How Raila lobbied for Mau Mau payout

How Raila lobbied for Mau Mau payout



PHOTOS | FILE Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga personally lobbied British PM David Cameron for an out-of-court settlement for Mau Mau survivors. NATION MEDIA GROUP


By JAMES NGUNJIRI ngunjirij@ke.nationmedia.com AND ANDREW TEYIE ateyie@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, June 16 2013 at 23:30

In Summary

• But group wants Britain to halt funds release until genuine freedom fighters are ascertained

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga personally lobbied British PM David Cameron for an out-of-court settlement for Mau Mau survivors, the Nation has established.

Letters in our possession between Mr Odinga and Mr Cameron show the two leaders settled for a political solution instead of a judicial process to salvage relations between the two countries.

In a letter dated November 2, 2012, Mr Odinga requested Mr Cameron to consider settling the issue away from the courts after the London High Court ruled that the case proceeds to full trial.

"I would like to draw your attention to the Mau Mau cases ... They are likely to open up old wounds and whip up emotions as the court delves into the details," stated Mr Odinga.

In the letters to Mr Cameron, Mr Odinga argued that a full trial might encourage stray suits.

"I believe it would be in our mutual interests to seek an out-of-court settlement in this matter. This would allow the petitioners, who are very advanced in age, to live the remainder of their lives in peace and comfort," said Mr Odinga in the letter.

In his reply on December 13, 2012, Mr Cameron was cautious: "I have taken careful note of your advice to seek an out-of-court settlement," stated Mr Cameron.

At the weekend, Mr Odinga praised Mr Cameron for settling the case out of court.

Meanwhile, Mau Mau freedom fighters from Nyeri County want all beneficiaries of the Sh2.6 billion British Government compensation made public.

Speaking over the weekend at Othaya Stadium, the freedom fighters said they were surprised names of the beneficiaries remained a secret and read mischief.

Mzee John Kiboko said suspicion was rife among Mau Mau War Veterans Association members that most of the genuine freedom fighters were not covered in the compensation deal

How Raila lobbied for Mau Mau payout - Politics - nation.co.ke

Hiyo tunaita kipawa cha uongozi....maana hao wazee wa Mau Mau walitoswa na babake Kamwana.

Bado watu Nyeri wamemchinjia baharini

RealMan said:

Hiyo tunaita kipawa cha uongozi....maana hao wazee wa Mau Mau walitoswa na babake Kamwana.

Bado watu Nyeri wamemchinjia baharini

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Kuna mzee mmoja MauMau kasema hivi:

"Wazungu walituibia mashamba, lakini kwani walipoondoka walienda nayo ama waliacha nyuma?"

Hapo sasa ndipo babake Kamwana alipowalaghai hawa mabwana!

This case against british govt started way back so it is interesting to see people trying to mislead others; the way i understand it raila is an opportunist and maybe he likes sneaking in such circumstances in to be part of the limelight.

"I would like to draw your attention to the Mau Mau cases ... They are likely to open up old wounds and whip up emotions as the court delves into the details," stated Mr Odinga.

In the letters to Mr Cameron, Mr Odinga argued that a full trial might encourage stray suits.

"I believe it would be in our mutual interests to seek an out-of-court settlement in this matter. This would allow the petitioners, who are very advanced in age, to live the remainder of their lives in peace and comfort," said Mr Odinga in the letter.

Click to expand...

politicizing the whole mau mau issue does increase and improve ones reputation.. as far as I know raila is always interested in seeking attention, which has gone into full flight international mode.
what does he have to lose or gain if mau mau delve deeper into the details. people were maimed killed and deported forcefully lost propperty,
the stupidity of politics is that it is self-serving in nature. there are indeed true mau mau that fought and need compensation, 'covering old wounds to gain political mileage' does not always solve the problems,.
In the present, there are situtations that kenyans have been caught in real danger and he has not managed to solve their issues. he failed to avert a small threat from M7 just near his backyard; or was he also part of the govt machinery that settled the migingo issue? We would like to know..

Kabaridi said:

This case against british govt started way back so it is interesting to see people trying to mislead others; the way i understand it raila is an opportunist and maybe he likes sneaking in such circumstances in to be part of the limelight.



politicizing the whole mau mau issue does increase and improve ones reputation.. as far as I know raila is always interested in seeking attention, which has gone into full flight international mode.
what does he have to lose or gain if mau mau delve deeper into the details. people were maimed killed and deported forcefully lost propperty,
the stupidity of politics is that it is self-serving in nature. there are indeed true mau mau that fought and need compensation, 'covering old wounds to gain political mileage' does not always solve the problems,.
In the present, there are situtations that kenyans have been caught in real danger and he has not managed to solve their issues. he failed to avert a small threat from M7 just near his backyard; or was he also part of the govt machinery that settled the migingo issue? We would like to know..

Click to expand...

Chuki binafsi na ukabila ni kitu kibaya sana...wamepita marais wangapi walishindwa au hawaku bother kufuatilia pesa za hawa wazee!.leo hii mtu kajitaidi wazee wamepata japo kidogo mtu anapinga,kwa kuwa aliyefuatilia ni mtu wa kabila lingine...siku zote huwa nasema bora umsaidie mbwa kuliko kumsaidia mkikuyu..hakuna watu selfish kama hawa.mfano mzuri tu ni huyu kibaridi,hata siku moja hawez kum appriciate odinga.sijui huyu baba aliwafanyia nini watu kama huyu...lakini mimi nahisi ni uroho mbaya tu na wivu wa kike ndio unakusumbua..kama ulizaliwa maskini utakufa na umaskini wako,kumchukia raila au kumpenda haiwezi ku add any value in yo micerable life..wake up,tupa hiyo blanketi na miwani ya ukabila na chuki ndugu.

Crucial Man said:

Chuki binafsi na ukabila ni kitu kibaya sana...wamepita marais wangapi walishindwa au hawaku bother kufuatilia pesa za hawa wazee!.leo hii mtu kajitaidi wazee wamepata japo kidogo mtu anapinga,kwa kuwa aliyefuatilia ni mtu wa kabila lingine...siku zote huwa nasema bora umsaidie mbwa kuliko kumsaidia mkikuyu..hakuna watu selfish kama hawa.mfano mzuri tu ni huyu kibaridi,hata siku moja hawez kum appriciate odinga.sijui huyu baba aliwafanyia nini watu kama huyu...lakini mimi nahisi ni uroho mbaya tu na wivu wa kike ndio unakusumbua..kama ulizaliwa maskini utakufa na umaskini wako,kumchukia raila au kumpenda haiwezi ku add any value in yo micerable life..wake up,tupa hiyo blanketi na miwani ya ukabila na chuki ndugu.

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Kwangu mimi naangalia vitu kwa undani, sina tabia ya kuwa na blind loyalism kwa mwanasiasa yeyote. Ukiconvert hio pesa ambazo kila mau-mau anapata, it is better wangekaa bila hizo fedha. just over 2000 british pounds per head. That is very little money, it is like an insult in the face. Only a myopic self-serving politician ndio atajigamba ameleta suluhu. kwangi mimi fidia hii ni sawana utapeli. Najua there is a desperate group of brokers in kenya wengine wanajiita wanasheria ambao wantazama kulia ambapo hawajachuma. Jambo hili lingejadiliwa na Kundi la mau mau na waakilishi wake na serikali ya uingereza pekee yake. fidia hizo ni kidogo ndugu. wenye njaa ndio wanaridhika na fidia hii ndogo.

A tale of two Jomo Kenyattas and two Raila Odingas - Koigi Wamwere !.
.
.
.
.The news that it was Raila
Odinga who wrote a letter to
the British Prime Minister
David Cameron advising him
to politically settle the Mau
Mau case out of court to
avoid truth of British
atrocities against Mau Mau
splashing international news
headlines, “opening up old
wounds and whipping up
emotions as the court delves
into the details” of colonial
horrors against Kenyans hit
me like a thunderbolt.
As a Kenyan Prime Minister I
would have thought it was
the duty of Raila Odinga to
take a legal or political
course that would best serve
Kenyan interests and not
advocate measures to save
the British from the truth of
their atrocities. Raila was
neither employed by Kenya
to work for Britain nor by
Britain to work against
Kenya.
One would think that as a
Kenyan leader, Raila would
have sought an expeditious
full trial of the Mau Mau
case, to bring out truth that
would have confirmed to
Kenyans and the world that
both British colonial
occupation and war against
independence of Kenya were
perpetrated through torture,
war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
The truth of British atrocities
against Mau Mau would have
legally and morally weakened
the British while
strengthening Kenya and
Mau Mau in negotiating for a
better compensation from
Britain.
Shockingly, instead of Raila
welcoming the opportunity of
Kenya getting justice from
Britain, Raila was worried
that details of British torture
would whip Kenyan emotions
against Britain and hurt
relations between the two
countries.
But can’t relations between
Kenya and Britain be based
upon truth and
reconciliation, rather than
concealment of truth and too
many concessions to Britain.
Having decided to protect
relations between Britain and
Kenya that would have
suffered from a full trial of
the Mau Mau case, it is
logical that Raila would
consequently endorse the
meager compensation of
Sh350,000 for each Mau Mau
for seven years of detention,
torture, ruin of family, loss of
health and land.
Though Raila argues good
compensation for the Mau
Mau was not fundamental,
one wonders, had he not
been accommodated by the
current system and sued the
State for compensation of
eight years of detention and
torture, would he gladly
accept less than an MP’s one
month salary?
If Raila is seeking justice for
Kenya, why did he not push
David Cameron and Britain to
pay Kenya Sh420 billion that
Muammar Gaddafi pushed
Italy to pay Libya for the
same sin of colonial
occupation? Does it justify
Britain to pay Mau Mau a
partly Sh2 billion merely
because they were not
fighting for money but
freedom?
What was Raila’s interest in
advising an out of court
settlement to save Britain
from cases of other Mau
Mau that are not included in
the anticipated settlement
and similar cases from other
former colonies of Britain?
Clearly, Raila advice in the
Mau Mau case is not in the
interests of Kenya or even
the Mau Mau. But if Raila
was not working for Kenyan
interests and was advancing
British interests, was it for
money or just positioning
himself to get British
acceptance as Kenya's 4th
President?
Even if Raila’s involvement in
the Mau Mau case was for
political and not monetary
gain, he still disappoints
because it confirms that as
Prime Minister Raila had
been pushing for Mothers of
Political Prisoners whom
police brutalised when
demanding release of their
sons at Uhuru Park, to be
paid old persons’ welfare
allowance of Sh2,000 per
month instead of suing the
State for higher
compensation.
Raila was also rumoured to
support an out of court
settlement of uniform
compensation of Sh2 million
for all victims of past
detentions, political
imprisonments and torture in
Nyayo House, prisons and
police cells irrespective of
nature and period of torture.
The tragedy is that some
judges have bought Raila’s
thinking and have been
compensating victims of
torture minimally, arguing
they did not fight for money
but liberty, the freedom they
fought for is priceless and
their suffering is beyond
compensation.
Be that as it may, it cannot
justify minimal, useless and
meaningless under-
compensation of those who
bore the brunt of torture,
economic and psychological
ruin, for Kenyans to be free.
Why has Raila changed from
a freedom fighter to a
defender of the status quo?
Once I visited Raila’s father,
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga at
his Kisumu home with my
friend the late Mirugi Kariuki.
Surprisingly, as we took our
seats, we observed that
although the late President
Kenyatta and Jaramogi
Oginga Odinga had long
fallen out, on the wall of the
house hung Kenyatta’s
picture along with those of
Julius Nyerere, Kwame
Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela,
Abdi Nasser of Egypt and
others.
When we asked why
Kenyatta’s picture was on the
wall, Odinga told us that the
Kenyatta whose picture we
saw was his hero, the
freedom fighter who had
later become president and
metamorphosed into his
political adversary.
As President Kenyatta
assumed double identities of
hero and anti-hero, Kenyatta
the freedom fighter was the
hero while Kenyatta the
President was the anti-hero.
Though Jaramogi said he
could not reconcile himself
with President Kenyatta, he
said history did not permit
him to deny Kenyatta the
freedom fighter the credit of
a hero. One wished Kenyatta
could be as generous with
Jaramogi but he was not.
Like Jomo Kenyatta, Raila
Odinga has become a man of
double identities. The old
Raila enjoys the indelible
credit of a hero of second
liberation.
The new Raila is like Uhuru or
Ruto, a defender of status
quo and economic interests
of Britain and the West for
ideological acceptance. Raila
the anti-hero must not be
confused with Raila the hero.
.
.Source: The Star .
.

Incidentally, by the end of the end of world war 2, striving and assertive imperial and eurocratic ambitions sprung up from european political units that were willing to break both geographical and cultural frontiers via fascist movements steadily driven by interests of self-determination and war-sloganeering.
It is no different this time because in several ways we have seen the inconsistent habits of western democracies taking the same pattern, though at a mode that has been greatly downscaled through their functionaries, desperate to achieve ideological acceptance and aggrandizement from eurocratic political units.
They are determined to completely undermine efforts to totally decolonize africa from ideological blackmail. This demagogue that bears two natures, one that is anti-hero and the hero of the second liberation, in plain words is a two faced charismatic demagogue.

During the mau mau armed struggle, we have on record that Village life was ruthlessly consumed by emerging imperial units that broke the cultural associations,which characterized pre-colonial societies, oftenly, encroaching and forcefully confiscating fertile land lands from villagers while employing purgative measures that involved their into concentration camps.
Rampant looting, rape, and senseless killings was achieved through their entrenched allied forces drawn from the local population. After the successful breakage of cultural frontiers, the local villages were quickly turned into urban-centres, complete with military bases that essentially received military armament, stocks of food supplies and other personal effects.
This history being very fresh in our minds, the demagogues are continuously exploiting the economic plight of the mau-mau veterans, for their benefit, where British law firms are known to be the biggest beneficiaries of these type of schemes amassing fortunes from the petitions.
Settling the mau mau cases, (which have been recently referred to as 'land-mark talks' by some sections of the british media) out of court is devising systems where the colonial government can openly deny responsibility for the atrocities committed.
For paramount purposes of emotional security, and individualistic grander, political demagogues sacrifice avenues for providing leadership in exchange for ideological blackmail and utopian modes of mass-physcology.

There is absolutely no truth in the saying that the mau mau are only fighting for their own liberty and their suffering is beyond compensation. It was either the mau mau get a truly landmark compensation or conclude that theur act was an expression of their selflessness or ignorance. It is true that the freedom we are enjoying in the name of mau mau is 'priceless', but what they do not acknowledge is that most of the fighters have become non-staters virtually in every way. Many have died poor with nothing to show for and some are ailing because of poor health and neglect.

MY TAKE; this scheme is a noble landmark scheme but it is poorly informed. Such a scheme in future can definately metamorph into a Leigh-day scandal.