Kenyans are in recalling when the British colonialists killed Dedan Kimathi Waciuri 62 years ago on this day.
Kimathi went down in history as a true Kenyan, African patriot and hero who was one of our best freedom fighters.
62 years ago today, Dedan Kimathi Waciuri was executed at Kamiti Prison. The location of his grave remains unknown.
Today 62 years ago, Revolutionary leader, Dedan Kimathi Waciuri, died.
This revolutionary Mau Mau leader led an armed military struggle against the British colonial regime in Kenya.
We celebrate his life his magnanimity.Photo credit to https://t.co/2tCVtku24m pic.twitter.com/Cn8eqTVN9x
— Agikuyu Women (@AgikuyuWomen) February 18, 2019
Kimathi had been on the run for almost four years, after the colonial government launched a manhunt for him in 1952 for engaging in “subversive activities”.
It was not until the early hours of October 21, 1956 that Kimathi was captured at Tetu after being shot by Corporal Wanjohi and Tribal Policeman Ndirangu.
He had tried to climb the bank on the forest side but it was too steep.
So he ran back and climbed up on the other side when a bullet hit him in the thigh.
But Kimathi himself later narrated in court, while being cross-examined by Solicitor-General D.W Conroy, that he was squatting under a castor tree when a man came up with a gun.
“I did not know if he was a Mau Mau or government,” he said.
“I raised my arms and said, ‘it is I Dedan Kimathi, do not kill me,”‘ but the man took aim at him when he tried to run away.
However, according to statements by the two policemen, at first they thought it was a leopard because of the animal’s skin Kimathi was wearing.
But they realised it was a man when the figure started moving across a wide ditch separating a patch of forest from a Kikuyu reserve prompting them to open fire.