Kenya’s independence freedom fighter who had vowed never to shave takes a final bow

Field Marshall Kavote (left) and General Sukuma at their home in Gichiche village, Embu County. The two had vowed never to shave their hair after leaving the forest at Kenya's independence. [PHOTO: MUNENE KAMAU/STANDARD]

EMBU COUNTY: The last surviving freedom fighter among the three from Embu County who had vowed never to shave their hair after leaving the forest at Kenya’s independence has died.

Field Marshal Jacob Kavote passed away on Saturday at Embu Level Five Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed disease.

Kavote, who remained in the forest from 1952 to 1963, had little to show for the blood he shed for the country, at the time of his death aged 79. When he came out of the forest together with two other freedom fighters (General Sukuma and Bebeto), who have since died, they announced that Mwene Nyaga (God) had told them to never shave their hair as they were his sheep.

Kavote’s second-born son Alexander Njiru said his father started falling ill since April last year and that prior to his death, he had told his family to trust that God would help them since the Government had failed them.

“My father had always wanted children of Mau Mau veterans compensated by the Government. He was given a flag by President Mwai Kibaki in 2012 in honour of independence heroes and kept it as a souvenir,” he said.

Njiru said the family plans to shave Kavote’s hair that is estimated to reach 3metres and preserve it.

He said Kavote will be interred at his home in Runyenjes on Saturday in a special coffin made from ‘mware’-a palm tree species joined together by strings from the back of a wattle tree, goat skin and thorns.

Kavote, who was a peasant farmer in Runyenjes for many years after he left the forest died a poor man, leaving behind his wife Lydia Gatavi and 11 children.

In a previous interview with The Standard, Kavote said they went to the forest armed only with pangas but acquired guns by conducting raids in the homes of the whites.

The freedom fighter said they put up a fierce fight that lasted over a decade. “I had no child at the time I went to the forest that I can say I was fighting for. I sacrificed my life and was ready to die for Kenya to get liberated from the yoke of colonialism. Those who shed their blood to redeem this nation from the shackles of the oppressor are still crying since they were forgotten,” said Kavote.

KENYA’S FLAG

Kavote said when President Jomo Kenyatta addressed them at Ruring’u stadium in Nyeri after they had left the forest in 1963, he promised to assist them rebuild their lives, but it never happened.

Kavote was opposed to Mau Mau fighters being compensated by the British government for the atrocities they underwent, saying there was no need if families of those who died would not benefit.

He had preserved a small Kenya’s flag given to him by Mzee Kenyatta while at Ruring’u.

“We were given the flags together with another fighter. He asked for permission to fly his on his car while I stored mine in a box. The flag signified freedom for Kenya; that we should not fear to speak what we witnessed, that we should speak for justice, that we were no longer slaves to the whites and that it was now our weapon,” he said.

When asked about his long hair that he covered with a turban, he said: “This hair symbolises the path we took to achieve independence. It is not for Embu people but for all Kenyans. Upon my death, it will be put in a museum. What we own should be for us all.”

Kavote said they had vowed not to be shaking other people’s hands but changed their mind when they realised they might be branded recluses.