Kakuret Humanitarian & Tree Growing Activity

A Legacy of Love and Unity

Among the survival tactics of the Mau Mau guerilla fighters during the freedom struggle were love and unity among them—love that was deep in care for each other and unity that bound the fighters together into a force that sent chills to the brutal colonialists. Despite being displaced from their farms to colonial villages, women and children defied the odds to ensure their husbands and fathers had a reliable food supply and timely updates to help them strategize.

It has been a culture of Dedan Kimathi Foundation to check on the remnants of the struggle, encourage them, assess their welfare, and involve them in tree growing activities to protect the nation they fought for. Bringing them together freshens their forest experiences as they take advantage of such gatherings to share their ordeals with the younger generation. By this, the right history is passed on, helping the youth understand the importance of self-rule and democracy in the country.

Humanitarian Outreach in Kakuret Village

On Saturday 17th May 2025, Dedan Kimathi Foundation conducted a humanitarian event to check on the elderlies at Kakuret Village in Kieni East, Nyeri County. The gathering brought together more than 200 families residing in the colonial village. The team highlighted the major role senior citizens play in environmental conservation and in nurturing an environmentally conscious generation.

In their display of deep-rooted patriotism, each elderly participant planted several tree seedlings at Nyange ECDE in the heart of Kakuret, where the event was held. This symbolic act renewed their commitment to the land they defended with their lives.

Supporting the Vulnerable

DKF distributed foodstuffs to the elderlies and their families as part of its routine mandate to support war veterans, the poor, widows, and people living with disabilities.

A Gesture of Kindness in Hard Economic Times

With happiness written all over their faces, the beneficiaries expressed immense gratitude to the Foundation for its gesture of kindness and thoughtfulness during these challenging economic times. Due to their advanced age, many veterans are unable to take on casual jobs. Most explained how difficult it has become to put meals on their tables, often managing only one meal a day.

Many of them suffer the emotional burden of over-dependence on their not-so-well-off children and grandchildren, which causes domestic tensions. Additionally, some carry the responsibility of raising their grandchildren due to poverty, unemployment, or the death of the children’s parents.

Dedan Kimathi Foundation remains committed to keeping the welfare of the veterans and their families under close watch—in honor of their unmatched contribution to Kenya’s national liberation.