Team sets out on trek to plant flag on Mt Kenya

By JOB WERU

Nyeri, Kenya:  A team of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers and world-ranked mountaineers from Britain have set out on a five-day trek to hoist the national flag on Mt Kenya’s Point Batian peak.

This comes against the backdrop of celebrations to mark 50 years of Kenya’s independence from colonial rule.

The team received the flag that was handed over to Athletics Kenya by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday, a day before they set out on the mountain climbing expedition.

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua presented the team with the flag during celebrations held at Narumoru Stadium, before they embarked on the mountain climbing and tree planting exercises in the dense section of Mt Kenya’s tropic mixed rainforest.

The national flag will be hoisted on Point Batian, 5,199 metres above sea level.

The installation is in commemoration of 1963’s hoisting of the flag by Kisio Munyao, a freedom hero who is celebrated for taking the flag to Point Lenana, the third highest peak on Mt Kenya.

Gachagua termed the event a historic event, noting that Nyeri was privileged to take the flag to the highest point in the country.

“We have experienced mountain climbers who will participate in the event. We appreciate the role that was played by the Mau Mau in the fight for freedom, and we will always remember them by honouring them,” he said.

Gachagua said Nyeri was at the epicentre of the fight for freedom, noting that he requested the British government to help initiate a heroes’ resettlement fund that will help purchase land to settle former freedom fighters.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega said he will move a Bill in Parliament that will help form a committee to identify former freedom fighters who were compensated through the recently released Sh2.6 billion pay out by the British Government.

“We want to know who benefitted. We will also ensure that all Mau Mau freedom fighters are duly compensated,” he said.

Kega warned the British Government against intruding into Kenya’s sovereignty and instead show respect for the country.

“Let them know that we are magnanimous. We tell them that their troops train here, while we also have many settlers from their country who are residents of Kenya, and since they want them to continue being in Kenya, they should also respect us,” said Kega.

The mountaineers’ team, led by Mt Kenya National Park Senior Warden Mr Simon Gitau, began the trek yesterday morning and will hoist the flag on Wednesday at midnight.

“We will also light bonfires and we are urging all communities living around the mountain to stay awake and watch as the flames explode. This is in celebration of our freedom and recognition of the role played by freedom fighters,” said Gitau.

Also in the country are Mr Denis Rutovitz and Robert Chambers, who helped Munyao climb the mountain to install the flag in 1963.

The two elderly Britons arrived at Mt Kenya National Park on Saturday evening for the celebrations.

In 2010, a team of tourism stakeholders, journalists and environmentalists joined KWS in installing a copy of the Constitution at Point Lenana.