It is a big win for Mau Mau victims, a big win for Kenya and
a big win for justice.
That Britain has accepted to compensate the Mau Mau veterans
who suffered in the hands of the colonial administration just because they
dared take on them goes down in history as one of the landmark achievements—
although belatedly— ever achieved by any rebellious groups against the white
rule anywhere in the world.
Although, the case itself has not gone to its conclusion it
nonetheless brings joy to those who chose not to silently suffer but to pursue
justice however expensive and challenging it was going to be.
The move to compensate not only vindicates them for their decision
to go all the way to London but also vindicates those who struggled for the
independence of this nation and eternally indicts Britain and its foot soldiers
for the atrocities committed on those who fought for the liberation of this
nation.
Although those to benefit will never get back their dignity,
the monetary compensation, which they have been seeking all long, will at least
serve some purpose in helping them deal with the excruciating pain, the untold
shame and the curtailed reproduction.
Money will henceforth be released. Now the real battle
begins. Several law firms have lined up to benefit from the billions of money
to be given the victims. But there is a real danger that the aged litigants
risk being exploited and may end up going home feeling more tortured now than
even when they faced the real anguish decades ago. That should not happen to
the aged heroes whose tormentors have now seen the need to apologise to in
addition to giving them Sh2.6billion.
It is not strange for the attorneys to be part of the pool
of beneficiaries after all they have been the ones who have negotiated,
litigated and represented the victims at all levels of the case. However, the
people who bore the pain, who suffered and still bear the scars of the brutality
meted upon them, should be the happiest among the string of beneficiaries. It would
be wrong and unacceptable if they turn out to be the least to benefit.
In the past I have talked with victims of similar atrocities
who after seeking redress and emerging victorious have been swindled by respectable
lawyers and ended up more miserable than before. Some of them sued former
President Moi’s regime for the mistreatment they received during the Mwakenya
period and won the case but their lawyers took home a huge percent of the
compensation only giving them peanuts.
I expect the Law Society of Kenya to come out strongly and
defend these old people from the marauding law firms who want to reap from
where they have not really sown.
The British government, through its Foreign Secretary, will
also formally apologise to those who were tortured during the uprising that has
been labelled the fiercest among those the colonialists faced in the country.
The apology will not only warm the hearts of those affected but also bear
belated satisfaction for many who were at the forefront fighting the
discriminatory regime.
