Book unveiling Dedan Kimathi’s life history launched

Dedan Kimathi PHOTO: COURTESY

By Standard Correspondent

A book that chronicles the life of freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi has been launched.

The book, Dedan Kimathi: The Whole Story, is written by journalist Joseph Karimi. It was launched at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, in Nyeri, on Tuesday at the start of a three-day conference to mark Dedan Kimathi Week.

Organised by the institution, it coincides with the anniversary of Kimathi’s hanging on February 18, 1957. During the launch, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation MD Nancy Karimi said the institution had agreed to publish the book after realising it was well researched.

“We believe it has something different to offer that has not been captured by other writers,” she said.” “The book chronicles Kimathi’s life from childhood to adulthood. It is a holistic approach to Kimathi’s life.”

Among issues addressed are Kimathi’s controversial burial site. Mau Mau veterans and historians have previously been quoted saying he was buried at Kamiti. However, Karimi, who in 2003 claimed to have found freedom fighter Stanley Mathenge in Ethiopia, now says Kimathi may have been buried in Lang’ata.

Karimi told the conference that he had met a man who said he had met a guard who claimed to have been in a group that buried Kimathi in Lang’ata. However, he was unable to meet the guard because he (the guard) had died.

There has been calls to exhume Kimathi’s remains and accord them a decent burial. However, following a day-long search in some open grounds in Kamiti, they said so much had changed that they could not pinpoint the site.