, authored past times the distinguished together with veteran Kenyan journalist Joseph Karimi together with published past times Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JFK), it is revealed that Kimathi`s manly somebody parent Wachuiri did non fathered him but "Ng’aragu, boy of Wangima, an historic catamenia mate of Wachiuri, fathered Kimathi. In the Agikuyu custom, historic catamenia mates would “drop inwards at the house of an historic catamenia mate together with fifty-fifty sire a kid without raising furore”. The writer came past times this data when he interviewed the hitherto, secretive together with oath observing Mau Mau surviving leaders. Karimi writes "One of them, Yunis Nyamuhiu, Ng’aragu’s daughter, confirmed that indeed Kimathi is her half-brother."
Kimathi was raised past times his mother, Waibuthi. He had 2 brothers, Wambararia together with Wagura, together with 2 sisters. He joined Karunaini Primary School aged 15, together with went on to demonstrate intelligence. He was therefore skillful inwards would afterwards exercise those linguistic communication skills to write extensively before together with during the Mau Mau uprising. He was a Debate Club fellow member inwards his schoolhouse together with also showed special mightiness inwards poetry. As a outcome of his prowess inwards poesy together with English linguistic communication that at 1 fourth dimension a instructor gave him a caprine animal every bit a gift.
Kimathi, having embraced education, shunned some traditions but when it came to circumcision, together with his unopen friend Wambugi Gichomoya, went to the Ihururu hospital instead of the river. In 1940, Kimathi enlisted inwards the British army. However, he was discharged after 1 calendar month for drunkenness together with persistent violence against his beau recruits. He therefore drifted from chore to job, including working every bit a swineherd together with a primary schoolhouse teacher, for which he was dismissed after accusations of violence against his pupils. Karimi also refutes the claim that Kimathi fought inwards the Second World War, every bit is widely believed, but "was recruited at King’s African Rifles to bring together World War II soldiers."
He afterwards joined Tumutumu CMS School for his secondary learning inwards 1942. He became a prefect together with went on to modify things he did non like. Kimathi nonetheless balked at whatever land of study or control, together with was constantly inwards problem with his teachers. As a outcome he drifted inwards together with out of education, together with never fulfilled his potential of a brilliant academic career. Karimi writes "he left the schoolhouse inwards protestation against dictatorial ways of the principal, Rev William Scott Dickson."
In around 1948, whilst working inwards Ol Kalou, Kimathi came into unopen contact with members of the Republic of Kenya African Union. By 1950, he was secretarial assistant to the KAU branch at Ol Kalou, which was controlled past times militant supporters of the Mau Mau cause. He would afterwards live recruited into Mau Mau inwards 1951 past times Paul Njeru, who had seen slap-up leadership qualities inwards him. He was shortly elected secretarial assistant of Thomson Fall’s Mau Mau Branch. Kimathi took into Mau Mau activities with fervour together with became a violent oath administrator.
The Kenyan liberty fighting activities started when immature together with unemployed men going past times the shout out Riika ria bootie (the historic catamenia grouping of 40), protested against forced labour together with other inhumane handling meted to the native Kenyans past times the British settlers. Through the prominence of European missionaries, Christian groups emerged every bit the mouthpiece of the African public. The associations gave nativity to conservative parties similar Harry Thuku’s East African Association formed inwards 1921, which clamoured for amend pay for African workers.
Thuku’s supporters inwards Murang’a would start an offshoot, Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) inwards 1924, headquartered inwards Kahuhia together with with its principal objective beingness reclaiming the reason taken past times Europeans. KCA sent Kenyatta to London inwards 1929 on the recommendation of James Beauttah. The initiative of all mission was unsuccessful together with he was sent dorsum 1 time to a greater extent than inwards May 1931. Before he left, writes Karimi, “it was a considered watch that he took the KCA oath”. Mau Mau was a militant wing of KCA and began every bit the Land together with Freedom Army, a militant Kikuyu regular army out to reclaim their reason that they claimed had been gradually stripped from them past times the British settlers. As the group's influence together with membership widened it became a major threat to the colonialists. Some of them had returned from the World War II with revolutionary ideas exacerbated past times the fact that after returning home, they were racially segregated past times the same British whom they had faithfully fought for.
In Nov 1931, Kenyatta met Mahatma Gandhi, who shared his ideology of non-violence. Karimi says Gandhi inscribed inwards Kenyatta’s diary: “Truth together with non-violence tin ship away deliver whatever land from bondage.” This ideology would years afterwards humiliate Kenyatta inwards the presence of the liberty fighters. “The liberty fighters, inwards a Republic of Kenya African Union (KAU) rally at Ruring’u showground, inwards which Kenyatta chaired on July 26, 1952 said armed struggle was “the only linguistic communication the British understood”. In response, Kenyatta asked the gathered crowd of 50,000 if they would withstand the kicks of a ass if he held its jaws. “The rally roared dorsum affirmatively.” However, a calendar month later, during a three-day KAU delegates conference, Kenyatta advocated for non-violence. He angered the liberty fighters, together with he was forced out of the chairman’s seat. Kenyatta sat on the flooring every bit directed for the adjacent 3 hours.”
Kimathi every bit a violent administrator or High priest who presided over oath taking inwards Mau Mau, believed strongly inwards compelling beau Kikuyu past times means of oath to convey solidarity to the independence movement. To orbit this, he administered beatings together with carried a double-barrelled shotgun. His activities with the grouping made him a target of the colonial government, together with he was briefly arrested that same twelvemonth but escaped with the assist of local police. This marked the outset of his violent uprising. He formed the Republic of Kenya Defence Council to co-ordinate all wood fighters inwards 1953.
Soon after, Kenyatta together with his colleagues inwards the famous Kapenguria vi listing were arrested during the State of Emergency. Behind bars, at that spot was bad blood betwixt Kenyatta together with KCA. The colonial authorities at the same fourth dimension was painstakingly plotting for a succession plan.
Karimi writes that inwards wondering who would accept over, at that spot was the alternative of Dedan Kimathi, who after arrest was pop with the Mau Mau members, together with Kenyatta. However, the prospects of a Kimathi leadership sent “shivers downwards the colonial government’s spine. They wanted to groom a adult man who would convey nearly political equilibrium the instant they relinquished power. The compromise candidate was Kenyatta”
In 1956, on 21 Oct precisely 4 years to the twenty-four hours since the start of the uprising, Kimathi was arrested inwards the Nyeri wood past times a grouping led past times Ian Henderson.
Play of Ngugi wa thiongo`s "trial of Dedan Kimathi"
The Hunt for Dedan Kithathi
The tale of the hunt for Kimathi, mounted past times the Republic of Kenya Police, together with spearheaded past times Henderson, tells the story of 1 man’s utter conclusion to problem organisation human relationship for some other against a backdrop of the by together with large bizarre together with violent Mau Mau Rebellion. Ian Henderson grew up, every bit many other white boys inwards Africa did at that time, with a rifle inwards his hand, with unrestricted liberty of motility together with the fealty of whatever issue of dark youth who would have got been his childhood playmates. From them he gained fluency inwards both the famously hard together with abstruse Kikuyu linguistic communication every bit good every bit Kikuyu lifestyles together with culture. It is believed that he took traditional Kikuyu mystic powers. Beyond that he was gifted with a tertiary eye, some would tell a hunters 6th sense, that was comparable inwards some ways to Kimathi’s God-given mysticism.
Henderson achieved fame with his peers during the Emergency every bit a policeman, together with therefore every bit a fellow member of the local British internal word organization, Special Branch. He was recognized, together with rewarded, past times the Crown for exemplary service during the Republic of Kenya Emergency, with outgoing Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, conceding that Henderson did to a greater extent than to suppress the Mau Mau Rebellion than whatever other white somebody inwards the territory. Certainly Henderson killed, or accounted for the deaths of a large issue of high profile blacks during the course of study of the crisis, together with he was largely responsible for compiling the prove inwards the famously skewed trial of Jomo Kenyatta, the honorary if non practical leader of African resistance inwards Kenya. As a outcome Henderson was no item friend of the dark adult man together with was deported shortly after Kenyan independence together with never invited back.
He therefore went on to serve every bit word supremo inwards Bahrain where he gained a reputation over 3 decades, non real dissimilar from that which he had departed from inwards Kenya, every bit a sadistic, torture prone functionary of a coercive together with unrepresentative regime. The Butcher of Bahrain became his nomenclature upon his retirement, together with many have got been the calls for an research into the behavior of this highly secretive, almost subterranean man."
Henderson, for his part, was quite land obsessed with bringing the famed guerrilla leader in, either dead or alive, quite every bit Kimathi was obsessed past times his ain survival. For this the guerrilla leader began to rely increasingly on his higher spiritual direction together with the violent cleansing of his immediate corps of followers who needed only the most pocket-sized transgression of daily protocol to discovery themselves nether suspicion of collaboration.
The procedure began with the capture of a distich of middle ranking fighters inwards the Aberdare wood inwards Dec 1955, inwards the broad vicinity of where Kimathi was known to live hiding. At that fourth dimension it was estimated that at that spot were fewer than 1500 active fighters remaining inwards the wood aligned to a handful of key leaders. Kimathi himself commanded a large next of extremely committed together with ‘hard core’ fighters, with an inner circle of bodyguards whose loyalty was unimpeachable.
‘Turning’ these 2 captures was non difficult. The evolution of pseudo gangs had shown from the onset that it was surprisingly piece of cake to realign captured guerrillas, arm them together with therefore ship them dorsum into the wood to operate against their sometime comrades. Part of the argue for this was that past times the fourth dimension pseudo ops came into concentrated exercise the residuum had shifted together with the Mau Mau were manifestly on the run. Survival inwards the forests had go extremely hard 1 time access to the Kikuyu Reserve had been cutting past times an airtight cordon, at which indicate continued existence became dependent on theft from white commercial farms or direct off the reason inside the forest. Internecine fighting had also go mutual every bit guerrilla units began to suspect 1 another, together with every bit a outcome tended to maintain every bit far away from 1 some other every bit possible. The sheer difficulty of life, together with the threat upon capture of a swift trial together with the gallows, meant that when a reprieve was offered inwards central for cooperation it was rarely declined.
African Kenyan constabulary who helped inwards the arrest of Dedan Kimathi beingness congratulated
This little corps of able together with knowledgeable men was added to over the course of study of 1956 every bit the loyal elements of the Mau Mau gradually diminished together with to a greater extent than captures barbarous into the hands of Henderson together with his force. Henderson himself played only a real express active role, but it was he at the middle of command who plotted the sequence of events the irrevocably tightened the noose around Kimathi’s neck. As to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than men were captured, together with every bit Kimathi’s personal forcefulness diminished, his survival became dependent on his ain reserves of personal cunning together with incisive intelligence, along with what was universally recognized every bit extraordinary skillful luck – the luck that many around him attributed to his condition of Ngai’s favored son.
In Oct 1956 the drama ended with an isolated together with surrounded Kimathi forced past times hunger to go out the encompass of the wood together with venture into the opened upwards province of the Kikuyu Reserve. There his luck finally deserted him together with he was wounded past times a Home Guard patrol together with afterwards arrested past times elements of Henderson’s force.
Kimathi`s capture marked the terminate of the wood war. He was sentenced to decease past times a courtroom presided past times Chief Justice O'Connor together with an all-black jury of Kenyans, patch he was inwards a infirmary bed at the General Hospital Nyeri. In the early morning time of xviii Feb 1957 he was executed past times the colonial government. The hanging took identify at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. He was buried inwards an unmarked grave, together with his burial site remains unknown.
Kimathi was married to Mukami Kimathi. Among their children are sons Wachiuri together with Maina together with daughters Nyawira together with Wanjugu.[8] In 2010, Kimathi's widow requested that the search for her husband's torso live renewed therefore she could give him a proper burial
To some Kenyans together with the aged Mau Mau freedom fighters "as long every bit Kimathi lies inwards Kamiti Prison, a colonial prison, nosotros cannot live free." Daniel Branch writing nearly Kimathi`s unknown grave said "Modern Kenyan history is total of eloquent corpses. Certain remains, through the debates together with silences that surroundings them, articulate lucidly what it has meant to live a citizen or dependent of colonial together with post-colonial Kenya. It is unsurprising therefore that Kenyans together with their historians have, similar other Africanist historians, institute discussions of the cultural practices surrounding decease together with dying fruitful for scholarly enquiry.3Few corpses, though, have got attracted such prolonged attending every bit that of Dedan Kimathi, 1 of the Mau Mau rebellion’s leaders executed past times the British authorities inwards 1957."
However Karimi inwards his novel thorough research piece of work has giving fresh data specially coming from Mau Mau members who knew Kimathi, ”Most people hunger to reckon Kimathi’s grave, which is believed to live at Kamiti Prison, where he was hanged. Karimi gets novel data from his interviewees together with is convinced that the actual burial identify of the Mau Mau hero is at an unmarked grave at Langata Cemetery."
Over the years, at that spot have got been mixed stories nearly where Kimathi was buried, including King’ong’o Prison inwards Nyeri.
Kimathi is viewed every bit a national hero past times the Kenyan people, together with the authorities has erected a bronze statue of "Freedom Fighter Dedan Kimathi" on a graphite plinth, inwards key Nairobi. On the anniversary of the twenty-four hours he was executed (11 December), inwards 2006, the statue of Kimathi was unveiled inwards Nairobi metropolis centre. Kimathi, clad inwards armed forces regalia, holds a rifle on the correct mitt together with a dagger on the other, symbolising the lastly weapons he held inwards his struggle. This official celebration of Mau Mau is inwards marked contrast to a post-colonial norm of all previous Kenyan governments regard of the Mau Mau every bit terrorists. Such a turnabout has attracted praise from Kenyans every bit a long overdue recognition of the Mau Mau for their constituent inwards the struggle for independence. Elsewhere, The Dedan Kimathi Stadium inwards Nyeri was renamed after him, it was formerly known every bit Kamukunji Grounds. There is also Kimathi University College of Technology at Nyeri, Republic of Kenya which is named after him.
In pop culture, Dedan Kimathi was given a heroic immortality in Micere Mugo and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o`s best-selling play "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi." Dedan Kimathi placed a respectable 32 spot inwards the 2004 edition of New African mag (The most authoritative Pan-African Magazine), "100 Greatest Africans" list.
In the early hours of 21st October, 1952, Jomo Kenyatta was arrested peacefully at his Gatundu home, charged with managing the so-called Mau Mau uprising together with on 8 Apr 1953 sentenced to vii years hard labour. In an uncanny historical coincidence, 4 years to the twenty-four hours after Kenyatta’s arrest, on 21st October, 1956, the leader of the Republic of Kenya Land together with Freedom Army together with self-proclaimed President of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi, was shot together with captured inwards the forests nigh Nyeri. Clad inwards a leopard pare together with carrying a .38 revolver, Kimathi was charged with carrying a lethal weapon –a majuscule offence nether the emergency regulations therefore governing Kenya. He was sentenced to decease together with hanged at Kamiti prison house on 18th Feb 1957.
The tough guerrilla fighter with a trademark long Rastafarian hairstyle was the leader of the Republic of Kenya Land together with Freedom Army together with self-proclaimed President of Kenya. His guerrilla warfare activities lay excruciating hurting together with constant fright inwards the British reason grabbers that imposed their dominion inwards Kenya. He was feared inwards equal stair out past times friends together with enemies alike, every bit he does non forgive people who betray the drive of Mau Mau grapple against the British.
Dedan Kimathi, Kenyan political leader together with liberty fighter who led the grapple for independence from Britain
Kimathi gained the condition of revolutionary together with martyr to the drive of dark liberation inwards Republic of Kenya when he was was shot together with captured inwards the forests nigh Nyeri. Clad inwards a leopard pare together with carrying a .38 revolver, Kimathi was charged with carrying a lethal weapon –a majuscule offence nether the emergency regulations therefore governing Kenya. He was sentenced to decease together with hanged at Kamiti prison house on 18th Feb 1957.
Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi`s conspirators showing the leopard pare he was fond of wearing. He was caught after vi months of hunting inwards the jungles of Kenya.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 highly controversial character, Kimathi's life has been dependent to intense propaganda past times both the British authorities who saw him every bit a terrorist. He was defendant of beingness an unpleasant together with unsafe cult leader who represented a reversionist, primal together with unspeakably savage baring of the African soul. He was defendant past times the British of killing the settler white farmers together with their African collaborators; every bit a outcome he was tagged every bit a terrorist by The British Nairobi government and a cost tag of £500 was lay on his head. In 1 of their propaganda Ian Henderson, the adult man who Pb the British man-hunt of Kimathi said "Nobody has helped the authorities every bit much every bit Kimathi, together with for that argue he should live given a salary. He has killed to a greater extent than Mau Mau than whatever fellow member of the Security Forces." The question, however, is, if Kimathi has killed to a greater extent than African Kenyans why should the British border to kill him? The truth was that as Peter Baxter lay it inwards his piece of work "Ian Henderson together with the hunt for Dedan kimathi" that "The functioning to capture or kill Kimathi was undertaken on the agreement that only past times his removal from the active theatre could the thing of the Rebellion live finally set to rest. Mau Mau no longer presented whatever item threat to exterior society, together with inwards whatever instance been superseded past times the mainstream political procedure which was heading piece of cake but sure inwards the direction of bulk rule, every bit it was throughout most of Africa, but therefore long every bit Kimathi remained at large the rebellion was active."
Baxter continued that "Dedan Kimathi was the high priest of Mau Mau. He was non the only gang leader operating inwards the forests of the key highlands, together with nor was he consistently the most powerful, but he was the only 1 sufficiently imbued with the cultural together with esoteric mystique necessary to projection his icon – similar that of Che Guevara inwards the context of Republic of Cuba – every bit the defining iconography of the revolution."
Whilst the British used vile propaganda to discredit Dedan Kimathi every bit a bloodthirsty murderer, cultist together with a terrorist, Kenyan nationalists together with the people saw him every bit the heroic figurehead of the Mau Mau rebellion. He was afterwards viewed with disdain past times the Jomo Kenyatta regime together with subsequent governments. In fact, the Republic of Kenya initiative of all president Kenyatta denounced Mau Mau together with Kimathi, however, Kimathi together with his beau Mau Mau rebels are immediately officially recognised every bit heroes inwards the struggle for Kenyan independence past times the incumbent government.
ortrait of Dedan Kimathi. Dedan Kimathi lies handcuffed on the Blue Planet shortly before his execution past times the British colonial government. Kenya, 21 Oct 1956. Kenya, Eastern Africa, Africa
Nelson Mandela admitted that he was inspired past times the liberty fighting strategies of Kenyan Mau Mau, specially their leader Dedan Kimathi. In is 1990s see to Kenya, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela publicly requested therefore President Daniel arap Moi to allow him see the grave of Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi. Mandela had assumed that, beingness a key pillar inwards the grapple against British colonialism inwards Kenya, Kimathi would land have got a large, State-funded mausoleum extolling his valuable contributions inwards the grapple together with reflecting a national reverence for his sacrifices.
After asking for the whereabouts of Kimathi`s widow Eloise Mukami Kimathi every bit good every bit General China, 1 of the key leaders of the Mau Mau uprising, Mandela told thousands of Kenyans at Kasarani Stadium: “In my 27 years of imprisonment, I ever saw the icon of fighters such every bit Kimathi, China together with others every bit candles inwards my long together with hard state of war against injustice. It is an honour for whatever liberty fighter to pay observe to such heroes.”
The Standard of July 14, 1990 reported Mandela saying: “Kimathi died but the spirit of liberation remained live together with that’s why the people of Republic of Kenya are costless today. How many sons together with daughters have got paid with their ain lives because of demanding for their rights?”
Kimathi was born to wealthy household unit of measurement on 31 Oct 1920 inwards Thegenge Village Tetu division, Nyeri District. He was of the Ambui clan, 1 of the ix clans of the Agikuyu tribe inwards Kenya. Ambuis are hot-tempered together with fearless that at 1 fourth dimension they attacked the waters of River Gura with simis together with spears after it had broken its banks together with swept away their arrowroots. Kimathi`s manly somebody parent was polygamous together with had 3 wives but he died before Kimathi was born. In recent well-researched biography on Dedan Kimathi, authored past times the distinguished together with veteran Kenyan journalist Joseph Karimi together with published past times Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JFK), it is revealed that Kimathi`s manly somebody parent Wachuiri did non fathered him but "Ng’aragu, boy of Wangima, an historic catamenia mate of Wachiuri, fathered Kimathi. In the Agikuyu custom, historic catamenia mates would “drop inwards at the house of an historic catamenia mate together with fifty-fifty sire a kid without raising furore”. The writer came past times this data when he interviewed the hitherto, secretive together with oath observing Mau Mau surviving leaders. Karimi writes "One of them, Yunis Nyamuhiu, Ng’aragu’s daughter, confirmed that indeed Kimathi is her half-brother."
Kimathi was raised past times his mother, Waibuthi. He had 2 brothers, Wambararia together with Wagura, together with 2 sisters. He joined Karunaini Primary School aged 15, together with went on to demonstrate intelligence. He was therefore skillful inwards would afterwards exercise those linguistic communication skills to write extensively before together with during the Mau Mau uprising. He was a Debate Club fellow member inwards his schoolhouse together with also showed special mightiness inwards poetry. As a outcome of his prowess inwards poesy together with English linguistic communication that at 1 fourth dimension a instructor gave him a caprine animal every bit a gift.
Kimathi, having embraced education, shunned some traditions but when it came to circumcision, together with his unopen friend Wambugi Gichomoya, went to the Ihururu hospital instead of the river. In 1940, Kimathi enlisted inwards the British army. However, he was discharged after 1 calendar month for drunkenness together with persistent violence against his beau recruits. He therefore drifted from chore to job, including working every bit a swineherd together with a primary schoolhouse teacher, for which he was dismissed after accusations of violence against his pupils. Karimi also refutes the claim that Kimathi fought inwards the Second World War, every bit is widely believed, but "was recruited at King’s African Rifles to bring together World War II soldiers."
He afterwards joined Tumutumu CMS School for his secondary learning inwards 1942. He became a prefect together with went on to modify things he did non like. Kimathi nonetheless balked at whatever land of study or control, together with was constantly inwards problem with his teachers. As a outcome he drifted inwards together with out of education, together with never fulfilled his potential of a brilliant academic career. Karimi writes "he left the schoolhouse inwards protestation against dictatorial ways of the principal, Rev William Scott Dickson."
In around 1948, whilst working inwards Ol Kalou, Kimathi came into unopen contact with members of the Republic of Kenya African Union. By 1950, he was secretarial assistant to the KAU branch at Ol Kalou, which was controlled past times militant supporters of the Mau Mau cause. He would afterwards live recruited into Mau Mau inwards 1951 past times Paul Njeru, who had seen slap-up leadership qualities inwards him. He was shortly elected secretarial assistant of Thomson Fall’s Mau Mau Branch. Kimathi took into Mau Mau activities with fervour together with became a violent oath administrator.
The Kenyan liberty fighting activities started when immature together with unemployed men going past times the shout out Riika ria bootie (the historic catamenia grouping of 40), protested against forced labour together with other inhumane handling meted to the native Kenyans past times the British settlers. Through the prominence of European missionaries, Christian groups emerged every bit the mouthpiece of the African public. The associations gave nativity to conservative parties similar Harry Thuku’s East African Association formed inwards 1921, which clamoured for amend pay for African workers.
Thuku’s supporters inwards Murang’a would start an offshoot, Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) inwards 1924, headquartered inwards Kahuhia together with with its principal objective beingness reclaiming the reason taken past times Europeans. KCA sent Kenyatta to London inwards 1929 on the recommendation of James Beauttah. The initiative of all mission was unsuccessful together with he was sent dorsum 1 time to a greater extent than inwards May 1931. Before he left, writes Karimi, “it was a considered watch that he took the KCA oath”. Mau Mau was a militant wing of KCA and began every bit the Land together with Freedom Army, a militant Kikuyu regular army out to reclaim their reason that they claimed had been gradually stripped from them past times the British settlers. As the group's influence together with membership widened it became a major threat to the colonialists. Some of them had returned from the World War II with revolutionary ideas exacerbated past times the fact that after returning home, they were racially segregated past times the same British whom they had faithfully fought for.
In Nov 1931, Kenyatta met Mahatma Gandhi, who shared his ideology of non-violence. Karimi says Gandhi inscribed inwards Kenyatta’s diary: “Truth together with non-violence tin ship away deliver whatever land from bondage.” This ideology would years afterwards humiliate Kenyatta inwards the presence of the liberty fighters. “The liberty fighters, inwards a Republic of Kenya African Union (KAU) rally at Ruring’u showground, inwards which Kenyatta chaired on July 26, 1952 said armed struggle was “the only linguistic communication the British understood”. In response, Kenyatta asked the gathered crowd of 50,000 if they would withstand the kicks of a ass if he held its jaws. “The rally roared dorsum affirmatively.” However, a calendar month later, during a three-day KAU delegates conference, Kenyatta advocated for non-violence. He angered the liberty fighters, together with he was forced out of the chairman’s seat. Kenyatta sat on the flooring every bit directed for the adjacent 3 hours.”
Kimathi every bit a violent administrator or High priest who presided over oath taking inwards Mau Mau, believed strongly inwards compelling beau Kikuyu past times means of oath to convey solidarity to the independence movement. To orbit this, he administered beatings together with carried a double-barrelled shotgun. His activities with the grouping made him a target of the colonial government, together with he was briefly arrested that same twelvemonth but escaped with the assist of local police. This marked the outset of his violent uprising. He formed the Republic of Kenya Defence Council to co-ordinate all wood fighters inwards 1953.
Soon after, Kenyatta together with his colleagues inwards the famous Kapenguria vi listing were arrested during the State of Emergency. Behind bars, at that spot was bad blood betwixt Kenyatta together with KCA. The colonial authorities at the same fourth dimension was painstakingly plotting for a succession plan.
Karimi writes that inwards wondering who would accept over, at that spot was the alternative of Dedan Kimathi, who after arrest was pop with the Mau Mau members, together with Kenyatta. However, the prospects of a Kimathi leadership sent “shivers downwards the colonial government’s spine. They wanted to groom a adult man who would convey nearly political equilibrium the instant they relinquished power. The compromise candidate was Kenyatta”
In 1956, on 21 Oct precisely 4 years to the twenty-four hours since the start of the uprising, Kimathi was arrested inwards the Nyeri wood past times a grouping led past times Ian Henderson.
Play of Ngugi wa thiongo`s "trial of Dedan Kimathi"
The Hunt for Dedan Kithathi
The tale of the hunt for Kimathi, mounted past times the Republic of Kenya Police, together with spearheaded past times Henderson, tells the story of 1 man’s utter conclusion to problem organisation human relationship for some other against a backdrop of the by together with large bizarre together with violent Mau Mau Rebellion. Ian Henderson grew up, every bit many other white boys inwards Africa did at that time, with a rifle inwards his hand, with unrestricted liberty of motility together with the fealty of whatever issue of dark youth who would have got been his childhood playmates. From them he gained fluency inwards both the famously hard together with abstruse Kikuyu linguistic communication every bit good every bit Kikuyu lifestyles together with culture. It is believed that he took traditional Kikuyu mystic powers. Beyond that he was gifted with a tertiary eye, some would tell a hunters 6th sense, that was comparable inwards some ways to Kimathi’s God-given mysticism.
Henderson achieved fame with his peers during the Emergency every bit a policeman, together with therefore every bit a fellow member of the local British internal word organization, Special Branch. He was recognized, together with rewarded, past times the Crown for exemplary service during the Republic of Kenya Emergency, with outgoing Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, conceding that Henderson did to a greater extent than to suppress the Mau Mau Rebellion than whatever other white somebody inwards the territory. Certainly Henderson killed, or accounted for the deaths of a large issue of high profile blacks during the course of study of the crisis, together with he was largely responsible for compiling the prove inwards the famously skewed trial of Jomo Kenyatta, the honorary if non practical leader of African resistance inwards Kenya. As a outcome Henderson was no item friend of the dark adult man together with was deported shortly after Kenyan independence together with never invited back.
He therefore went on to serve every bit word supremo inwards Bahrain where he gained a reputation over 3 decades, non real dissimilar from that which he had departed from inwards Kenya, every bit a sadistic, torture prone functionary of a coercive together with unrepresentative regime. The Butcher of Bahrain became his nomenclature upon his retirement, together with many have got been the calls for an research into the behavior of this highly secretive, almost subterranean man."
By 1956 the offensive spirit of the Mau Mau had been lost. The majestic answer had been therefore overwhelming together with therefore accurately applied that the motility past times therefore amounted to zero to a greater extent than than a handful of remnant gangs roaming the vast forests of Mount Republic of Kenya together with the Aberdares with no greater purpose than their ain survival. The British – Ian Henderson inwards this case, amid others – had past times therefore began to deploy pseudo gangs to root out together with run to Blue Planet these remnant units soundless remaining. The pseudos, reverse to pop mythology, real rarely included blacked-up white men, but were inwards fact almost exclusively made upwards of captured together with turned guerrillas who returned to the wood to rail downwards together with capture or kill their sometime comrades.
The functioning to capture or kill Kimathi was undertaken on the agreement that only past times his removal from the active theatre could the thing of the Rebellion live finally set to rest. Mau Mau no longer presented whatever item threat to exterior society, together with inwards whatever instance been superseded past times the mainstream political procedure which was heading piece of cake but sure inwards the direction of bulk rule, every bit it was throughout most of Africa, but therefore long every bit Kimathi remained at large the rebellion was active.Henderson, for his part, was quite land obsessed with bringing the famed guerrilla leader in, either dead or alive, quite every bit Kimathi was obsessed past times his ain survival. For this the guerrilla leader began to rely increasingly on his higher spiritual direction together with the violent cleansing of his immediate corps of followers who needed only the most pocket-sized transgression of daily protocol to discovery themselves nether suspicion of collaboration.
The procedure began with the capture of a distich of middle ranking fighters inwards the Aberdare wood inwards Dec 1955, inwards the broad vicinity of where Kimathi was known to live hiding. At that fourth dimension it was estimated that at that spot were fewer than 1500 active fighters remaining inwards the wood aligned to a handful of key leaders. Kimathi himself commanded a large next of extremely committed together with ‘hard core’ fighters, with an inner circle of bodyguards whose loyalty was unimpeachable.
‘Turning’ these 2 captures was non difficult. The evolution of pseudo gangs had shown from the onset that it was surprisingly piece of cake to realign captured guerrillas, arm them together with therefore ship them dorsum into the wood to operate against their sometime comrades. Part of the argue for this was that past times the fourth dimension pseudo ops came into concentrated exercise the residuum had shifted together with the Mau Mau were manifestly on the run. Survival inwards the forests had go extremely hard 1 time access to the Kikuyu Reserve had been cutting past times an airtight cordon, at which indicate continued existence became dependent on theft from white commercial farms or direct off the reason inside the forest. Internecine fighting had also go mutual every bit guerrilla units began to suspect 1 another, together with every bit a outcome tended to maintain every bit far away from 1 some other every bit possible. The sheer difficulty of life, together with the threat upon capture of a swift trial together with the gallows, meant that when a reprieve was offered inwards central for cooperation it was rarely declined.
African Kenyan constabulary who helped inwards the arrest of Dedan Kimathi beingness congratulated
This little corps of able together with knowledgeable men was added to over the course of study of 1956 every bit the loyal elements of the Mau Mau gradually diminished together with to a greater extent than captures barbarous into the hands of Henderson together with his force. Henderson himself played only a real express active role, but it was he at the middle of command who plotted the sequence of events the irrevocably tightened the noose around Kimathi’s neck. As to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than men were captured, together with every bit Kimathi’s personal forcefulness diminished, his survival became dependent on his ain reserves of personal cunning together with incisive intelligence, along with what was universally recognized every bit extraordinary skillful luck – the luck that many around him attributed to his condition of Ngai’s favored son.
In Oct 1956 the drama ended with an isolated together with surrounded Kimathi forced past times hunger to go out the encompass of the wood together with venture into the opened upwards province of the Kikuyu Reserve. There his luck finally deserted him together with he was wounded past times a Home Guard patrol together with afterwards arrested past times elements of Henderson’s force.
Kimathi`s capture marked the terminate of the wood war. He was sentenced to decease past times a courtroom presided past times Chief Justice O'Connor together with an all-black jury of Kenyans, patch he was inwards a infirmary bed at the General Hospital Nyeri. In the early morning time of xviii Feb 1957 he was executed past times the colonial government. The hanging took identify at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. He was buried inwards an unmarked grave, together with his burial site remains unknown.
Kimathi was married to Mukami Kimathi. Among their children are sons Wachiuri together with Maina together with daughters Nyawira together with Wanjugu.[8] In 2010, Kimathi's widow requested that the search for her husband's torso live renewed therefore she could give him a proper burial
To some Kenyans together with the aged Mau Mau freedom fighters "as long every bit Kimathi lies inwards Kamiti Prison, a colonial prison, nosotros cannot live free." Daniel Branch writing nearly Kimathi`s unknown grave said "Modern Kenyan history is total of eloquent corpses. Certain remains, through the debates together with silences that surroundings them, articulate lucidly what it has meant to live a citizen or dependent of colonial together with post-colonial Kenya. It is unsurprising therefore that Kenyans together with their historians have, similar other Africanist historians, institute discussions of the cultural practices surrounding decease together with dying fruitful for scholarly enquiry.3Few corpses, though, have got attracted such prolonged attending every bit that of Dedan Kimathi, 1 of the Mau Mau rebellion’s leaders executed past times the British authorities inwards 1957."
However Karimi inwards his novel thorough research piece of work has giving fresh data specially coming from Mau Mau members who knew Kimathi, ”Most people hunger to reckon Kimathi’s grave, which is believed to live at Kamiti Prison, where he was hanged. Karimi gets novel data from his interviewees together with is convinced that the actual burial identify of the Mau Mau hero is at an unmarked grave at Langata Cemetery."
Over the years, at that spot have got been mixed stories nearly where Kimathi was buried, including King’ong’o Prison inwards Nyeri.
Kimathi is viewed every bit a national hero past times the Kenyan people, together with the authorities has erected a bronze statue of "Freedom Fighter Dedan Kimathi" on a graphite plinth, inwards key Nairobi. On the anniversary of the twenty-four hours he was executed (11 December), inwards 2006, the statue of Kimathi was unveiled inwards Nairobi metropolis centre. Kimathi, clad inwards armed forces regalia, holds a rifle on the correct mitt together with a dagger on the other, symbolising the lastly weapons he held inwards his struggle. This official celebration of Mau Mau is inwards marked contrast to a post-colonial norm of all previous Kenyan governments regard of the Mau Mau every bit terrorists. Such a turnabout has attracted praise from Kenyans every bit a long overdue recognition of the Mau Mau for their constituent inwards the struggle for independence. Elsewhere, The Dedan Kimathi Stadium inwards Nyeri was renamed after him, it was formerly known every bit Kamukunji Grounds. There is also Kimathi University College of Technology at Nyeri, Republic of Kenya which is named after him.
Dedan Kimathi`s statue
In pop culture, Dedan Kimathi was given a heroic immortality in Micere Mugo and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o`s best-selling play "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi." Dedan Kimathi placed a respectable 32 spot inwards the 2004 edition of New African mag (The most authoritative Pan-African Magazine), "100 Greatest Africans" list.
Dedan Kimathi`s Farewell Letter
The missive of the alphabet dated was written on 17th Feb 1957, 1 twenty-four hours before Kimathi was executed past times the British Colonial Government inwards Republic of Kenya on 18th Feb 1957. The missive of the alphabet is addressed to 1 Father Marino of Catholic Mission, P.O. Box 25, Nyeri, Kenya.
The source of the missive of the alphabet is the Republic of Kenya National Archives, where a typed re-create of the same was on display at the Republic of Kenya National Archives Public Gallery inwards the 1990s, since when it has been brought down. However members of the world tin ship away on request, acquire a typed photocopy of Kimathi’s said below missive of the alphabet at the Republic of Kenya National Archives. It remains unclear if the master handwritten re-create of Kimathi’s said below missive of the alphabet soundless exists, together with if it soundless does, inwards whose possession it is. Contents of Kimathi’s said missive of the alphabet of 17th Feb 1957 reproduced below verbatim…
--------------------------------
Dedan Kimathi
C/O H.M Prison (i.e. Her Majesty’s Prison)
17th Feb 1957
Father Marino
Catholic Mission
P.O. Box 25
Nyeri
Dear Father,
It is nearly 1 O’clock nighttime that I have got picked upwards my pencil together with newspaper therefore that I may retrieve you lot together with your dear friends together with friends before the fourth dimension is over.
I am therefore busy together with therefore happy preparing for sky tomorrow the 18th Feb 1957. Only to allow you lot know that Father Whellam came inwards to reckon me hither inwards my prison house room every bit shortly every bit he received the data regarding my arrival. He is soundless a dear form somebody every bit I did non firstly expect. He visits me real oftentimes together with gives me sufficient encouragement possible. He provided me with of import books with to a greater extent than that all have got set a burning low-cal throughout my means to paradise, such every bit :-
1. Students Catholic Doctrine
2. In the likeness of Christ
3. The New Testament
4. How to sympathize the Mass
5. The appearance of the Virgin at Grotto of Lourdes
6. Prayer mass inwards Kikuyu
7. The Virgin Mary of Fatima
8. The cross of the Rosary etc.
I desire to acquire inwards ever memorial to you lot together with all that only Father Whellam that came to reckon me on Christmas twenty-four hours patch I had many coming on the other weeks together with days. Sorry that they did non retrieve me during the nativity of our Lord together with Savior. Pity also that they forgot me during such a merry day.
I have got already discussed the thing with him together with I am certain that he volition inform you lot all.
Only a enquiry of getting my boy to school. He is far from many of your schools, but I trust that something must live done to reckon that he starts before nether your attention etc.
Do non neglect from seeing my woman parent who is real old together with to comfort her fifty-fifty though that she is therefore much sorrowful.
My married adult woman is here. She is detained at Kamiti Prison together with I advise that she volition live released some time. I would similar her to live comforted past times sisters e.g. Sister Modester, etc. for she besides feels lonely. And if past times whatever possibility she tin ship away live nigh the mission every bit nigh Mathari therefore that she may live therefore unopen to the sisters together with to the church.
I conclude past times telling you lot only to attain me favor past times getting educational activity to my son.
Farewell to the globe together with all its belongings, I tell together with best wishes I tell to my friends with whom nosotros shall non run across inwards this busy world.
Please go past times my complements together with best wishes to all who read Wathiomo Mukinyu. Remember me besides to the Fathers, Brothers together with Sisters.
With skillful hope together with best wishes,
I stay dear Father
Yours Loving, together with Departing Convert
D. Kimathi
The Spoils of War: Why Do We Celebrate Kenyatta, non Kimathi, Day?
Monday, Oct 19, 2009 - 06:27, by Patrick GatharaIn the early hours of 21st October, 1952, Jomo Kenyatta was arrested peacefully at his Gatundu home, charged with managing the so-called Mau Mau uprising together with on 8 Apr 1953 sentenced to vii years hard labour. In an uncanny historical coincidence, 4 years to the twenty-four hours after Kenyatta’s arrest, on 21st October, 1956, the leader of the Republic of Kenya Land together with Freedom Army together with self-proclaimed President of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi, was shot together with captured inwards the forests nigh Nyeri. Clad inwards a leopard pare together with carrying a .38 revolver, Kimathi was charged with carrying a lethal weapon –a majuscule offence nether the emergency regulations therefore governing Kenya. He was sentenced to decease together with hanged at Kamiti prison house on 18th Feb 1957.
Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi`s conspirators showing the leopard pare he was fond of wearing. He was caught after vi months of hunting inwards the jungles of Kenya.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 highly controversial character, Kimathi's life has been dependent to intense propaganda past times both the British authorities who saw him every bit a terrorist. He was defendant of beingness an unpleasant together with unsafe cult leader who represented a reversionist, primal together with unspeakably savage baring of the African soul. He was defendant past times the British of killing the settler white farmers together with their African collaborators; every bit a outcome he was tagged every bit a terrorist by The British Nairobi government and a cost tag of £500 was lay on his head. In 1 of their propaganda Ian Henderson, the adult man who Pb the British man-hunt of Kimathi said "Nobody has helped the authorities every bit much every bit Kimathi, together with for that argue he should live given a salary. He has killed to a greater extent than Mau Mau than whatever fellow member of the Security Forces." The question, however, is, if Kimathi has killed to a greater extent than African Kenyans why should the British border to kill him? The truth was that as Peter Baxter lay it inwards his piece of work "Ian Henderson together with the hunt for Dedan kimathi" that "The functioning to capture or kill Kimathi was undertaken on the agreement that only past times his removal from the active theatre could the thing of the Rebellion live finally set to rest. Mau Mau no longer presented whatever item threat to exterior society, together with inwards whatever instance been superseded past times the mainstream political procedure which was heading piece of cake but sure inwards the direction of bulk rule, every bit it was throughout most of Africa, but therefore long every bit Kimathi remained at large the rebellion was active."
Baxter continued that "Dedan Kimathi was the high priest of Mau Mau. He was non the only gang leader operating inwards the forests of the key highlands, together with nor was he consistently the most powerful, but he was the only 1 sufficiently imbued with the cultural together with esoteric mystique necessary to projection his icon – similar that of Che Guevara inwards the context of Republic of Cuba – every bit the defining iconography of the revolution."
Whilst the British used vile propaganda to discredit Dedan Kimathi every bit a bloodthirsty murderer, cultist together with a terrorist, Kenyan nationalists together with the people saw him every bit the heroic figurehead of the Mau Mau rebellion. He was afterwards viewed with disdain past times the Jomo Kenyatta regime together with subsequent governments. In fact, the Republic of Kenya initiative of all president Kenyatta denounced Mau Mau together with Kimathi, however, Kimathi together with his beau Mau Mau rebels are immediately officially recognised every bit heroes inwards the struggle for Kenyan independence past times the incumbent government.
ortrait of Dedan Kimathi. Dedan Kimathi lies handcuffed on the Blue Planet shortly before his execution past times the British colonial government. Kenya, 21 Oct 1956. Kenya, Eastern Africa, Africa
Nelson Mandela admitted that he was inspired past times the liberty fighting strategies of Kenyan Mau Mau, specially their leader Dedan Kimathi. In is 1990s see to Kenya, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela publicly requested therefore President Daniel arap Moi to allow him see the grave of Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi. Mandela had assumed that, beingness a key pillar inwards the grapple against British colonialism inwards Kenya, Kimathi would land have got a large, State-funded mausoleum extolling his valuable contributions inwards the grapple together with reflecting a national reverence for his sacrifices.
After asking for the whereabouts of Kimathi`s widow Eloise Mukami Kimathi every bit good every bit General China, 1 of the key leaders of the Mau Mau uprising, Mandela told thousands of Kenyans at Kasarani Stadium: “In my 27 years of imprisonment, I ever saw the icon of fighters such every bit Kimathi, China together with others every bit candles inwards my long together with hard state of war against injustice. It is an honour for whatever liberty fighter to pay observe to such heroes.”
The Standard of July 14, 1990 reported Mandela saying: “Kimathi died but the spirit of liberation remained live together with that’s why the people of Republic of Kenya are costless today. How many sons together with daughters have got paid with their ain lives because of demanding for their rights?”
Kimathi was born to wealthy household unit of measurement on 31 Oct 1920 inwards Thegenge Village Tetu division, Nyeri District. He was of the Ambui clan, 1 of the ix clans of the Agikuyu tribe inwards Kenya. Ambuis are hot-tempered together with fearless that at 1 fourth dimension they attacked the waters of River Gura with simis together with spears after it had broken its banks together with swept away their arrowroots. Kimathi`s manly somebody parent was polygamous together with had 3 wives but he died before Kimathi was born. In recent well-researched biography on Dedan Kimathi, authored past times the distinguished together with veteran Kenyan journalist Joseph Karimi together with published past times Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JFK), it is revealed that Kimathi`s manly somebody parent Wachuiri did non fathered him but "Ng’aragu, boy of Wangima, an historic catamenia mate of Wachiuri, fathered Kimathi. In the Agikuyu custom, historic catamenia mates would “drop inwards at the house of an historic catamenia mate together with fifty-fifty sire a kid without raising furore”. The writer came past times this data when he interviewed the hitherto, secretive together with oath observing Mau Mau surviving leaders. Karimi writes "One of them, Yunis Nyamuhiu, Ng’aragu’s daughter, confirmed that indeed Kimathi is her half-brother."
Kimathi was raised past times his mother, Waibuthi. He had 2 brothers, Wambararia together with Wagura, together with 2 sisters. He joined Karunaini Primary School aged 15, together with went on to demonstrate intelligence. He was therefore skillful inwards would afterwards exercise those linguistic communication skills to write extensively before together with during the Mau Mau uprising. He was a Debate Club fellow member inwards his schoolhouse together with also showed special mightiness inwards poetry. As a outcome of his prowess inwards poesy together with English linguistic communication that at 1 fourth dimension a instructor gave him a caprine animal every bit a gift.
Kimathi, having embraced education, shunned some traditions but when it came to circumcision, together with his unopen friend Wambugi Gichomoya, went to the Ihururu hospital instead of the river. In 1940, Kimathi enlisted inwards the British army. However, he was discharged after 1 calendar month for drunkenness together with persistent violence against his beau recruits. He therefore drifted from chore to job, including working every bit a swineherd together with a primary schoolhouse teacher, for which he was dismissed after accusations of violence against his pupils. Karimi also refutes the claim that Kimathi fought inwards the Second World War, every bit is widely believed, but "was recruited at King’s African Rifles to bring together World War II soldiers."
He afterwards joined Tumutumu CMS School for his secondary learning inwards 1942. He became a prefect together with went on to modify things he did non like. Kimathi nonetheless balked at whatever land of study or control, together with was constantly inwards problem with his teachers. As a outcome he drifted inwards together with out of education, together with never fulfilled his potential of a brilliant academic career. Karimi writes "he left the schoolhouse inwards protestation against dictatorial ways of the principal, Rev William Scott Dickson."
In around 1948, whilst working inwards Ol Kalou, Kimathi came into unopen contact with members of the Republic of Kenya African Union. By 1950, he was secretarial assistant to the KAU branch at Ol Kalou, which was controlled past times militant supporters of the Mau Mau cause. He would afterwards live recruited into Mau Mau inwards 1951 past times Paul Njeru, who had seen slap-up leadership qualities inwards him. He was shortly elected secretarial assistant of Thomson Fall’s Mau Mau Branch. Kimathi took into Mau Mau activities with fervour together with became a violent oath administrator.
The Kenyan liberty fighting activities started when immature together with unemployed men going past times the shout out Riika ria bootie (the historic catamenia grouping of 40), protested against forced labour together with other inhumane handling meted to the native Kenyans past times the British settlers. Through the prominence of European missionaries, Christian groups emerged every bit the mouthpiece of the African public. The associations gave nativity to conservative parties similar Harry Thuku’s East African Association formed inwards 1921, which clamoured for amend pay for African workers.
Thuku’s supporters inwards Murang’a would start an offshoot, Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) inwards 1924, headquartered inwards Kahuhia together with with its principal objective beingness reclaiming the reason taken past times Europeans. KCA sent Kenyatta to London inwards 1929 on the recommendation of James Beauttah. The initiative of all mission was unsuccessful together with he was sent dorsum 1 time to a greater extent than inwards May 1931. Before he left, writes Karimi, “it was a considered watch that he took the KCA oath”. Mau Mau was a militant wing of KCA and began every bit the Land together with Freedom Army, a militant Kikuyu regular army out to reclaim their reason that they claimed had been gradually stripped from them past times the British settlers. As the group's influence together with membership widened it became a major threat to the colonialists. Some of them had returned from the World War II with revolutionary ideas exacerbated past times the fact that after returning home, they were racially segregated past times the same British whom they had faithfully fought for.
In Nov 1931, Kenyatta met Mahatma Gandhi, who shared his ideology of non-violence. Karimi says Gandhi inscribed inwards Kenyatta’s diary: “Truth together with non-violence tin ship away deliver whatever land from bondage.” This ideology would years afterwards humiliate Kenyatta inwards the presence of the liberty fighters. “The liberty fighters, inwards a Republic of Kenya African Union (KAU) rally at Ruring’u showground, inwards which Kenyatta chaired on July 26, 1952 said armed struggle was “the only linguistic communication the British understood”. In response, Kenyatta asked the gathered crowd of 50,000 if they would withstand the kicks of a ass if he held its jaws. “The rally roared dorsum affirmatively.” However, a calendar month later, during a three-day KAU delegates conference, Kenyatta advocated for non-violence. He angered the liberty fighters, together with he was forced out of the chairman’s seat. Kenyatta sat on the flooring every bit directed for the adjacent 3 hours.”
Kimathi every bit a violent administrator or High priest who presided over oath taking inwards Mau Mau, believed strongly inwards compelling beau Kikuyu past times means of oath to convey solidarity to the independence movement. To orbit this, he administered beatings together with carried a double-barrelled shotgun. His activities with the grouping made him a target of the colonial government, together with he was briefly arrested that same twelvemonth but escaped with the assist of local police. This marked the outset of his violent uprising. He formed the Republic of Kenya Defence Council to co-ordinate all wood fighters inwards 1953.
Soon after, Kenyatta together with his colleagues inwards the famous Kapenguria vi listing were arrested during the State of Emergency. Behind bars, at that spot was bad blood betwixt Kenyatta together with KCA. The colonial authorities at the same fourth dimension was painstakingly plotting for a succession plan.
Karimi writes that inwards wondering who would accept over, at that spot was the alternative of Dedan Kimathi, who after arrest was pop with the Mau Mau members, together with Kenyatta. However, the prospects of a Kimathi leadership sent “shivers downwards the colonial government’s spine. They wanted to groom a adult man who would convey nearly political equilibrium the instant they relinquished power. The compromise candidate was Kenyatta”
In 1956, on 21 Oct precisely 4 years to the twenty-four hours since the start of the uprising, Kimathi was arrested inwards the Nyeri wood past times a grouping led past times Ian Henderson.
Play of Ngugi wa thiongo`s "trial of Dedan Kimathi"
The Hunt for Dedan Kithathi
The tale of the hunt for Kimathi, mounted past times the Republic of Kenya Police, together with spearheaded past times Henderson, tells the story of 1 man’s utter conclusion to problem organisation human relationship for some other against a backdrop of the by together with large bizarre together with violent Mau Mau Rebellion. Ian Henderson grew up, every bit many other white boys inwards Africa did at that time, with a rifle inwards his hand, with unrestricted liberty of motility together with the fealty of whatever issue of dark youth who would have got been his childhood playmates. From them he gained fluency inwards both the famously hard together with abstruse Kikuyu linguistic communication every bit good every bit Kikuyu lifestyles together with culture. It is believed that he took traditional Kikuyu mystic powers. Beyond that he was gifted with a tertiary eye, some would tell a hunters 6th sense, that was comparable inwards some ways to Kimathi’s God-given mysticism.
Henderson achieved fame with his peers during the Emergency every bit a policeman, together with therefore every bit a fellow member of the local British internal word organization, Special Branch. He was recognized, together with rewarded, past times the Crown for exemplary service during the Republic of Kenya Emergency, with outgoing Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, conceding that Henderson did to a greater extent than to suppress the Mau Mau Rebellion than whatever other white somebody inwards the territory. Certainly Henderson killed, or accounted for the deaths of a large issue of high profile blacks during the course of study of the crisis, together with he was largely responsible for compiling the prove inwards the famously skewed trial of Jomo Kenyatta, the honorary if non practical leader of African resistance inwards Kenya. As a outcome Henderson was no item friend of the dark adult man together with was deported shortly after Kenyan independence together with never invited back.
He therefore went on to serve every bit word supremo inwards Bahrain where he gained a reputation over 3 decades, non real dissimilar from that which he had departed from inwards Kenya, every bit a sadistic, torture prone functionary of a coercive together with unrepresentative regime. The Butcher of Bahrain became his nomenclature upon his retirement, together with many have got been the calls for an research into the behavior of this highly secretive, almost subterranean man."
By 1956 the offensive spirit of the Mau Mau had been lost. The majestic answer had been therefore overwhelming together with therefore accurately applied that the motility past times therefore amounted to zero to a greater extent than than a handful of remnant gangs roaming the vast forests of Mount Republic of Kenya together with the Aberdares with no greater purpose than their ain survival. The British – Ian Henderson inwards this case, amid others – had past times therefore began to deploy pseudo gangs to root out together with run to Blue Planet these remnant units soundless remaining. The pseudos, reverse to pop mythology, real rarely included blacked-up white men, but were inwards fact almost exclusively made upwards of captured together with turned guerrillas who returned to the wood to rail downwards together with capture or kill their sometime comrades.
The functioning to capture or kill Kimathi was undertaken on the agreement that only past times his removal from the active theatre could the thing of the Rebellion live finally set to rest. Mau Mau no longer presented whatever item threat to exterior society, together with inwards whatever instance been superseded past times the mainstream political procedure which was heading piece of cake but sure inwards the direction of bulk rule, every bit it was throughout most of Africa, but therefore long every bit Kimathi remained at large the rebellion was active.Henderson, for his part, was quite land obsessed with bringing the famed guerrilla leader in, either dead or alive, quite every bit Kimathi was obsessed past times his ain survival. For this the guerrilla leader began to rely increasingly on his higher spiritual direction together with the violent cleansing of his immediate corps of followers who needed only the most pocket-sized transgression of daily protocol to discovery themselves nether suspicion of collaboration.
The procedure began with the capture of a distich of middle ranking fighters inwards the Aberdare wood inwards Dec 1955, inwards the broad vicinity of where Kimathi was known to live hiding. At that fourth dimension it was estimated that at that spot were fewer than 1500 active fighters remaining inwards the wood aligned to a handful of key leaders. Kimathi himself commanded a large next of extremely committed together with ‘hard core’ fighters, with an inner circle of bodyguards whose loyalty was unimpeachable.
‘Turning’ these 2 captures was non difficult. The evolution of pseudo gangs had shown from the onset that it was surprisingly piece of cake to realign captured guerrillas, arm them together with therefore ship them dorsum into the wood to operate against their sometime comrades. Part of the argue for this was that past times the fourth dimension pseudo ops came into concentrated exercise the residuum had shifted together with the Mau Mau were manifestly on the run. Survival inwards the forests had go extremely hard 1 time access to the Kikuyu Reserve had been cutting past times an airtight cordon, at which indicate continued existence became dependent on theft from white commercial farms or direct off the reason inside the forest. Internecine fighting had also go mutual every bit guerrilla units began to suspect 1 another, together with every bit a outcome tended to maintain every bit far away from 1 some other every bit possible. The sheer difficulty of life, together with the threat upon capture of a swift trial together with the gallows, meant that when a reprieve was offered inwards central for cooperation it was rarely declined.
African Kenyan constabulary who helped inwards the arrest of Dedan Kimathi beingness congratulated
This little corps of able together with knowledgeable men was added to over the course of study of 1956 every bit the loyal elements of the Mau Mau gradually diminished together with to a greater extent than captures barbarous into the hands of Henderson together with his force. Henderson himself played only a real express active role, but it was he at the middle of command who plotted the sequence of events the irrevocably tightened the noose around Kimathi’s neck. As to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than men were captured, together with every bit Kimathi’s personal forcefulness diminished, his survival became dependent on his ain reserves of personal cunning together with incisive intelligence, along with what was universally recognized every bit extraordinary skillful luck – the luck that many around him attributed to his condition of Ngai’s favored son.
In Oct 1956 the drama ended with an isolated together with surrounded Kimathi forced past times hunger to go out the encompass of the wood together with venture into the opened upwards province of the Kikuyu Reserve. There his luck finally deserted him together with he was wounded past times a Home Guard patrol together with afterwards arrested past times elements of Henderson’s force.
Kimathi`s capture marked the terminate of the wood war. He was sentenced to decease past times a courtroom presided past times Chief Justice O'Connor together with an all-black jury of Kenyans, patch he was inwards a infirmary bed at the General Hospital Nyeri. In the early morning time of xviii Feb 1957 he was executed past times the colonial government. The hanging took identify at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. He was buried inwards an unmarked grave, together with his burial site remains unknown.
Kimathi was married to Mukami Kimathi. Among their children are sons Wachiuri together with Maina together with daughters Nyawira together with Wanjugu.[8] In 2010, Kimathi's widow requested that the search for her husband's torso live renewed therefore she could give him a proper burial
To some Kenyans together with the aged Mau Mau freedom fighters "as long every bit Kimathi lies inwards Kamiti Prison, a colonial prison, nosotros cannot live free." Daniel Branch writing nearly Kimathi`s unknown grave said "Modern Kenyan history is total of eloquent corpses. Certain remains, through the debates together with silences that surroundings them, articulate lucidly what it has meant to live a citizen or dependent of colonial together with post-colonial Kenya. It is unsurprising therefore that Kenyans together with their historians have, similar other Africanist historians, institute discussions of the cultural practices surrounding decease together with dying fruitful for scholarly enquiry.3Few corpses, though, have got attracted such prolonged attending every bit that of Dedan Kimathi, 1 of the Mau Mau rebellion’s leaders executed past times the British authorities inwards 1957."
However Karimi inwards his novel thorough research piece of work has giving fresh data specially coming from Mau Mau members who knew Kimathi, ”Most people hunger to reckon Kimathi’s grave, which is believed to live at Kamiti Prison, where he was hanged. Karimi gets novel data from his interviewees together with is convinced that the actual burial identify of the Mau Mau hero is at an unmarked grave at Langata Cemetery."
Over the years, at that spot have got been mixed stories nearly where Kimathi was buried, including King’ong’o Prison inwards Nyeri.
Kimathi is viewed every bit a national hero past times the Kenyan people, together with the authorities has erected a bronze statue of "Freedom Fighter Dedan Kimathi" on a graphite plinth, inwards key Nairobi. On the anniversary of the twenty-four hours he was executed (11 December), inwards 2006, the statue of Kimathi was unveiled inwards Nairobi metropolis centre. Kimathi, clad inwards armed forces regalia, holds a rifle on the correct mitt together with a dagger on the other, symbolising the lastly weapons he held inwards his struggle. This official celebration of Mau Mau is inwards marked contrast to a post-colonial norm of all previous Kenyan governments regard of the Mau Mau every bit terrorists. Such a turnabout has attracted praise from Kenyans every bit a long overdue recognition of the Mau Mau for their constituent inwards the struggle for independence. Elsewhere, The Dedan Kimathi Stadium inwards Nyeri was renamed after him, it was formerly known every bit Kamukunji Grounds. There is also Kimathi University College of Technology at Nyeri, Republic of Kenya which is named after him.
Dedan Kimathi`s statue
In pop culture, Dedan Kimathi was given a heroic immortality in Micere Mugo and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o`s best-selling play "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi." Dedan Kimathi placed a respectable 32 spot inwards the 2004 edition of New African mag (The most authoritative Pan-African Magazine), "100 Greatest Africans" list.
Dedan Kimathi`s Farewell Letter
The missive of the alphabet dated was written on 17th Feb 1957, 1 twenty-four hours before Kimathi was executed past times the British Colonial Government inwards Republic of Kenya on 18th Feb 1957. The missive of the alphabet is addressed to 1 Father Marino of Catholic Mission, P.O. Box 25, Nyeri, Kenya.
The source of the missive of the alphabet is the Republic of Kenya National Archives, where a typed re-create of the same was on display at the Republic of Kenya National Archives Public Gallery inwards the 1990s, since when it has been brought down. However members of the world tin ship away on request, acquire a typed photocopy of Kimathi’s said below missive of the alphabet at the Republic of Kenya National Archives. It remains unclear if the master handwritten re-create of Kimathi’s said below missive of the alphabet soundless exists, together with if it soundless does, inwards whose possession it is. Contents of Kimathi’s said missive of the alphabet of 17th Feb 1957 reproduced below verbatim…
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Dedan Kimathi
C/O H.M Prison (i.e. Her Majesty’s Prison)
17th Feb 1957
Father Marino
Catholic Mission
P.O. Box 25
Nyeri
Dear Father,
It is nearly 1 O’clock nighttime that I have got picked upwards my pencil together with newspaper therefore that I may retrieve you lot together with your dear friends together with friends before the fourth dimension is over.
I am therefore busy together with therefore happy preparing for sky tomorrow the 18th Feb 1957. Only to allow you lot know that Father Whellam came inwards to reckon me hither inwards my prison house room every bit shortly every bit he received the data regarding my arrival. He is soundless a dear form somebody every bit I did non firstly expect. He visits me real oftentimes together with gives me sufficient encouragement possible. He provided me with of import books with to a greater extent than that all have got set a burning low-cal throughout my means to paradise, such every bit :-
1. Students Catholic Doctrine
2. In the likeness of Christ
3. The New Testament
4. How to sympathize the Mass
5. The appearance of the Virgin at Grotto of Lourdes
6. Prayer mass inwards Kikuyu
7. The Virgin Mary of Fatima
8. The cross of the Rosary etc.
I desire to acquire inwards ever memorial to you lot together with all that only Father Whellam that came to reckon me on Christmas twenty-four hours patch I had many coming on the other weeks together with days. Sorry that they did non retrieve me during the nativity of our Lord together with Savior. Pity also that they forgot me during such a merry day.
I have got already discussed the thing with him together with I am certain that he volition inform you lot all.
Only a enquiry of getting my boy to school. He is far from many of your schools, but I trust that something must live done to reckon that he starts before nether your attention etc.
Do non neglect from seeing my woman parent who is real old together with to comfort her fifty-fifty though that she is therefore much sorrowful.
My married adult woman is here. She is detained at Kamiti Prison together with I advise that she volition live released some time. I would similar her to live comforted past times sisters e.g. Sister Modester, etc. for she besides feels lonely. And if past times whatever possibility she tin ship away live nigh the mission every bit nigh Mathari therefore that she may live therefore unopen to the sisters together with to the church.
I conclude past times telling you lot only to attain me favor past times getting educational activity to my son.
Farewell to the globe together with all its belongings, I tell together with best wishes I tell to my friends with whom nosotros shall non run across inwards this busy world.
Please go past times my complements together with best wishes to all who read Wathiomo Mukinyu. Remember me besides to the Fathers, Brothers together with Sisters.
With skillful hope together with best wishes,
I stay dear Father
Yours Loving, together with Departing Convert
D. Kimathi
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