The family of Mau Mau veteran John Kiboko has accused the government of neglecting the veteran currently admitted in hospital.
Kiboko has been in Nairobi Hospital where he continues to receive medical treatment, but the family now says that the hospital bill has ballooned to Ksh3 million.
Well-wishers have come out to assist the family in the small ways they can, but the medical bill still stands at a huge figure with the possibility of going even higher as the days go by.
Kiboko fell sick shortly after the death of the late veteran Mukami Kimathi, who was the wife of Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi.
During the funeral, Kiboko was bold enough to request the government to allow the Mau Mau veteran to go to Kamiti prisons to exhume the remains of Dedan Kimathi.
"Let us exhume the remains of Dedan Kimathi. I want to bury him before I meet my God," Kiboko said.
The Mau Mau veteran was then rushed to hospital where he is still admitted.
Kiboko is among the few remaining Mau Mau veterans, who fought for Kenya's independence.
He has been admitted to the Nairobi Hospital for more than four weeks.
The Mau Mau Association members took Kiboko to the hospital, where they were required to deposit Ksh600,000 before the admission of the veteran.
Raising the money was close to finding a needle in the haystack, but Azimio leader Raila Odinga came to their rescue and gave a donation to help pay the required deposit.
Family agony and plea
The Mau Mau veteran's son Miana Kiambati confirmed that none of the government leaders had gone to visit his father for the four weeks that he has been in the hospital.
"We plead with the government, even if they don't want to visit him in the hospital, let them come and help him and his family," Kiambati said.
The family is now in distress following the sale of assets in an effort to cover the huge hospital bill.
Exploring all options to try to come out of the agonizing situation, the family has now organized a fundraiser on Friday, June 30, 2023.
"We are ourselves. Why have we been forgotten? Our parents are falling still but are stuck at home because they don't have money to cater for the hospital bills.
"Kama kiboko ako hospital, sijawai ona kiongozi ata mmoja akikuja kumwona. Why do you celebrate the freedom we have if you are not willing to celebrate and support the freedom fighters?" One of the daughters of the Mau Mau veteran lamented.
She added that failing to honour the veteran fighters will result in a curse, which will block the country from enjoying the fruits of freedom.
On his part, Kiambati said the Mau Mau brigadier came into the limelight when he attend and gave his speech at the funeral of Mukami Kimathi, adding that the leaders present at the funeral had also not come in to support the family.
"Sadly enough we had leaders inside the country attending that and that seems to be the norm whereby the leaders have all the time to go for funerals, but they do not have time to come to address the issues these people are going through.
"We are holding a harambee at upper hill springs on Friday from 4.00 pm. Please send whatever you can be able to send. The pay bill is being circulated," Kiambati said.
He also shared the contact that the family is using and urged people to use it to send money on or before the fundraiser.
