92-year-old freedom fighter, Field Marshal Muthoni Wa Kirima, has clarified why she allowed Former First Lady, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, to shave her dreadlocks.
After donning dreadlocks for over 70 years, as a testimony to the fight for independence, Muthoni cut them down on Saturday, April 2.
Mama Ngina led the celebration, as the two reminisced their youthful life, friendship and freedom fighting.
Justifying the move to shave her six-foot-long dreadlocks, Muthoni spoke against reports alleging that Mama Ngina compelled her to shave. The freedom fighter addressed the issues on Monday, April 4, two days after the event.
Muthoni underlined that she resorted to shaving her head to signify that Kenya had finally gained full independence.
She also chose to honour the Kenyatta family matriarch to cut the dreadlocks, out of her own volition.
"I had to cut it because it has been a long journey. I started keeping this hair in 1952 and after more than 70 years, I needed a rest and enjoy a shave. I feel like a young girl now," Kirima stated.
She added, "nobody can shave me without my consent. If they attempted to do so, I would have given them a proper beating with kicks and blows."
The decision to keep the dreadlocks signified a lot of perseverance she underwent under the harsh colonial rule.
"Dreadlocks were the hairstyle associated with the Mau Mau while fighting in the forest as they barely had time to properly groom their hair, making it to lock," Muthoni remarked.
Muthoni played a significant role in the fight for independence.
The freedom fighter spent seven years in the forest as one of the Mau Mau fighters on the frontline in the battle for independence.
Unlike other women who were assigned spy roles and delivering food, Muthoni was actively involved in the real fight in the forest.
The shaving exercise was conducted after a closed-door meeting between Mama Ngina and other traditional elders at her home in Tatu estate, in Nyeri Town.
Mama Ngina, speaking after shaving the freedom fighter, stated that she was highly honoured to be selected to cut the dreadlocks.
