As Kenya anticipates the celebration of the 53rd Jamhuri day, the family of the late Elijah Masinde Wanameme has called upon the government to complete the construction of a mausoleum at his graveside as promised.
Wanyonyi Bwisa the secretary of the Babichachi clan says the late Elijah Masinde Wanameme, who died in 1987, was instrumental in organizing for the formation of the Mau Mau group that fought for the independence of the country together with other legends of the country.
He says construction of a mausoleum at the graveside of the late Elijah Masinde Wanameme was launched during the reign of the grand coalition government under the Ministry of National Heritage headed by then the late William Ole Ntimama, a project that has not yet been completed.
Bwisa further disclosed that three widows of the late Elijah are living in abject poverty as they used to solely depend on their husband to provide for them their basic needs and since he passed away they were left helpless.
“During national holidays leaders usually promise to help such families of people who fought for the independence of the country but their promise has not come to be fulfilled up to date an issue that has left the families in suffering like that of Elijah,” he said
As the country celebrates its 53rd Jamhuri day, Bwisa noted that the struggle still continues as issues of corruption have taken over the government and ordinary citizens are yet to benefit from the liberation that the country realized.
With the inception of the County government he called upon the ministry of gender and culture in the County to involve the Babichachi clan in setting up a budget that will cater for the finishing up of the mausoleum as well as fencing it and also building better houses for the widows.
He disclosed that the Late Elijah saved the life of former President Jomo Kenyatta when he was detained at Kapenguria saying he told him to lie flat on the ground as the two conversed in a cell and in the event a plan to shoot the late Kenyatta failed as the target was missed.
