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67 Years On, Dedan Kimathi’s Children Tired Of Unfulfilled Promises To Exhume Father’s Remains

 

Family of Dedan Kimathi Commemorating Dedan Kimathi statue in Nairobi's Central Business District

67 years have passed since the death of Dedan Kimathi, a revered freedom fighter in Kenya's struggle for independence. 

Yet, his family's hopes of finally laying him to rest in his ancestral home remain unfulfilled, overshadowed by broken promises and bureaucratic delays.

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On a solemn Sunday, at the Dedan Kimathi statue in Nairobi's Central Business District, Kimathi's descendants gathered to commemorate his sacrifice. 

Holding a placard boldly stating "colonialism never really ended," they voiced their frustration at the unkept assurances regarding the exhumation and reburial of their father's remains in Njabini, Nyandarua County.

Simon Maina, Kimathi's son, recounted the pledge made by President Ruto and Deputy Rigathi Gachagua during the funeral of Kimathi's widow, Mukami, nearly a year ago. 

They vowed to honor Kimathi's memory by relocating his remains to his homeland for a dignified farewell. 

However, Maina lamented that these assurances have amounted to mere words, leaving the family disillusioned and disheartened.

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"Our patience has worn thin. Despite assurances from the government, the promise to exhume our father's remains and grant him a proper burial in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, remains unfulfilled," Maina expressed with a sense of resignation.

Miriam Nyawira, Kimathi's daughter, echoed her brother's sentiments, emphasizing the family's reliance on the current government to uphold its commitment and provide closure by honoring their father's legacy with a fitting send-off.

Dedan Kimathi, revered as one of Kenya's liberation heroes, met a tragic end at the hands of colonial oppressors, his final resting place shrouded in mystery for decades. 

In 1968, the government disclosed that Kimathi's body was interred at Kamiti Maximum Prison, but it wasn't until 2023 that the Dedan Kimathi Foundation claimed to have located his grave at the same prison.

Despite this revelation, bureaucratic hurdles have stymied efforts to exhume Kimathi's remains, perpetuating the anguish of his family. Mukami, Kimathi's widow, longed for her husband's final resting place to be revealed, but she passed away on May 4, 2023, without witnessing her wish fulfilled.

As each passing year marks another anniversary of Kimathi's sacrifice on February 18, his descendants refuse to let his memory fade into obscurity. 

They demand action from the authorities, urging them to uphold their promise and accord Dedan Kimathi the honorable burial he deserves, finally bringing closure to his family and honoring his legacy as a champion of freedom.
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