NAIROBI: PRIME MINISTER ON MAU MAU CASE

Prime Minister Raila Odinga today promised to initiate serious consultations to in Cabinet to ensure the government comes to the aid of Mau Mau war veterans who are seeking compensation from Britain for the atrocities committed during Kenya’s struggle for independence.
Speaking when he met Mau Mau war veterans together with their British and local lawyers at his offices, Mr Odinga said the case the group has launched against Britain has sympathy in government, although the Cabinet is yet to take a position.
The PM said the Mau Mau case is a matter of principle and its resolution is critical to creating a nation that is at peace with its history.
He noted that while the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission currently in place seeks to address the human rights abuses from 1963 to 2008, there was need for the country to come to terms with pre-independence history, which is what the Mau Mau case seeks to achieve.
“We have recently lost Wambui Otieno. But we also know Wambui’s grandfather, Waiyaki wa Hinga was buried alive and these are some of the things we really need to address,” the PM said.
The lawyer for the veterans Mr Martyn Day, who was accompanied by local counterparts Paul Muite and Gitobu Imanyara, said there were high chances of the veterans winning the case.
He said the British government has recently declassified documents that would be useful in the case but appealed for government support.
Muite said the British is dragging the case, while the veterans are wallowing in poverty, with many dying. He cited the death of Mrs Wambui Otieno as one such blow.
Mr Odinga said he is happy with the progress made on the case so far and promised personal support as he lobbies the government to fully back it.

“Although we have TJRC looking into the post-independence abuses, the picture will not be complete until we deal with what happened earlier,” the PM said.
The PM said the country has not done well in recognizing and honouring its heroes, adding that the situation is set to change with the recent approval of the Kenya Heroes Bill 2011.
The Bill provides for the recognition, identification and selection of heroes and the category of heroes. It further establishes the National Heroes Council that shall establish the criteria of selecting and honoring national heroes. The criteria shall be based on such values as patriotism, integrity, visionary, courage, enterprise, sacrifice and lasting national impact.
“The people who fought for the freedom of this country have to be remembered more substantively than has been the case where they are paraded out during national holidays.
He said he is keen to see the freedom fighters given time to speak to the country on public holidays as opposed to the situation now where those who have second hand information on where the country is coming from play lead role.
PMPS.