remain forever embedded into the society and into the mind of the soldier who
consciously decided to fight for a better future.
Although Kenya seized independence in 1963, the battle for freedom is far
from over. As Nelson Mandela pointed out at the onset of this chapter, only when
climbing one high mountain are the other obstacles revealed. The Mau Mau
struggle was the beginning of a long road to freedom in Kenya. Britain has
maintained economic and geopolitical interests in the country. Despite the
success of driving out the British, the vast majority of the people remain destitute,
disenfranchised, and ignored. The war notions and imaginations of freedom,
equality, and justice were never realized for most Kenyans.
Out of all of the people to suffer, Mau Mau veterans have undoubtedly
borne the brunt of this hardship. Mau Mau veterans are viewed by some as
heroes and freedom fighters while others consider them to be outcasts. They
represent the ghosts of an unforgettable and cruel time. Even in the absence of
missing or destroyed British war files, Mau Mau stories remain etched in the
memories and souls of those impacted. The Mau Mau discussions are far from
ending. The truth of the war will continue to surface over time, file by file, and
testimony by testimony.
Since the election of President Mwai Kibaki, many Kenyans have begun to
reshape their own memories and legacies of Mau Mau. Mau Mau history has
become a way for Kenyans to remember who they are through the imaginations
and stories associated with the war. The conversation on the topic is changing
from the view of Mau Mau ex-soldiers being thugs and gangsters committing
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