Wetang’ula wants members of Dini ya Msambwa paid for historical injustices

Gladys Nanjala holds a picture of her late husband Elijah Masinde, the legendary Dini ya Msambwa leader who hid from colonialists in a secret bunker for three years. Senator Moses Wetang'ula wants sect members compensated for historical injustices. FILE PHOTO | STEPHEN MUDIARI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Mr Wetang’ula said it was proper that President Uhuru Kenyatta had set up a Sh10 billion fund for restorative justice.
• The Senate minority leader said the sect members played an important role in the fight for the country’s independence.
• Mr Wetang’ula told the sect’s leaders to start compiling a list of their members who were tortured during colonial times.
• The Ford Kenya party leader also asked the President to consider compensating all the victims of the post-election violence.

By RAPHAEL WANJALA
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Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula has asked the National Government to include members of the Dini ya Msambwa sect on the list of victims of historical injustices to receive compensation.

Mr Wetang’ula said it was proper that President Uhuru Kenyatta had set up a Sh10 billion fund for restorative justice and asked the government not to discriminate against the sect members.

The Senate minority leader said the sect members played an important role in the fight for the country’s independence.

“The money should not be given to Mau Mau freedom fighters only but also to Dini ya Msambwa members and others who fought for the country’s independence,’’ said Mr Wetang’ula.

He spoke during the burial of former Senior Chief Mathayo Khisa at Kimwanga Village in Bumula Constituency.

START COMPILING LIST

Mr Wetang’ula told the sect’s leaders to start compiling a list of their members who were tortured during colonial times.

“The Dini ya Msambwa founder, Elijah Masinde, was detained in Kapenguria, together with the country’s first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, but his family has never been recognised,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

The Ford Kenya party leader also asked the President to consider compensating all the victims of the post-election violence.

He said since 2008, some victims of the chaos in Bungoma have not yet been compensated yet others elsewhere had been given money.