No freedom yet as Kubai’s family fights for property

The late Fred Kubai. [PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD]

By Steve Mkawale

KENYA: This morning as Kenyans commemorate the day the country attained internal self-rule, the family of freedom fighter Fred Kubai is bitter that they are yet to inherit his property. His son Timothy Kubai, alleges most of the family’s property, including a controversial multi-million shilling business venture in Nairobi, had been seized.

Kubai says it was one of the key assets his father had left for them.  “The title deed for the property has since changed hands three times,” said the ailing Timothy, now aged 70.

Memories alive

Sometime in 2010, Timothy’s other siblings - Gideon, Blacklaw and Andrew went public about the controversy surrounding the ownership of the prime city property sold by a bank to a private developer.

The three produced documents showing the late Kubai was a director of the company that leased the property.

The then Lands Minister James Orengo ordered all transactions on the property halted, arguing he believed the whole deal was “tainted with fraud”.

Mr Orengo said the Government had stopped all dealings on the four-acre plot until the Cabinet could decide what ought to be done.

But the tenants have been evicted and the property fenced off ready for redevelopment. The Standard On Saturday established that land and buildings that were part of the property of the late Kubai, who was among the famous Kapenguria six shujaas (heroes), were also grabbed.

The late Jomo Kenyatta, Achieng Oneko, Bildad Kaggia, Paul Ngei, Kungu Karumba and Fred Kubai, were arrested under the famous code-Named “Operation Jack Scott of 20th October1952.”

Timothy Kubai, the son to one of three wives the late Fred Kubai left behind, is admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in Nakuru County.

He suffers from a bone marrow ailment that has seen him in and out of hospital for the past six months.

When he was in good health, he kept his father’s memories alive by engaging in trade union activities; opened up a foundation and even set up a website to the memories of the renowned freedom fighter alive.

 “We (the Kubais) appreciate what the Government has been doing by recognising us especially in the last 10 years when Mr Kibaki was the President. We were invited to all national celebrations,” says the soft-spoken father of five.

But he is quick to add: “My father was one of the six freedom heroes; a genuine war veteran and no one can change that, but we have nothing to show for it except that place in the history of this country.”

“I was born in 1943, me and my siblings never got the education we deserved as a result of his quest for a free country. His property was destroyed and so were the lives of his children. We have no regrets because we know what he fought for,” he adds.

Timothy says the country cannot wish away the contribution of the Kapenguria Six in the fight to free the country from the colonial rule.

“They bled for the country and this country should recognise that and give their families a chance to fully enjoy the freedom that they fought for 50 years ago” he says.

Timothy, who resides in Nakuru with his wife, Margaret Kubai, says the Government must provide for the families of the freedom heroes.

Understand plight

“What I would like to see happen is a plan for the freedom fighters. Medical is provided and other needs,” he says. The land on which Timothy and his family occupy in Lake View estate was inherited from his grandmother.

Margaret told The Standard On Saturday when we visited her last week that the family has been pursuing the late Kubai’s assets in numerous cases that are pending in court.

“We do not know what to do. The late Kubai’s estate is going to waste while the family is suffering due to long and rigorous court proceedings that seem not to end,” she said.

But all is not lost as her husband- Timothy Kubai is optimistic that President Uhuru Kenyatta was elected the fourth president of the republic.

“Freedom fighters especially the families of the Kapenguria six are lucky to have Uhuru as president.

I believe President Uhuru will look back and understand the plight of the men who suffered alongside his father the late Jomo Kenyatta,” he says.

Timothy says despite his poor health, he decided to wake up from his hospital bed to vote for Uhuru.

“I did that for a purpose; to ensure that Uhuru won the election so that he can look at the plight of the families of the men who suffered with his father,” he said.