Mau Mau war veteran John Kagwe alias Brigadier Kiboko has died.
Brigadier Kiboko died on Friday at the Nairobi Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment. His death was confirmed by his wife Agnes Murugi who spoke to the press at their home in Kanjuiri, Nyandarua County.
"My husband has unfortunately died earlier today at Nairobi Hospital aged 94. He had shown signs of full recovery and had even been discharged," said Murugi.
A section of his family in Nairobi spoke to the press at Lee Funeral home eulogising him as a patriotic figure who fiercely fought for the country's independence. They described him as a God-fearing father who raised them well.
"Mzee had an anthem by the song 'wihoke mwathani rugendo ini' meaning 'trust God in every endeavour and you can't go wrong," recalled his eldest son, Peter Maina Kiboko.
"What we can say is to thank God for having given us Mzee who was a patriot and fought to drive away the colonialists during Mau Mau war," said another son, Joel Murimi Kiboko.
Nyandarua Governor Moses Kiarie described Kiboko's death as a loss to the entire country hailing him as a cherished icon in the struggle for independence.
"Like the indefatigable liberator of his motherland, the late Kiboko embodied the struggle that led to the emancipation of this country from the shackles of colonialists," said Mr Kiarie.
Brigadier Kiboko was among the few remaining Mau Mau war frontline soldiers who fought for Kenya's independence alongside the late Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi.
His last public appearance was during the funeral of the late Field Marshal Mukami Kimathi, after which he fell ill and was rushed to the Nairobi Hospital.
"It is a big loss for me and our six children. We had hopes that we would see him around longer but we take this as the will of God," said Murugi.
For the last three months, doctors at the facility have been fighting to keep him alive after it emerged that some of his vital organs were failing.
During an interview at his hospital bed earlier this month, Brigadier Kiboko pleaded with the government to rescue him after he was discharged but was unable to foot his medical bill.
"I fought for this country's independence selflessly. That is in the past now. My only request today is for the government to help me with this bill," said Kiboko.
The freedom fighter, who was admitted on May 16, 2023, had accrued a medical bill of Sh6.2 million as of August 1, 2023, with the figure estimated to be gravitating towards Sh6.5 million now.
"His gross hospital bill as of today is at Sh6,262,307. You made a deposit of Sh340,200 resulting in an outstanding amount of Sh5,922,107," a letter by the hospital to the family read in part.
The family says that they are not in a position to settle the bill and are only hoping for the government or well-wishers to come to their rescue.
During the Mau Mau war, Brigadier Kiboko was so close to Kimathi that they were both imprisoned at Kamiti by the white colonialists before independence.
Kiboko and his peers were forced to dig a grave for the late Kimathi within the prison he recently appealed to the government to be allowed to identify and have his remains exhumed.
President William Ruto, who directed that a museum be constructed in Nyandarua in honour of the Mau Mau war veterans, said that he would fully support them in exhuming Kimathi's remains.
Kanjuiri Ward Representative Thuo Gachino called on the government to support the family.
"As a community, we shall stand with the family but the bill is too huge. This calls for government intervention to ensure Brigadier Kiboko gets a respectful burial," said Gachino.
