Mau Mau veterans and Ol Kalou town traders on Friday demonstrated against the cutting down of a tree in Ol Kalou town said to have been planted by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Singing war songs, the veterans surrounded the tree shielding it from a contractor who was hired by the county government to cut it down.
The elders noted that the indigenous tree was planted by the country's founding father in 1952 and should be treated as well as a symbol of Ol Kalou town.
The veterans also conducted Kikuyu rituals to 'curse' any person who may cut down the Mununga tree, also known as Cape Ash.
[caption caption="Mau Mau veterans have opposed plan to cut down a tree planted by the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta"]
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Mzee Kenyatta is stated to have planted the tree before his arrest and detention by the colonial authorities.
One Mau Mau veteran, Mr Njoroge mentioned that after his detention, Kenyatta visited Ol Kalou in 1963 and addressed the public from the venue, adding that he (Kenyatta) made a habit of addressing the locals from the spot every time he visited the town.
"There can never be Ol Kalou town without this tree. This tree is the origin of Ol Kalou town. We have trees growing in Nairobi city center, why do we want to destroy our history? We won't allow that to happen," another veteran, Francis Kamau, affirmed.
The residents also supported the veteran's sentiments opposing the cutting down of another tree, Pando tree, planted in honour of environmentalist Wangari Maathai after her death.
The local ward representative Ken Mukira supported the residents, saying the tree should be preserved.
"I have raised the issue with the executive and we agreed the tree must be preserved,” noted Mr Mukira.
However, the contractor Hannah Nyambura insisted the tree must be removed.
"I have a plan to follow, they can go plant trees in their farms. I am under instructions to remove all trees in the town to pave way for paving blocks," Ms Nyambura asserted.
[caption caption="A section of Mau Mau veterans saying their prayers"]
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