A Mau Mau war veteran who witnessed the Hola massacre in which 11 detainees were bludgeoned to death on March 3, 1959, has died. Kariuki Wanjohi died at his Kiamunyaka home in the outskirts of Hola town, Tana River county, Monday afternoon aged 114.
His bosom friend, former assistant chief Godana Bodole told reporters the freedom fighter died at about 3.30pm Monday, but did not specify the cause of the death.
Forgotten hero Wanjohi was a forgotten hero. His remains were interred at a low-key ceremony at a public cemetery next to his home by his children and neighbours on Tuesday morning. Conspicuously absent at the burial were representatives of the National and County governments.
There was also no testimony of his contribution to the county’s struggle for independence. Even in old age, Wanjohi did not benefit from the cash transfer programme for elderly persons although his wife, Margaret Kariuki, is a beneficiary.
Prior to his death, Wanjohi had been reported to have become extremely violent and had also lost his eyesight. In a media interview last year, Wanjohi said he was ferried from an unknown detention camp to Hola in 1957 where detainees were expected to start the Hola Irrigation Settlement Scheme. -KNA
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