Mau Mau Secretariat
Preserving the legacy of Kenya’s freedom fighters, documenting the liberation struggle, and advocating for the recognition and compensation they were long denied.
Office of the Mau Mau Secretariat • Republic of Kenya
The Voice of Kenya’s Freedom Fighters
The Mau Mau Secretariat is the recognised institutional voice of Kenya’s liberation war veterans. Under the leadership of Hon. Anastasia Wanjiku Njuguna, the Secretariat unites veteran organisations, coordinates with national ministries, and works directly with all 47 County Commissioners.
The Mau Mau uprising was the decisive struggle that ended British colonial rule in Kenya. Between 1952 and 1960 more than 150,000 Kenyans were detained without trial, over 1,000 fighters were executed, and 1.5 million people were forced into guarded villages. Independence came on 12 December 1963 — yet the fighters themselves received neither recognition nor compensation for decades.
Our mandate is to correct that historical injustice: through litigation and diplomatic lobbying, through documentation of veteran testimony before it is lost, and through practical support for the surviving veterans and their families.
Latest from the Secretariat
Nationwide County Engagement
The Secretariat continues structured engagement with all 47 County Commissioners to register veterans, verify records and coordinate support services at the grassroots level.
Read moreInstitutional Recognition Secured
The Office of the Mau Mau Secretariat, established in 2022, anchors litigation, diplomatic lobbying, reparative justice and veteran livelihood support within government structures.
Read moreThe Compensation Journey Continues
From the 2003 lifting of the ban to the 2013 UK settlement for torture victims, the campaign for compensation of the freedom fighters themselves remains unfinished.
Read moreThe Struggle in Numbers
Areas of Focus
Six programme areas through which the Secretariat pursues justice, remembrance and support for the veterans of the liberation war.
Compensation & Reparations
Leading the national campaign for compensation of Mau Mau freedom fighters and their descendants, distinct from the 2013 settlement that covered torture victims.
Historical Documentation
Collecting oral histories and testimonies from aging veterans across all 47 counties before this knowledge is lost forever.
Legacy Preservation
Memorials, educational programmes and cultural initiatives that keep the memory of the liberation struggle alive for future generations.
County Collaboration
Working with all 47 County Commissioners so that veterans can access documentation, healthcare and welfare support close to home.
Government Liaison
Serving as the official bridge between veterans and the Government of Kenya, including the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture and Forestry.
Photographic Record
A growing archive of 187 photographs documenting memorial visits, delegate assemblies, county engagements and international meetings.
“It is better to die on our feet than to live on our knees.”
Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi Waciuri
Supreme Commander, Kenya Land and Freedom Army (1920-1957)
Support the Legacy
Stand with the veterans of Kenya’s liberation war. Share their history, support documentation efforts, and help ensure that recognition and compensation arrive while the surviving fighters are still with us.