The government has announced plans to use a 20-acre piece of land to build a monument in honour of heroes who passed away during the colonial era and the battle for independence.
Speaking during the Chotoni cultural festival in Webuye, Bungoma County, on Friday, December 26, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula revealed the monument would be built at Chetambe Fort in Webuye East, noting that the plan was to honour locals who were taken down while resisting British rule.
He also stated that the monument would serve as a cultural and historical site, as well as a tourism attraction, which would generate revenue for the county and boost local businesses.
The speaker emphasised that the monument was the only proper way to honour and celebrate the locals who fought for freedom, affirming that the government had not abandoned the plans to set up the site.
"The government promised to build a monument in Chetambe to honour our heroes. The promise has not faded. We will look for land of about 20 acres, and we call upon investors to come and build the monument," Wetangula stated.
The monument, the speaker said, would feature a building complex with offices of the community leaders, noting that it would ease their operations.
Wetangula also praised the revival of the Tachoni cultural festivals, noting that together with the monument now underway, the unity and heritage of the community will be preserved. Leaders present at the festival also called on the government to increase funding for cultural activities.
"Going forward, I call upon the county government to increase the funding for cultural festivals since it's a devolved function, so that every year we can celebrate our culture," said Martin Pepela, Webuye East MP.
The leaders, including Senate Majority Whip Wafula Wabuli and Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilyanga, called on the Luhya community to unite, noting that in 2026, the new year, the region would shock the naysayers who think the area cannot unite.
During the festival, Wetangula was also installed as a Tachoni spokesperson, a position he has promised to undertake with unwavering support from the community, he said, which has continued to support his political career.
The Kenyan government initially planned to build a monument at the Chetambe fort site in the early 1980s, but this idea was not pursued. In 2016, the government, upon the request of local leaders, promised the plan would resume.
Chetambe Fort is a historical site located on Chetambe Hill in Webuye East, and it is known for a major anticolonial resistance battle. The government's plan to build the monument at the site is a crucial step in commemorating the event. The site is currently on private land.
