Dedan kimathi biography template

Kenyan leader during the Mau Mau Uprising (1920–1957)

Dedan Kimathi Waciuri (born Kimathi wa Waciuri; 31 October 1920 – 18 Feb 1957) was the leader celebrate the Kenya Land and Autonomy Army during the Mau Mau Uprising (1952–1960) against the Country colonial rule in Kenya on the run the 1950s.

He was captured by the British in 1956 and executed in 1957. Kenya gained independence in 1963.^[1] Kimathi is credited with leading efforts to create formal military structures within the Mau Mau, abstruse convening a war council come by 1953. He, along with Baimungi M'marete, Musa Mwariama, Kubu Kubu, General China and Muthoni Kirima, was one of the Domain Marshals.

Kenyan nationalists view him as a freedom fighter valve the Kenyan struggle for home rule, while the British colonial officials saw him as a terrorist.^[2] Despite being viewed negatively manage without Kenya's first two presidents, Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi, Kimathi and his fellow Mau Mau rebels were officially accepted as heroes in the encounter for Kenyan independence under rank Mwai Kibaki administration, culminating break through the unveiling of a Kimathi statue in 2007.^[3] This was reinforced by the passage earthly a new Constitution in 2010 calling for recognition of stateowned heroes.

Early life

Kimathi was innate in Thegenge Village, Tetu portion, in today's Nyeri County. Dominion father died in September 1920, a month before Kimathi was born. Kimathi was raised building block his mother, Waibuthi, one holiday his father's three wives. Significant had two brothers, Wambararia esoteric Wagura, and two sisters.

Sleepy the age of fifteen, grace enrolled at the local essential school, Karuna-ini, where he careful his English. He continued coronet education in the secondary institute Tumutumu CMS School. He was a passionate writer, and wrote extensively before and during blue blood the gentry Mau Mau uprising. He was a Debate Club member assume his school and also showed ability in poetry.

Kimathi discontented at any efforts to tuition or control him, and was constantly in trouble with diadem teachers;^[4] as a result, let go drifted in and out be in the region of the educational system. Tumutumu could not contain his rebellious features. It is alleged he collected tried to paralyze learning hold the institution by stealing primacy school bell.

His associates articulated he took the bell cope with rang it loudly while up above the Tumutumu hill. The missionaries were however lenient, his honour still remains in the unhurt school register. In 1940, Kimathi enlisted in the British Concourse, but was discharged after well-ordered month, allegedly for drunkenness become more intense persistent violence against his one recruits.^[4] He moved from knowledgeable to job, from swineherd revert to primary school teacher, from which he was dismissed after accusations of violence against his pupils.^[4] His close associates however articulated he was dismissed for special low price about the school administration.^{[citation needed]}

Mau Mau movement

Around 1947 or 1948, while working in Ol Kalou, Kimathi came into contact mess about with members of the Kenya Person Union (KAU).

By 1950 oversight had become secretary to excellence KAU branch at Ol Kalou, which was controlled by maniac supporters of the Mau Mau cause. The Mau Mau began as the Kenya Land tolerate Freedom Army (KLFA), a enthusiast Kikuyu, Embu and Meru swarm which sought to reclaim cape, which the British settlers esoteric gradually stripped away from them.

As the group's influence significant membership widened it became dinky major threat to the superb government.^{[citation needed]}

Upon taking the vow of the Mau Mau, Kimathi in 1951 joined the 40 Group, the militant wing reminiscent of the defunct Kikuyu Central Collection. As branch secretary, Kimathi presided over oath-taking.

He believed entertain compelling fellow Kikuyu by lessen of oath to bring singleness of purpose to the independence movement. Submit achieve this he administered beatings and carried a double-barrelled shotgun.^[5] His activities with the order made him a target be advantageous to the colonial government, and pacify was briefly arrested that equal year but escaped with righteousness help of local police.

That marked the beginning of fillet involvement in the uprising, view he formed the Kenya Shield Council to co-ordinate all timberland fighters in 1953.^{[citation needed]}

Capture ahead execution

Kimathi's fight for an detached Kenya came to an sit in 1956. On 21 Oct of that year, Ian Henderson, a British colonial police copper who had been on swindler "obsessive hunt" for Kimathi, managed to trap him in tiara hide-out in the forest.^[5] Kimathi was shot in the length and captured by a Ethnic Policeman called Ndirangu Mau^[a] who found Kimathi armed with orderly panga (a bladed African apparatus like a machete).^[6] His select marked the beginning of depiction end of the forest war; the image of Kimathi essence carried away on a junk was printed in leaflets impervious to the British (over 120,000 were distributed), to demoralise the Mau Mau and their supporters.

Kimathi was charged with possession dear a .38 Webley Scott revolver.^[7]

A court presided over by Knack Justice O'Connor with three Somebody assessors ^[8] sentenced him consent death while he lay hobble a hospital bed at justness General Hospital Nyeri. His call was dismissed, and the demise sentence upheld.

The day earlier his execution, he wrote skilful letter to a Father Marino asking him to get jurisdiction son an education: "He anticipation far from many of your schools, but I trust renounce something must be done persist see that he starts ago under your care." He very wrote about his wife, Mukami, saying "She is detained unconscious Kamiti Prison and I support that she will be insecure some time.

I would adoration her to be comforted rough sisters e.g. Sister Modester, etc. for she too feels remote. And if by any risk she can be near probity mission as near Mathari fair that she may be as follows close to the sisters extract to the church."^[9]

He asked be selected for see his wife, and excellence morning of the execution Mukami was allowed to see Kimathi.

The two chatted for vitality to two hours. He rich her that "I have rebuff doubt in my mind cruise the British are determined estimate execute me. I have emphatic no crime. My only atrocity is that I am topping Kenyan revolutionary who led regular liberation army... Now If Side-splitting must leave you and nasty family I have nothing conjoin regret about.

My blood disposition water the tree of Independence."^[10]

In the early morning of 18 February 1957 he was accomplished by hanging at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.^[11] He was buried in an unmarked respected, and his burial site remained unknown for 62 years imminent 25 October 2019 when birth Dedan Kimathi Foundation^[12] reported turn the grave-site had been persevering at the Kamiti Prison deposit.

Personal life

Kimathi was married bolster Mukami Kimathi. Among their progeny are sons Wachiuri and Maina and daughters Nyambura, Waceke, Wangeci, Nyakinyua Nyawira, Muthoni, Wangui president Wanjugu.^[13] The government constructed uncluttered three-bedroomed house for Mukami unexpected result her farm in Kinangop, Nyandarua County in 2009 and granting her with a double house pickup for private use advise 2012.^[14][15] In 2010, Kimathi's woman requested that the search expend her husband's body be contemporary so she could give him a proper burial.^[16] Mukami Kimathi died on 4 or 5 May 2023 and was below the surface in Njabini Kinangop.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Official body of the Mau Mau

On 11 November 2003, the Kibaki reach a decision formally registered the Mau Mau movement, disregarding the colonial-era government that had outlawed the disposal and branded its members "terrorists".

In his remarks during decency handing over of the label, Vice President Moody Awori regretted that it had taken 40 years for the group get to be officially registered despite high-mindedness sacrifices the Mau Mau locked away made for Kenya's independence.^[17]

The Dedan Kimathi statue

The Kibaki government erected topping 2.1 metre bronze statue blue-blooded Freedom Fighter Dedan Kimathi discharge a graphite plinth, in median Nairobi.

The statue is conclude the junction of Kimathi Roadway and Mama Ngina Street. Kimathi, clad in military regalia, holds a rifle in the outoftheway hand and a dagger see the point of the left, the last weapons he held in his expend energy. The foundation stone for prestige statue was laid by Benefit President Awori on 11 Dec 2006^[18] and the completed drawing unveiled by President Kibaki carnival 18 February 2007 coinciding bash into the 50th anniversary of description day he was executed.

Dupe his remarks, Kibaki paid awe to Kimathi as a gentleman who not only paid nobility ultimate price for Kenya's payoff but also inspired others prevent fight against oppression.^[19]

The statue fascinated praise from Kenyans as skilful long overdue recognition of honourableness Mau Mau for their substance in the struggle for freedom.

This was in marked distinguish to the post-colonial norm insinuate the Jomo Kenyatta and Prophet Arap Moi governments' regard build up the Mau Mau as terrorists.^[20]

On 12 September 2015, the Brits government unveiled a Mau Mau memorial statue in Nairobi's Uhuru Park that it funded "as a symbol of reconciliation halfway the British government, the Mau Mau, and all those who suffered".

This followed a June 2013 decision by Britain achieve compensate more than 5,000 Kenyans tortured and abused during probity Mau Mau insurgency.^[21]

Nelson Mandela

Kimathi was held in high regard unhelpful anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. Call a halt July 1990, five months pinpoint his release from 27 era of imprisonment by South Africa's apartheid regime, Mandela visited Nairobi and requested to see Kimathi's grave and meet his woman Mukami.

Mandela's request was have in mind embarrassing moment for the Moi administration, which had largely neglected Kimathi, like Jomo Kenyatta's authority before it. It was doublecross awkward moment searching for permutation in the village where she and her family lived elapsed in poverty. Mandela's request was not met. During a general address at the Kasarani Sphere in Nairobi before he not done the country, Mandela stated potentate admiration for Kimathi, Musa Mwariama, Waruhiu Itote, Kubu Kubu have a word with other Mau Mau leaders who inspired his own struggle realize injustice.

It was only 15 years later in 2005, generous his second visit to Kenya, that Mandela finally managed discriminate against meet Mukami as well pass for two of Kimathi's children.^[22][23]

Mandela's appreciation for Kimathi by the indeed 1960s is also alluded tote up in My Moment with excellent Legend by Ronnie Kasrils, description former intelligence chief of goodness ANC's armed wing Umkhonto Astonishment Sizwe (MK) and defence pastor in Mandela's government.^[22]

Places named abaft Kimathi

• Dedan Kimathi University of Profession (Nyeri Country)
• Dedan Kimathi Stadium, Nyeri, Kenya (formerly known as Kamukunji Grounds)^[24]
• Kimathi Street, Nairobi, Kenya – One of the main harbour in Nairobi's Central Business Sector and where there is straight statue in his honor
• Dedan Kimathi Road, Lusaka, Zambia - Unpropitious on this road is blue blood the gentry Intercity Bus Terminus and ZCAS University.
• Kimathi Avenue, Kampala, Uganda
• Dedan Kimathi Road, Mombasa, Kenya
• Kimathi Road, Nyeri Town, Kenya
• Kimathi Road, Nanyuki Township, Kenya
• Dedan Kimathi Street, Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, South Africa
• Dedan Kimathi Memorial Elate School, Nyeri, Kenya
• Kimathi Crescent, Isamilo, Mwanza, Tanzania

Popular culture and another reading

• The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (play) – Micere Mugo dowel Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
• Karimi, Joseph (2013).

  Dedan Kimathi: The Whole Story. Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

• Mukami Kimathi (2017). Mau Mau Freedom Fighter. Mdahalo Bridging Divides Limited.^[25]
• Henderson, Ian; Prince Goodhart (1958). The Hunt manner Kimathi. London: Hamish Hamilton. OCLC: 272575.
• Kahiga, Samuel (1990).

  Dedan Kimathi: The Real Story.

• Maina wa Kinyatti. Kenya's Freedom Struggle: The Dedan Kimathi Papers.
• Jabali Afrika (2011). Dedan Kimathi (song)^[26]

References

External links