Mũkami Kĩmathi: Mau Mau Woman Freedom Fighter

Mũkami Kĩmathi: Mau Mau Woman Freedom Fighter, which is on the Fage and Oliver Prize shortlist, is the story of the brave wife of one of Kenya’s foremost freedom fighters, Field Marshal Dedan Kĩmathi Waciũri. Kĩmathi led the Mau Mau war in Kenya’s independence struggle against the British colonialists. Mũkami’s role as a daughter, wife, mother, freedom fighter and leader is varied and very complex.

Her story spans pre and post-independent Kenya. Her experiences provide an important complement to existing written literature on Kenya’s history. In 2003, the Mwai Kĩbakĩ Government lifted the ban put in place by the British colonialists declaring the Mau Mau as terrorists, and recognised Mũkami Kĩmathi and other freedom fighters as national heroes and heroines celebrated on 20th October as Mashujaa Day.

This book gives an insight into the role of women freedom fighters and the struggles they faced both during and after the war. It is an incredible story of immense self-sacrifice and love for Kenya. Mũkami provides the lens to see the wider picture of women in the independence struggle, the neglect and betrayal of wives of Mau Mau fighters in particular and women in general in Kenya’s making. Beyond her role in the independence struggle, Mũkami’s story has many historical highlights such as time shared with Kĩmathi, meeting Nelson Mandela and her fruitful and strong relationship with Kenya’s human rights movement.