UK to compensate more war heroes

By MURIMI MWANGI

NAIROBI,KENYA: Kenyan freedom fighters have welcomed plans by the UK government to freshly compensate Kenyans it mistreated during the colonial regime.

Mau Mau veterans including some who were compensated earlier said genuine freedom fighters are bound to benefit.

Kinyua Wanyingi, 82,  who led the Mau Mau delegation that successfully sued the UK government in June, said genuine veterans who were never compensated earlier should strive to get their dues.

“I got my little token but I am even happier now that others who were never paid will get their damages,” he said.

In an advert published on national dailies on Monday, new claimants were asked to file claims by 4pm UK time, April 30, 2014.

The persons targeted in this phase, are those who were mistreated by colonial agents between October 20, 1952 and December 12, 1963.

“In order to qualify to bring a claim within the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation, the mistreatment must have been inflicted by or on behalf of the State,” read the advertisement.

Tandem Law, a British law firm, which was the lead solicitor in the litigation, has appointed Kenyan law firm Miller and Company Advocates, to undertake the registration of fresh claimants.

REGISTRATION PROCESS

“The above firms have together already represented thousands of claimants in this action and it may be more appropriate to instruct one of the above,” stated the advert.

Captain Nderitu Wambugu, the chairman of the Mau Mau Veterans Association Nyeri County, said his association has started a crusade for the freedom fighters to register themselves in time.

In the June payment, each of the 5,228 claimants on the list was paid Sh340,000, for the atrocities they suffered in the hands of British colonialists.