The Mau Mau vice chairman said that the fighters have been sidelined by the government saying that they were the ones who sent the white man away from the black land.

Kassam said that during the fight the whites together with the then provincial administrators took all their animals and land away without any consideration. He said that after staying in the forest for years, he went back home to find his house shattered and all his property gone with the whites and he was given a place for his family by his father.

Kassam added that after a short while his father died and he ended up being the heir of his animals, but bought another land and settled at Kabare after the government took over his 20 acres.

The Mau Mau fighter added that after he, Dedan Kimathi, General Kiboko Wakagwe of Nyandarua defied the orders to surrender, they were all shot at Irangi forest in Mt. Kenya, but he survived because the bullet landed on the leg, which was later amputated after it started to rot.

He said that with the situation, if the government does not help them, they are going to die poor. Kassam emphasized that even placing food on the table is a problem to him, saying that they are never recognized at all by the government urging it to set aside some money for them as an allowance.

“Getting ten shillings is an issue to me and I believe even the others are suffering in silence, I depend on my son who has a family, the government should set aside funds for us,” he suggested.

He said that the money that the British government has released should be given to the recognized fighters and not imposters. “There are very many people who have lined up for payment saying that they were freedom fighters, the government should pay the genuine fighters,” added Kassam.

He noted that the government and the MPs are supposed to think about the fighters and not the outsiders as some of their “torturers” are still serving in the government.

Kassam added, “Happiness is not when beautiful flowers, big cars, expensive casket is bought when one dies being a poor person.”

He said that those that have died, their dues be given to their family members or next of kin but not outsiders.

General Kassam stated that before Kenyatta died, they were promised 20 acres of land each, but has never been delivered. He hoped the current leader Mwai Kibaki will fulfill that promise.