As Kenyans celebrate the fourth Mashujaa Day since the enactment of the new constitution, some veterans feel that this is just another day that has come with nothing new for them.
The day meant to celebrate and honour past and present heroes who have contributed in their own small and big ways to the welfare of this nation has been dismissed by a section of people as mere rhetoric.
Jane Wanjiku from Ruiru who was singing for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, has been living in abject poverty and suffering.
Wanjiku says that she was passionate in composing patriotic songs that reflected unity of the country and ones that enabled the country to move forward as one.
“My songs had a lot of wise sayings coupled with weighty phrases that the President used to really enjoy,” says Wanjiku.
However, Wanjiku now says that all her love and patriotism for the country seems to have been buried deep and forgotten when she retired from active participation of national functions.
“Today I would have wished to be at the Mashujaa celebrations but because the organisers perhaps feel I did not do enough to warrant such invitation, they did not invite me. We were told by Kenyatta to fight the white man to get shambas but where are they now? I am a squatter because I have no land,” added Wanjiku.
Wanjiku now lives in the hope that the current leadership might recognise her efforts and at least give her a piece of land where she can rest in peace when she is finally gone.