Many of us know him as the man who led the spirited fight for the Mau Mau war veterans at the UK courts in London while seeking compensation for the injustices meted on Mau Mau members during the liberation struggle.
Gitu Kahengeri's efforts definitely paid off as the British Government accepted to compensate the 5,228 members with Sh2 billion, each pocketing Sh340,000.
Additionally, the British government accepted to erect a Sh12 million monument at Uhuru Park's Freedom Corner to serve as a reminder of the freedom struggle in the 1950s.
That said, few people perhaps know that Kahengeri was the first Juja MP when it was hived off in 1969 from the greater Gatundu Constituency (Gatundu North and Gatundu South) that was then represented by President Jomo Kenyatta.
However, as Kahengeri came to realise five years later, the Kenyatta family may not have been pleased with him as Juja MP. Kenyatta and Mau Mau fighters are said to have had a cold relationship during the fight for liberation.
So, in 1974 the Kenyatta family decided to front the late Peter Muigai Kenyatta against Kahengeri. Muigai was Kenyatta's first and only son with his first wife Grace Wahu.
Gitu says he found himself alone in the ring with a member of the First Family as he sought to defend his seat.
"The rest had developed cold feet, hence my brave campaign slogan, ‘Msiogope (do not fear)’. As expected, Muigai was declared the winner in unclear circumstances that saw him beat me narrowly," Gitu told the Standard in 2014.
He, however, did not lose hope as in 1979 he again ran alone against Muigai to reclaim his seat.
"They had all chickened out, just as had happened in 1974. But I faced him armed with my now famous 'Msiogope' slogan. And as fate would have it, Muigai died suddenly a few days to the 1979 General Election, prompting the Electoral Commission to declare me elected unopposed," he further told the Standard.
Unfortunately, Kahengeri and other MPs had their term cut short by the msaliti (traitor) campaign against Charles Njonjo, then Minister for Constitutional and Home affairs in 1983, sparking snap elections.
The Kenyatta family was at it again and this time round fronted George Muhoho, a brother of Mama Ngina, to take on Kahengeri. He says Muhoho 'predictably triumphed'.
"I tried again in 1988 and Muhoho was declared the winner in the infamous mlolongo elections system that was notorious for short queues beating long ones. I called it quits with politics to concentrate on farming and business," adds Kahengeri.
Gitu says he only returned to the public limelight in 2003, when they formed the Mau War Veterans Association in the wake of Mau Mau’s unbanning where he was elected Secretary General and spokesman.
Mau Mau was banned by the colonialists in 1952 and remained so during Kenyatta and Moi's eras.
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