Governor Alfred Mutua wants the national government to compensate families of freedom fighters from the Ukambani region.
Mutua says that families of some freedom fighters who fought for the country’s independence in the region are languishing in deplorable poverty.
Speaking when he unveiled a statute for freedom fighter Muindi Mbingu in Machakos town on Tuesday, Mutua also asked the government to recognize families of freedom fighters.
He said that freedom fighters endured hardships as they fought to liberate the country from colonial masters.
“The government should ensure that families of freedom fighters are recognized and appreciated for their role in fighting for liberation,” he said.
The Machakos governor noted that it is wrong for families of independence heroes to suffer at the watch of the government.
“I know the Jubilee government has put in place measures to recognize these families but it has to ensure that they are duly compensated,” he said.
Mutua vowed to push for compensation of freedom fighters.
He said that the county government will erect statues for other freedom fighters for the region.
Already the county government has erected statues for veteran politicians Mulu Mutisya and Paul Ngei
The Ngei statue has been erected at Chumvi junction along the Machakos- Nairobi highway while Mutisya statue has been erected at Mulu Mutisya grounds in Machakos town.