The family of Brigadier John Kiboko, a Mau Mau veteran, on Sunday, June 18, pleaded with the government to help it clear his Ksh3 million hospital bill.
Maina Kiambati, the son of the freedom fighter, lamented that they were struggling to settle part of the bill that accrued since Kiboko’s admission.
They were, however, grateful to the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, who offered them the Ksh600,000 deposit required before doctors attended to the Mau Mau veteran.
An association of the descendants of the Mau Mau war veterans was also lauded for rushing the ailing brigadier to the hospital.
“He has been in hospital for about four weeks, and no government official has offered help. We want to plead with the government to help us settle the bill totalling millions.
“Even if they will not come and visit him in the hospital, we will appreciate the financial help as we have done all we could,” Kiambati pleaded, adding that he was responding well to treatment but could not be discharged.
Further, the family revealed that the Mau Mau fighter fell ill after attending the burial of the late Field Marshal Mukami Kimathi on May 13.
The veterans argued that Kiboko sacrificed to fight for freedom and thus deserved government aid and recognition.
“We cannot settle this bill on our own. He will be forced to remain in hospital if uncleared. We are asking the government to act swiftly before the last of the Mau Mau people find their eternal home,” a representative from the association lamented.
On June 10, the veterans claimed they were being conned by individuals posing as government officials privy to a Ksh50 billion fund released to support them.
Some of them were reportedly asked to pay a Ksh10,000 registration fee to access the alleged funds.
“They lied that they would buy us pieces of and even told us that there was Ksh50 billion that had been disbursed. Others were asked to contribute Ksh1,000 as registration fees and an additional Ksh5,000 later,” one member lamented.
On the same day, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua promised to fully support the son of Mau Mau freedom fighter General Musa Mwariama after admitting that the government was obligated to honour freedom fighters.
Gachagua had previously challenged Azimio leader Raila Odinga to rally support for the veterans as the duo clashed in a supremacy row.
