News 2005

'Lets honour our heroes,' - Kibaki

By PPS (Presidential Press Service)
Thursday, October 20, 2005)

President Mwai Kibaki said Wednesday that national heroes should be honoured adequately through commemorative projects that reflect the ideals they championed.

He said in recognition of the need to honour the country's heroes, the Government will build a mausoleum in honour of the late Bildad Kaggia and will support efforts to honour Koitalel through commemorative projects.

"In this connection, my Government will support efforts to build an education institution that will serve as a research centre and a national museum in memory of Koitalel," the President said.

He urged local leaders to identify an appropriate site where the institution can be set up and inform him within two week so that work can start without delay.

President Kibaki was speaking in Nandi district during the centenary celebrations in honour of Koitalel arap Samoei.

He said the Government will also gazette the site where Koitalel was killed as a national monument.

"The body and personal effects of our national heroes are our precious possessions. My Government, therefore, regards the skull and personal effects of Koitalel as part of our national heritage," he said.

As a way of correcting historical injustices, President Kibaki said the Government will initiate investigations to establish the actual details and whereabouts of the remains and personal effects of Koitalel.

"Once established, the Government will initiate appropriate measures for the retrieval and preservation as our national heritage," the President said.

The Head of State paid tribute to the legendry Koitalel, saying his life was one of great sacrifice and distinguished service to his people and the country.

He described Koitalel as a gifted leader and diviner who understood the necessity of war and diplomacy in defending the rights of his people, noting that for ten years Koitalel led the Nandi people in opposing colonial rule and the alienation of land in the country.

Said the President: "Today, 100 years after his assassination, we feel pained that Koitalel was treacherously killed while pursuing a peaceful settlement for a just course."

He said the name of Koitalel entered into the annals of the national history alongside other patriots such as Mekatilili wa Menza, Waiyaki wa Hinga, Dedan Kimathi, Harry Thuku and Ezekiel Apindi who sacrificed their lives in fighting for the freedom of the people of Kenya.

"Every nation in the world honours their heroes. In Kenya, we honour our heroes during Kenyatta Day, which we are seeking to rename as Mashujaa Day," the President said.

In this regard, President Kibaki challenged Kenyans to follow in the footprints of the national heroes and called upon the Nandi community to honour Koitalel by upholding the ideals he championed.

"He believed in the rights of his people in their pursuit for a common course on national matters. I challenge you all to stand up to these ideals," the President said.

He pointed out that the centenary celebrations reminded wananchi of the need to emulate the virtues of sacrifice and patriotism that enabled the heroes to win the struggle against colonial domination and to bequeath upon Kenyans a heritage of freedom and self-determination.

"Indeed, the life of Koitalel, and other fallen heroes, is a lesson for us that through sacrifice and combined efforts, we can together surmount the challenges that we face and ensure the prosperity and stability of our nation," he said.

The President also paid tribute to Koitalel's warriors and others who lost their lives during the ten-year struggle, noting that approximately 12,000 people lost their lives.

He observed that Koitalel's son, Basirian Arap Manyei, deserved special mention because of the suffering he endured in the subsequent period in the name of the country.

"The Nandi community has many other national luminaries whose heroic pursuit of justice and freedom will be remembered for many years to come," the President said.

He singled out Jean Marie Sironey and Bishop Alexander Muge as some of the national luminaries who made a lasting contribution on important national matters.

Noting that one of the key issues behind the struggle for independence was land, the President said after years of haphazard management the Government has initiated a major initiative of land reform in the country.

He said the aim of the reforms is to redress past land injustices and to provide land to the landless and assured the late Koitalel's Tallai clan that the Government look into the possibility of settling those who were landless.

As part of the reforms, President Kibaki said the Government will facilitate the issuance of Title Deeds in the region and other parts of the country.

"We have already begun this process and I am glad to note that a few days ago, I personally awarded Title Deeds to members of the Ogiek community," the President said.

He called on all communities in the country to co-exist peacefully as the Government seeks to streamline land matters, saying the proposed new constitution seeks to limit leasehold land tenancy to 99 years.

On the ongoing constitutional debate, President Kibaki appealed for sobriety saying there should be no animosity as Kenyans move towards the referendum.

Speaking during the occasion, local leaders appealed for compensation from the British Government for the atrocities committed against Koitalel, Dedan Kimathi and other freedom fighters.

They said the late Koitalel should be recognized as national hero for fighting for the rights of his people and resisting the colonial rule.

Present were First Lady Lucy Kibaki, Ministers Kipruto arap Kirwa, John Michuki, Linah Kilimo, Chris Murungaru, Musikari Kombo and John Koech, several members of parliament and wananchi from all walks of life.

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