Dedan Kimathi, the Field Marshal of the Kenya Land & Freedom Army aka the MAU MAU. Kimathi served as Feild Marshal alongside Baba Musa Mwariama and Mama Muthoni Kirima (who is still alive).
These warriors picked up arms against British colonisers in Kenya during the 1950’s, in principle, to reclaim stolen land and reinstitute Afrikan Sovereignty. Their military tactics and well planned Guerilla warfare strategies scared the entire colonial system half to death. All of this was under girded by Dedan Kimathi’s training & initiation proces. Culminating in oath taking ceremonies, grounded in the indegenous Spiritual Systems of the people, he was successful in producing a convicted & skills Army.
Dedan Kimathi was captured in 1956 and eventually hung in February, 1957. His body was buried in an unmarked grave, in an unknown place.
In the early morning of 18 February 1957 (63 years ago today) Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi was executed by hanging at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison gallows until pronounced dead.
Before his execution, his wife, Mukami secretly drove to Kamiti prison. He told her that “I have no doubt in my mind that the British are determined to execute me. I have committed no crime.
My only crime is that I am a Kenyan revolutionary who led a liberation army… Now, if I must leave you and my family I have nothing to regret about.
My blood will water the tree of Independence.”
His wife, Mukami Kimathi (also still alive) and the family continued to campaign for it to be found and for him to granted a proper burial. Their tireless campaign was finally successful as his body was found just a couple years ago – October 2019.
Omowale Malcolm X gave this assessment on the impact of the Mau Mau in 1965:
“…the Mau Mau, which really brought freedom to many of the African countries. This is true. The Mau Mau played a major role in bringing about freedom for Kenya, and not only for Kenya but other African countries. Because what the Mau Mau did frightened the white man so much in other countries until he said, “Well I better get this thing straight before some of them pop up here.”
We must not forget the great sacrifice by those who gave their all for us to be free.
Salute to this powerful Warrior Ancestor. Forever in our hearts in Great Remembrance #Ase✊🏿❤️🖤💚
