Sixty years of Independence, and the freedoms we dreamed of remain a mirage

Marshall General Gacienja (Johana M'Turuchiu), in his sunset years with his equally aged and frail loking wife Elizabeth Nchekei after addressing the press at his rural Ntumburi Kongo Gacheke village, Buuri constitunecy, Meru County. [File, Standard]

After suffering for more than 70 years under the cracking whip of the colonialists who overworked, underpaid and over-taxed them, millions of Kenyans hoped that things would brighten after they got their land and freedom back.

Kenyans thought that now that independence had come, they were indeed free. In their thousands, they came out to celebrate the momentous occasion on a day like yesterday, 60 years ago, optimistic that the worst was over.