When the soil of Ngorika, Nyandarua, settled over the casket of Christopher Njora Muronyo (General Kiambati) on February 14, 2026, it didn’t just bury a man. It buried one of the final “Primary Sources” of the Kenyan revolution. At 106, Kiambati was the last surviving member of the Twelve Senior Generals from Nyandarua County who orchestrated the armed resistance against the British Empire.
His quiet exit, marked by a lack of state fanfare and a family’s bitter testimony of poverty, highlights a systemic “historical amnesia” that has plagued Kenya since 1963.
1. The Physicality of Memory: 3 Bullets, 7 Decades
One of the most striking details revealed at General Kiambati’s funeral was that he carried three British bullets in his body until his final breath.
Living Scars: These were not just old wounds; they were symbols of a medical system that failed the veterans. Kiambati never saw the multi-billion shilling compensation packages discussed in international courts; he lived with the lead of the colonialist inside him for over 70 years.
The “General’s Rent”: In many Mau Mau households, these physical ailments are referred to as “the rent we pay for freedom.” In 2026, the few surviving veterans are calling for specialized geriatric care—a “Hero’s Health Card”—to manage these lifelong injuries.
2. The Legal Front: The 2026 Petitions
The death of General Kiambati comes amidst a surge in legal activism. Even as their ranks thin, the veterans are not going quietly.
The Meru High Court Case: In late 2025, descendants of generals like Baimungi Marete filed a landmark petition seeking a declaration that the post-colonial repression of Mau Mau (1961–1965) was a violation of fundamental rights.
The Sh7.4 Billion Mystery: In January 2026, groups like the Wakombozi Kenya War Council marched to the NSSF offices in Nairobi, demanding the release of billions they claim were set aside by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta but never disbursed. The case is now a central pillar of the veterans’ 2026 agenda.
3. The “Betrayal of the Elite”
The recurring theme at the Nyandarua funeral was the “Great Betrayal.” Historians like Macharia Munene point out that the independent government’s “willing-buyer, willing-seller” land policy was the first blow.
Landless Liberators: Many fighters returned from the forest to find their ancestral lands held by those who had collaborated with the British (the “Home Guards”).
2026 Reality: Today, many Mau Mau descendants live in “informal settlements” on the periphery of the very estates their grandfathers fought to reclaim. The call for Land Reparations remains the most explosive and unresolved issue of the independence era.
The Search for the “Martyr’s Soul”: Dedan Kimathi
General Kiambati’s passing reignites the search for the remains of Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi. The belief among the community is that the nation’s soul cannot rest until Kimathi is moved from the unmarked grave at Kamiti Maximum Prison to a national hero’s acre.
The 2026 Promise: With the “living links” like Kiambati disappearing, researchers are racing against time to use oral testimonies to narrow down the burial site before the forest’s secrets are lost forever.
5. Conclusion: Beyond Mashujaa Day
Kenya’s treatment of General Kiambati in his final years serves as a mirror. If a man who faced British bombs with “bare hands” can die a pauper, what does that say about the national value of sacrifice?
As we look toward 2027, the “Forgotten Army” is asking for more than a speech on a holiday. They are asking for Dignity in the Twilight.
