By Gerald Mukembu
As Kenyans across the nation mark Mashujaa Day, a day of honouring the gallant heroes and heroines who fought for Kenya’s freedom, North Imenti Member of Parliament Rahim Dawood has tabled a bold motion in Parliament seeking to compel the British Government to compensate Mau Mau fighters, particularly those from the Meru region, for the atrocities and land injustices committed during colonial rule.
Rahim Dawood- MP North Imenti
Speaking during a Mashujaa Day event in Meru County, Dawood emphasized the need for the United Kingdom and Kenyan authorities to not only recognize the suffering of Mau Mau veterans but to also offer reparations, including monetary compensation and land allocations to surviving fighters and their descendants.
“We must never forget the blood and sweat shed by our forefathers. The Mau Mau roads only ended in Central Kenya. It’s time we extend this recognition to Meru. The petition is now before the Parliamentary Committee and we will not rest until justice is served to our forgotten heroes,” Dawood said.
He further decried the historical neglect of Mau Mau descendants in Meru, stating that quality education and healthcare were once reserved for colonizers, while locals suffered in forests, battling diseases and fighting for freedom.
The North Imenti MP revealed that a Ksh 2.1 billion infrastructure fund from the World Bank, channeled through KURA (Kenya Urban Roads Authority), has been earmarked for upgrading key roads from Kambakia to Meru Town, with proposed extensions to Shauri Yako, Meru Church (MCK) to the Main Road, and bypass areas.
“This supplementary budget will be a game-changer. We’ve already proposed the expansion of several road projects in my constituency to KURA and expect procurement processes to begin before December,” Dawood noted.
He also said he was grateful with the Kenya Kwanza administration led by President William Ruto and his Deputy Kithure Kindiki on fulfilling promises made by President to upgrade the Gitoro Showground -Makutano–Meru town–Gitimbine dual carriageway, which has long been a priority for the region.
Nominated MP Hon. Dorothy Muthoni echoed Dawood’s sentiments, fully backing the motion in Parliament.
“Our Mau Mau families deserve to be honoured and rewarded,” she said.
Hon Dorothy Muthoni made a passionate appeal to Kenyans to uphold peace, shun tribalism, and focus on economic development, especially through quality education and youth empowerment.
“Let us protect our young girls from teenage pregnancies and leave them to study and pursue their dreams. We must raise a generation capable of lifting this country to greater heights,” he urged.
She reiterated that CBE (Constituency-Based Equalisation) is already bridging long-standing development gaps, allowing communities to now shape their own futures.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day—we’ve waited through many regimes. Let us be patient with President Ruto and support Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia in grassroots development,” she stated.
As Kenya honours its heroes on this Mashujaa Day, calls to remember, compensate, and uplift the families of forgotten freedom fighters ring louder than ever.
The nation stands at a crossroads where symbolic recognition must now translate into real change, especially for regions like Meru, whose contributions to the liberation struggle remain largely overlooked.
