On this day, February 18th, we commemorate the life and revolutionary legacy of Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi Waciuri, one of Africa’s greatest liberation heroes. His name has echoed across Kenya’s political history as a symbol of defiance, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. Kimathi stood at the helm of the armed resistance against British colonial rule, leading the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (Mau Mau) in their struggle for land, justice, and self-determination.

In the early 1950s, Kimathi played a crucial role as an organizer, before rising to the highest military rank of Field Marshal. His leadership transformed the Mau Mau from a resistance movement into a disciplined guerrilla army, taking on the might of the British colonial forces. Beyond the battlefield victories, Kimathi understood the importance of political consolidation. This vision led to the establishment of the Kenya Parliament, the first legitimate African government of Kenya, and on March 6, 1955, he was elected as the first Prime Minister of the Kenya African Government.

Kimathi’s struggle was not fought for personal gain but for the liberation of the oppressed—the peasants, the working class, the landless, the squatters, and the urban poor. The trade unions formed the backbone of this movement, embodying the unity of the Kenyan people against colonial oppression. Inspired by the armed struggle he spearheaded, liberation movements in Algeria, Mozambique, Angola, and across Africa took up arms against their colonial masters, proving that resistance was not only necessary but also inevitable.

Despite betrayal from colonial agents and home guards, Kimathi refused to yield. Even in captivity, he remained resolute, refusing to betray his fellow fighters. His execution at the age of 36 marked the end of the armed struggle but paved the way for the next phase of resistance against neo-colonial domination. Tragically, the colonial puppets who inherited power betrayed the cause he and thousands of Mau Mau fighters had died for, setting up an oppressive neo-colonial state that continues to serve imperial interests rather than those of the Kenyan people.

To the imperialists and their neo-colonial collaborators, Kimathi was labeled a terrorist. But to us, he remains a liberator, a freedom fighter whose ultimate dream was a truly independent and socialist Kenya. We honor him alongside other African revolutionary giants—Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Amílcar Cabral, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mehdi Ben Barka, Chris Hani, and Samora Machel. As the heirs of Kimathi, we reaffirm that our political mission is the total emancipation of our people from the chains of imperialism, neo-liberalism, and capitalism.

Men like Kimathi do not die. Their revolutionary spirit continues to inspire generations to pick up the baton and advance the struggle for total liberation. The highest honor we can bestow upon this fearless warrior is to continue the struugle and demand that the Kenyan government reveal the location of his burial site so that he may receive a dignified send-off befitting a hero of his stature. Kimathi lives on in the hearts and minds of millions across Africa and beyond, as a revolutionary torchbearer and a symbol of resistance against global oppression.

On this February 18th, we say with conviction:

Happy revolutionary remembrance, Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi Waciuri!

We continue to prefer dying on our feet rather than living on our knees!