Kenyan freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi's grave discovered, 62 years later

NAIROBI, Kenya - After several years of search spearheaded by the Government of Kenya, the gravesite of independence hero Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi has been located, Garowe Online reports.

It has taken the family of the man who gave colonial government sleepless nights a whopping 62 years to finally locate where Kimathi was secretly buried by the British.

Kimathi's grave, a family member said, was discovered within Kenyan's biggest correctional facility; Kamiti Maximum Prison in Nairobi on Friday.

"The long-awaited burial spot of our hero Dedan Kimathi Waciuri has been identified inside Kamiti Maximum Prison," said Evelyn Kimathi, the CEO Dedan Kimathi Foundation in a statement.

Incidentally, the discovery, which is significant progress in Kenya's approach towards recognizing heroes, comes just five days after the country celebrated 55th Mashujaa Day.

The holiday, which was renamed from Kenyatta Day in 2010, is paramount to the families of those who directly or indirectly fought for Kenya's independence from the British.

And now, Evelyn added, the family and the government of Kenya will wait for an order from Chief Justice David Maraga, to proceed with the exhumation and subsequent proper burial ceremony.

"Let's cross our fingers for our able CJ Maraga to allow the excavation and exhumation for a decent burial," said Kimathi, lauding all those who participated in the search mission.

Dedan Kimathi led the famous Mau Mau rebellion that saw Kenyans fight against British segregation and imperialism in the 1950s.

Profiled as 'violent and disorderly', Kimathi was captured by the colonialists and subsequently hanged in Kamiti Maximum Prison in 1957. His gravesite remained a mystery until Friday.

The man who engineered his arrest, Ian Henderson, would later be deported after Kenya gained independence. Former Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga pushed for his eviction.

Throughout the 62 years of pain and grief, the family has often tasked the government to retrieve his body for proper burial. Even with the long wait, the government honored him through the naming of streets and various institutions across the country after him.

In the capital Nairobi, a street within CBD is named after him. A huge sculpture that is badly maintained was also erected along the street. His wife Mukami is usually recognized during national function.

During the Mashujaa Day celebration in Mombasa on Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta hailed contributions by the independence heroes, adding that the government will 'do all it can go remember them'.

Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963, six years after Kimathi's execution. He started his career as a teacher before joining the military in the 1940s.

Although the government has discovered the burial site, no details were given by Evelyn Kimathi regarding the process or leads that enabled them to locate the grave in Kamiti Maximum Prison.

Kimathi said: "The discovery of this great freedom fighter's grave is not only good news to the family but also to thousands of freedom fighters across the country'.

Despite gaining independence, Kenya has struggled to fulfill some of the grievances advanced by independence fighters such as land, with several people still rendered squatters in their own country.

Reporting by Abuga Makori in Nairobi; Editing Omar Nor

GAROWE ONLINE