Field Marshall Muthoni Kirima, a renowned freedom fighter is dead.
Her death was announced by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday, September 5, describing her as a gallant freedom fighter who played a key role in driving away the colonialists.
Gachagua noted that the deceased led a spirited fight alongside Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi Wachiuri in the Mt. Kenya and Aberdare forests to drive away the colonialists.
“I join her family and descendants of the Mau Mau War of Liberation in mourning the loss of our Mother Field Marshall Muthoni wa Kirima,” Gachagua’s condolence note read in part.
“We recall with pride and sheer admiration, her exploits in leading the land and freedom army after the capture of freedom hero Dedan Kimathi whom she served as his personal assistant, after he was betrayed by Collaborators,” the second in command added.
By the time of this publication, the cause of her death was not known.
In April Field Marshal Kirima made headlines after allowing former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta to cut her dreadlocks. Kirima noted that cutting the 70-year-old dreadlocks was informed by the country’s progress after gaining independence.
Mama Ngina also helped Kirima clear a Ksh4.7 million debt and bought her a new house in Nyeri.
“I had to cut it because it has been a long journey. I started keeping this hair in 1952, and after more than 70 years, I needed to get rid of it. I now feel like a young girl,” Muthoni stated.
On May 5, the county also lost Mukami Kimathi, the widow of freedom fighter, Field Marshal Dedan. Mukami passed on at the age of 101 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Nairobi.
Following her passing Gachagua vowed to defend and champion the rights of the remaining freedom fighters and their families.
The former Mathira MP also promised to track where Dedan Kimathi was buried, exhume the remains, and accord him a befitting send-off.
