Sifuna: Our fight is to free Kenya

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on Thursday revisited the joy that Kenyans had during independence in 1963 to offer an explanation of why he hopes to lead the country.

Mr Sifuna chose to amplify a tribute made in regard to Mwalimu Jackson Karua, the father of People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, who died on September 27, relating to the period Kenya broke free from the yoke of colonialism.

Mwalimu Karua was in his thirties then, and tributes said he danced for joy on getting the news that Kenya was independent.

“We wish that we could still do those dances that they were doing in ’63. We wish that our generation also had the same joy; that the dream that we had achieved in 1963 was actually realised,” Mr Sifuna said.

“But we will continue. We will continue with the fight to free our country so that even if we don’t get to dance, maybe the Gen Zs that we have seen here will come to dance in a free country in future,” he added.

He was speaking at the All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi during a memorial service for Mwalimu Karua, who died aged 98. The event was attended by other opposition politicians including Babu Owino, Jimi Wanjigi, Omingo Magara, Millie Odhiambo, Wangui Ngirici, Raphael Tuju, Boniface Mwangi, and Kimani Ngunjiri.

Siaya Governor James Orengo was absent, though he sent his wife Betty Murungi to represent him.

“He would have loved to be here this afternoon. I left him in Kisumu and rushed to be here with you all,” she said.

Limited by the time allocation, the politicians who spoke chose to stick to the issue of the day, though Mr Magara spoke of his desire for a new Kenya where there will be “no invasion of churches as we saw recently”.

PLP Secretary-General Asha Bashir revealed that the first ever meeting of the United Opposition happened at the Karua homestead in Kirinyaga County.

“I remember fondly that the unity of this opposition started at Mzee’s home,” she said.

The gathering heard that Mwalimu Karua hosted his kin for prayers, then died as they returned to Nairobi.

As if he knew it was his last day on earth, Mwalimu Jackson Karua gathered his family at his Kirinyaga home that Sunday for prayers.

During that session, he asked that they sing his favourite hymn. When all was done, some of the relatives departed. Barely an hour later, they were called to be informed that Mwalimu Karua was no more.

Ms Karua, one of his eight children, disclosed the same in a statement she released that Sunday evening.

“Earlier today, I went to Kirinyaga to visit my father. My siblings and I spent time with him and sang his favourite gospel hymn, never knowing it would be our last song together. On my way back to Nairobi, I received the news that my beloved father had breathed his last,” Ms Karua said in a statement.

At the memorial, the gathering was told that the Sunday meeting happened at a period when Mwalimu Karua was battling illness.

Ms Karua said: “He asked for that song that says God is here with us and that asks for showers of blessings. As we sang, his voice was trembling. We had seen in the last three weeks that he seemed to be getting weak. We didn’t know the day. Only God knows when you go. One hour later, he was no more.”

The family eulogy noted: “He requested that his favorite hymn be sung, and he joined his family in singing it. Afterwards, he bid farewell to the family members who were traveling back to Nairobi. About an hour later, he peacefully rested.”

Mwalimu Karua was described as an industrious teacher who got into agriculture and other businesses to raise money to educate his children. The gathering heard that he was the first man in his locality to buy a car in 1960.

“He continued driving until the age of 96 in 2025 when family members finally prevailed upon him to give up driving and make use of a driver, a decision he accepted, albeit reluctantly,” said the eulogy.

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