The former first lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta has cut the dreadlocks of the only woman to attain the rank of a Field Marshal in Mau Mau, Muthoni Kirima, after 70 years.


The 92-year-old legend had her hair on Sunday cut to signify her contentment in the country’s freedom and the fulfilment of her service to the country.

Mama Ngina led a section of Mau Mau veterans, Kikuyu Council of Elders, members of the Kikuyu community and political leaders to the home of Muthoni in Nyeri.

“I have today agreed to shave my hair. This signifies that am contented that our country has had freedom, at last, generations are now free, what we fought for in the forest during clamour for freedom has finally been achieved,” Muthoni said.

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The dreadlocks that were cut off from Muthoni’s were draped in the Kenyan flag and put into a basket that Mama Ngina gave her.

While addressing the attendants of the ceremony, Mama Ngina urged Mount Kenya region to unite and stop insulting one another.


Mama Ngina said the insults have caused their community to be ridiculed by other communities.

"We have now become the laughingstock of other tribes because of the insults," she said.

Other Mau Mau freedom fighters who attended the ceremony addressed the crowd addressed shared their challenges despite fighting for the country.