Two streets in Meru town will be named after Mau Mau veterans,
Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has said.
Kiraitu on Friday said that the
county government will name two streets after Field Marshal
Baimungi Marete and General Mwariama.
He said the two heroes
have been forgotten despite their effort to fight colonialist
“Many do not know Field Marshal
Baimungi Marete took over the mantle of leadership of Mau Mau after the killing of Dedan Kimathi in 1956.This fact needs to be recognised in the history books of this country,” Kiraitu said during
Mashujaa dau celebrations.
He said Mau Mau war veterans will get free medical treatment in all hospitals under the county government.
“I will engage with their leaders to know what else we can do for them as they sacrificed a lot for the freedom we are enjoying
today,” Kiraitu said.
Baimungi was born in
Katheri, Central Imenti constituency in 1924.
He participated in Burma war as a British soldier.
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This is where he learned how to use guns and upon return, he became a Mau Mau fighter.
He was the second in command after Dedan Kimathi and led many Mau Mau operations in Mount Kenya East.
"After the death of Dedan Kimathi, he became the leader of Mau Mau until 1963 after country’s independence when Kenyatta ordered all Mau Mau to come out of the forest," Kiraitu said.
Baimungi and his soldiers came out of the forest and they were promised 10,000 acres of land in Meru, seven flags and a landrover.
The promise by Kenyatta was however
never fulfilled.
This forced them to camp at a farm in Ntimbiri and later moved to Nkando forest.
Baimunngi was allegedly killed by the government with his two soldiers for allegedly refusing to come out of the forest as ordered by Mzee
Jomo Kenyatta.
General Mwariama was threatened with death when he asked for Baimungi body to accord him a decent burial.
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