ANOTHER HERO EXECUTED BY THE BRITISH

Dedan Kimathi is a name that is etched into the history of Kenya, and today, we celebrate what would have been his 104th birthday. Kimathi was a revolutionary leader of the Mau Mau independence movement, fighting against British colonialism.

This revolutionary elder was born into a poor family as Kimathi wa Waciuri on 31 October 1920 in Thege village near Nyeri in central Kenya. His family is part of the Ambui clan, one of the nine comprising Kikuyu, Kenya's largest ethnic group.

Known for his brilliance as a child, he could only enrol in elementary school at age 15 and later joined the Church of Scotland Mission Secondary School but dropped out. Kimathi's school records show he stood out in English and poetry and was a member of the debate club.

Kimathi was among thousands who joined the independence movement in 1951 and rose to become a key figure in the fight against imperialism. The Kenya Land and Freedom Army came to be known colloquially as Mau Mau, an acronym for 'Mzungu arudi Ulaya, mwafrika apate uhuru.' That is the Swahili interpretation for 'Let the foreigner go back to Europe, so the African can regain independence'.

While the British captured and executed Kimathi on 18 February 1957, his legacy lives on with a street, a statue, a stadium, a university and other institutions in Kenya named in his honour. 

In this video, Wambura Mwai walks us through the life and legacy of Dedan Kimathi, highlighting why his name is one to remember. 

Happy birthday, Dedan Kimathi! May you continue to rest in peace, comrade!