Mashujaa Day Message from Kenya's Ambassador to the United States

I take this opportunity to wish all Kenyans in the United States of America, a happy Mashujaa Day. As we celebrate this day, I look back with great pride and salute all the heroes/heroines who have made immense sacrifice for the love of our beloved country. I pay special tribute to the Kenya Defence Forces for their relentless pursuit of Al shabaab, in the infamous Operation Linda Nchi. One year ago our defence forces, in the momentous quest to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity, undertook a military operation to extirpate the Al shabaab and emancipate the region from the terrorist activities of this Al Qaeda backed militia. It was indeed a daunting task, full of challenges but thanks to persistence and determination, our soldiers overran the terrorists and captured their stronghold in Somalia. We will never forget the 22 soldiers that we lost in this operation and our prayers are with the loved ones they have left behind.

This year’s celebrations coincide with the London High court’s ruling that three Mau Mau veterans have the right to sue the British government for unlawful detention and torture during the fight for Kenya’s liberation. This is indeed a pleasant victory for the veterans who fought to deliver us from colonial bondage. The landmark decision paves way for the elderly veterans to seek compensation, more than fifty years after the hard struggle for liberty, and opens the door to thousands of claims relating to alleged abuses in Kenya.

Let us fill this day with pride in the heroism of those who made sacrifices for the service of Kenya and its people, and with gratitude for their victory.

May God bless Kenya.

By H.E. Elkanah Odembo, Kenya's Ambassador to the United States.

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