Let's guard the values Pinto and other heroes handed down to us

Their struggle and the 1963 manifesto would bring into visible reality - justice, dignity, equality, equity, tolerance, good health, education to every child. Are these not the very goals of today's Constitution?

Our 2010 Constitution does not only set out the political and social goals of the freedom fighters, but also the values which the Independence struggle embodied.

I quote Article 10 which states the national values: "patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, the participation of the people, human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination, protection of the marginalised, good governance, integrity, transparency, accountability and sustainable development."

The aim of the freedom fighters was a united and cohesive Kenya; this and how it was to be achieved, were subjects of consideration by them even in the forest: see Karari Njama, himself a freedom fighter, in Mau Mau From Within (page 335). Here is another: "Prisoners organised discussions about the purpose of the independence struggle and what they wanted for future independent Kenya. Pio took notes of what his colleagues were saying, so that there would be a record of the heroic struggle.

These notes were secretly smuggled out of the camp whenever one of the prisoners was released. Achieng Oneko remembered, 'We felt proud of our activities and had great hopes for the future.'" (Pio Gama Pinto: Patriot for Social Justice (page 29).

This is not coincidence. It is shared values handed down. This is why we have to acknowledge that the first architects of our Constitution were our freedom fighters, from Waiyaki to Pinto, Kaggia, Muinga Chokwe, JD Kali and many others.

It is also unfinished business. For us. This is why we have to continue the struggle for the values, rights and protections in the Constitution. And also why we must use the tools the Constitution has provided and which are protected - rights peaceably and unarmed to demonstrate in maandamano.

The past is also proof the manifesto of the people has never changed over the last hundred years, and why therefore even today the Manifesto of the people is the Constitution.

-The writer is a senior counsel