Mau Mau War Veterans cautioned on UK ‘windfall’

By Kipchumba Kemei

Narok, Kenya: A freedom fighters’ association has advised those who received compensation from Britain to invest wisely.

Mau Mau War Veterans Association revealed that most of those who were recently paid Sh340,000  lacked knowledge of how to invest and warned them against putting their money in short term ventures.

The organisation’s secretary Karaya Ngare, said Thursday in Narok, that although the money that was paid to the claimants was inadequate, the beneficiaries should make investments that can help improve their lives after many years of suffering.

The British Government, through the freedom fighters law firm Day and Ley, has already compensated 5,000 Mau Mau veterans.

“The beneficiaries of the compensation scheme who have already received the money didn’t get professional advice on how and where to invest. There is likelihood that some of them will end up misusing it or not investing wisely,” said Mr Ngare.

He also complained that many deserving people were left out during the compensation. 

“The Government should consider setting aside money for them. The manner in which the UK Government carried out interviews and investigations were not convincing because most of the people who participated in the war for independence were left out.”