Mau Mau: No Christians were killed by our group

The Mau Mau War Veterans Association has denied allegations by the Catholic Church that some 75 faithful were killed by the group because they were Christians.

However, the association's Secretary General Gitu Kahengeri said if the church was convinced they were killed because of their faith, then the group had no capacity to prevent it from declaring them martyrs.

He said the 75 who were mostly from parishes started by the Consolata Missionaries will still remain "traitors" who betrayed the struggle for liberation and the nation, but not killed because of their faith.

"Mau Mau never forced anyone whether Christian or not to take an oath. Furthermore, those who refused to take the oath were not killed, most of us are Christians even to date and Catholics for that matter," Mr Kahengeri said.

He noted that what the group was against at the time was colonial domination, adding that majority of those who collaborated with the colonial ruler were free to go to the Church.

Kahengeri was speaking when he presented a petition to the assembly yesterday seeking for the creation of a law to recognise freedom fighters through social support and monuments.

Monetary allocation

"To purport that some people were killed because of their faith is wrong, but if the church has decided to go ahead then we cannot prevent it from doing so," he added.

Kahengeri said they had visited several counties in a bid to have them enact laws that will support their cause.

In the petition, the freedom heroes and heroines asked the assembly to consider enacting a law that will facilitate a monetary allocation that will serve as a subsistence fee from the county kitty.

"Such an allocation will cater for the basic needs of the former freedom fighters remaining in the county as many of them struggle to survive due to poverty," he said.

In addition, the group seeks to have the assembly partner with universities, to carry out and document research on the role of former fighters in freedom struggle for generational consumption.

“We are also asking for erection of a monument in the county where names of all freedom fighters will be engraved as a way of honouring them," he told the assembly.

Receiving the petition, Assembly Speaker Mwangi Mugo said he will table it next week for debate.

He said the petition will be referred to the Culture and Tourism committee that will submit a report within six days for consideration. The Nyeri Arch-diocese Episcopal delegate Peter Githenji had said the diocese has documents to prove that the 75 were killed after they refused to take an oath administered by the freedom fighters.