Nyeri — Field Marshal Muthoni Wa Kirima who passed away on Tuesday had no history of ill-health apart from trauma she sustained from a bullet wound during the pre-independence fight, a relative has said.

Samuel Kariuki, a relative who interacted closely with, said on Tuesday that the Mau Mau veteran developed a fever and died before she could arrive at a hospital.

"As a family we want to tell Kenyans that this freedom fighter has no history of lifestyle diseases occasioned by old age. In fact, she died without pain [because] she only developed fever at night and before she could reach a health facility. She peacefully passed on," said Kariuki.

He added that Muthoni's only ailment was pains on the chest which she had suffered after sustaining a bullet wound during the freedom struggle in 1952.

"My grandmother only complained of pain in her left chest and we were only administering massage. The rest was only occasional cough here and there due to cold and since she was taking fish oil we had no reason to take here to a health facility," said Kariuki.

Declined hospital visit

He said Muthoni resisted attempts to be taken to hospital insisting she was felling fine.

"At around 11 pm she started coughing and sweating... they had to call neighbours to assist them to move her into a vehicle in her journey to hospital the rest is history now," Kariuki recalled.

He said the veteran will be laid to rest at Gitungi village in tetu constituency near the sight where Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi, who led the Mau Mau movement, was captured.

"Kenyans should know that Field Marshal has blessed this nation and its leaders following her meeting with President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua at Sagana State Lodge last month. We will give her a heroic send off," he added.