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10/28/1954 - Report on Mau Mau by David E. Reed

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS DER Report Mau Man Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs October Barclays Bank Queensway Nalrobl Kenya Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers It looked another Nairobi The cloudless equatorial As usual there parking spaces found along streets Nalrobi might middle Darkest Africa dmivers their quarter thelr destIn ations early explorers proceed The shops customers buying everything heavy tractors Parisian frocks Settlers strode resolutely Torr Hotel young British soldiers wandered along sidewalks lonesome counting would going African soldiers strutted Delamere avenue statue mplatlve Lord Delamere It Delamere Avenue Statue Just another Lord Delamere except thing Wednesday October Kenya finished second Emergency Now beginning third Two years previously Governor Sir Evelyn Baring declared State Emergency giving authorities powers growing discontent violence K tribe A number loyal Kikuyu murdered European woman killed there reports Kikuyu swearing amoug other things required bring European ordered With declaration Emergency scores Kikuyu leaders including Messianic Jomo Kenyatta arrested A battalion British troops florin Kenya followed Six battalious King African Rifles brought Kenya Regiment activated police force expanded rapidly In years followed Security Forces waged persistent inconclusive fight against elusive Mau Mau gangs forests Mount Kenya Aberdare range fertile slopes Kikuyu Reserve teeming slums Nairobi The number Africans regarded Mau Mau killed around Thousands locked Several leaders captured killed Captured Mau Mau But still little ground Each three weeks would surround isolated house knives strangling ropes finish another white settler Each another Kikuyu would found Security Forces would really loyal The earth Kikuyuland became redder still Ou anniversary War Council formed March Lyttelton Plan constitutional changes Kenya Its members Governor Sir Frederick C rawford Deputy Governor General Sir George Erskine Commander Chief East Africa Mr ichael Blundell settler former leader European Elected Members Legislative Council Minister Without Portfolio first report public It While receut successes against terrorists Justify cautious optimism there nothing military situation which suggests early Em rgency There indicatious weakeniug terrorist morale dissension among leaders But leaders absence alternative still their determination continue fihtir Operations being conducted Security Forces others planued designed capture leaders inflict casualties members their gangs reduce their fighting potential destroy their morale It possible would exhaust their manpower assuming their present casualties continue There little report cheer white settlers Kikuyu loyalists after second inconclusive fighting becoming dispirited A number events crowded second Emergency Murders African loyalists contiuued among those A Simi short sword Ambrose Ofafa variety Luo served Nairobl cutting purposes City Councillor His classic Mau Mau weapon November assassinatiens attempted assassinations The War Council reported murders Europ Asian civilians during years considered Mau Mau The loyal African civilians majority Kikuyu attributed Mau Mau durin period About these civilians Kikuyu Guard Why Mau Ma reserved vengeance people There number reasons The Europeans first armed attack risky business Along white seems powerful psychological weapon against assail motivated feelings inferiority There several cases where routed armed gangs single handedly In elderly eutlemau drove pelting geological specimens The gangs their nerve front The Enraged White Man object their fears hates grudging admiration But Mau Mau Africans another matter They comparatively unarmed Fanatics reserve their hatred those their nearly their refuse along True Way Thus Communist vindictive toward deviat ionists radical Red Socialists The fanatic disallows anyone different honest opinion He possession Truth anyone opposes intentions deserve exterminated enemy people Mu Mau feels Quislings Mau Mau Kikuyu Just European Mau Mau their Just And doing Mau Mau helps establish needed tribal solidarity against Europeans During second Emergency several Europeans Africans Security Forces brought trial charges assault cruelty manslaughter murder cases growing treatment prisoners Fines levied cases other defendants discharged The severe sentence meted military court Capt Gerald Griffiths British Army officer servin King African Rifles tried first murder acquitted because technicality He brought trial again convicted cruelty He cashiered Army given priso sentence The Nairobi boycott cousidered engineered Mau Mau continued month after month Although number African Harun K NJeroge captured leader riders increased steadily boycott level still reacheal The War Council reported police soldiers killed operations during years The racial breakdo Europeans Asians Africans Accidental deaths iucluded these figures The secoud E mergency adoption policy heavy bomblug suspected hideouts forest Overseas critics charged native villages bombed But there uever bombiug Reserves forests prohibited areas which loyalists evacuated Four eugine Lincoln bombers World War II model brought Middle East November heavy bombing Five hundred pouud bombs Single engine Harvard trainers coutinued pouud bombs smaller targets Vampire Jet fighters arrived April strafin pouring rockets suspected hideouts Som settlers questioned wisdom using Lincolns particular Kenya mustpay Royal Air Force services settlers thought pound succeeding nothing blowin trees unlucky elephants But sorties continued The War Council reported Mau Mau killed Security Forces durin years The actual total Mau Mau suspec_te Mau Mau killed higher As presumably happens there number trigger happy individuals African European There outright sadists There those whose nerves restraints frayed having Mau Mau atrocities And there those friends relatives butchered Mau Mau Whatever their killings remain secret silen forest I young police after years service That official course Official Igor But I It There shoot never But search papers Fifty Sometimes I stoart wondering innocent after The Kikuyu Guard eager prisoners Mauy their whole families killed Mau Mau Though authorities prosecute members Security Forces takin action against Guardsmen They would touch resignations Guard What catch Mau Mau I asked young Kikuyu Guard stood watchtower Kikuyu Reserve Well Bwana Just waverer I British their courts And The Guard sim___ scabbard matter I throat In January series events began which overnment hopss fighting might sight A Mau Mau leader named Waruhiu Itote called himself General China wounded surrendered China years served DER Private soldier The King African Rifles altitude bamboo ferest operation He carrying Steu machiue corporal Kin African Rifles World War II Ceylon India Burma After worked railways Kenya He Joined Mau Mau months before Emergency declared He rapidly considered commauder Mau Mau gangs Mount Kenya He numbered The month after surrender China sentenced death consorting armed persons He found guilty possessing rounds ammunition Hi lawyer mplained China should accorded green braheh surrender treatment Under policy Mau Mau members promised surrender prosecuted capital offenses consorting possessing They though prosecuted there murder against All those surrender detention China indefinitely The Jude overruled defeuse objections He entries Chlna diary written diary Just before surreudering having ordered several killlngs indicated never formed definite surrendering Rather because wounded thought dying The wound turned superficial At Judge courts never recognized surreuder offer The cozsorting possessing ammmition still stood China never around disputing decision His sentence commutted prison short later The reason offered arrange surrender Mau Mau forces particularly those Mount Kenya China taken Nyeri Kikuyu Reserve close Mount Kenya There letters Mau Mau leaders armored escorted police several personal contacts Several favorable replies received leaders A secret rendezvous gangs leaders government military officials place The government reported later terrorists first insisted certain concessions before surrendering It stated these included disbanding Kikuyu Guard The government refused Instead leaders those surrendered would imprisoned indefinitely would executed crimes committed Presumably would included murder They promised would treated The Mau Mau leaders seemed agreeable But Mount Kenya consult their followers The government agreed military patrols forests Mount Kenya Aberdares pending outcome meetings their followers The government Mau Mau leaders their Reserves would attacked sight there The leaders agreed mountain The leaked always seems Kenya settlers stormed about bargaining murderers appeasement A barrage indignant letters hallowed letters editor column East African Standard Many settlers because government Was Mau Mau might eventually allowed circulation political uatlonalist front The settlers wanted fight finish Government officials settler reaction theuMau But still plans ahead On April Mount Kenya Mau Mau gathered forest Reserve Several hundred route It thought final decision surrendering verge The government later because forest patrols called knowledge gathering Unfortunately another raiding Reserve several resting moment Reserve forest After first consulting Provincial administration Army attacked Hearing shooting fearing government luring convenient place would surrenderers Motut Kenya Efforts revive negotiations Mau Mau would respond again Settler critics hooted derision In followed government arrested O00 Kikuyu acted ermediaries negotiations whose connection Mau Mau otherwise become known result talks Some critics charged Army thirsty fight finish attacked sabotage impending surrenders But there seems little evidence support Most British Army personnel would fighting The overumeut seems eager surrender The whole incident appears government regrettable coincidence How terrorists still large General Erskine estimates But acknowled anyone guess Erskine estimates O00 precision weapons Aainst gangs ranged British troops Kenya Regiment African troops Kikuyu Guard Several thousand policemen African European Asian devote their Mau Mau But there bitterness hearts Kikuu The sounded Whatever Mau Mau casualties trouble finding recruits Oliver Lyttelton Colonial Secretary imposed multi racial government Kenya An African Luo tribe taken government cabinet minister along three white settlers Asians But difference Mau Mau The 6round Disturbin filtered Mau Mau spread elements Wakamba tribes The government became alarmed vigorous measures taken Scores Wakamba arrested Among several become Mauugangsters Several Wakamba opposeduYuweremurderedinNairobi Wakambaangsters attacked European farms Machakos District Government nipped Mau Mau among Wakamba situation least moment under control Mau Mau spread those Wakamba living Nai where influenced Kikuyu Attempts establish Mau Mau Wakamba Reserve Squads Wakamba gangsters Nairobl Reserve conduct ceremonies thought authorities caught these oathing teams The Wakamba Reserve seems Mau Mau estimated Wakamba A population figures shows government concerned The Wakamba fourth largest tribe Kenya numberir They represent nearly Of population colony The Kikuyu Meru Embu total nearly population Add Wakamba Equally important Wakamba backbone police military units large numbers railway If Wakamba finished official Development welfare Wakamba Reserve accelerated moment there seems daner Wakamba going Kikuyu In Masailand Mau Mau picked ardent followers among breeds those Masai father Kikuyu mother But blooded Michael Blundell speaking War Council member because roving Kikuyu Masai Kikuyu gangsters But although insurance against attack bloods became active gangsters With Mau Mau flare Masailand military operations previously centering Mount Kenya Aberdares carried Mau Escarpment forest Great Rift Valley Narok District Masailand Gangs still operatin those areas But least moment Mau Mau seems slight Masai tribe There historical irony Kikuyu gangsters terrorizln Masa Before advent Europeans Masai dominated East African scene raiding making miserable their Kikuu neighbors But Masai power waned Then while Kikuyu rapidly aspects western culture haughty Masal remained plains refusing change Today spear match automatic pistol hands Of clever Kikuyu angster The War Council reported there surrenders months since green branch offer announced The policy particularly successful Many those surrend conscripted carriers others played minor roles Mau Mau However authorities encouraged surrender increasing Operation Anvil carried Nairobi April result Kikuyu Meru Embu detention camps The government broken Mau Mau important avenues supply sources recruits The War Council Kikuyu Meru Embu including Anvil being without having tried detention camps Another convicted court Mau Nu cases serving prison terms Executions Mau Mau cases total After Anvil details announced improve African agriculture The calls introduction crops large scale clearing projects strUeoaof boreholes improvement stock campaigns promote better farmi The program finance million million grant British vernment It shoold toward improving living standards Kenya African peasants The War Council reported industrial development Kenya slowed Investors worried about future stability country Nevertheless years start industrial enterprises total pital estimated Kenya public treasury At Emergency costing equivalent mouth Now risen euivalent O00 times The British government keeping local government afloat means loans grants Jomo Kenyatta legal battle against conviction charge managin Mau Mau ended second Emergency Privy Council England rejected appeal He defendants serve their seven sentences imposed April Kenyatta studied London University spent years Russia little prison Lokltaung outpost northern frontier The conviction another defeudant Richard Achieng Oneko Luo served general secretary Kenya African Union quashed earlier hearing before Supreme Co Kenya Oneko He detained under Emergency regulations courtroom confined private residence Coast earlier flgur revisedio Later Governor group Kikuyu loyalists Kenyatt never return Kikuyuland When finishes sentence remain northern frontier Governor The arnouucement intended strengthen loyalists disenhearten others tribe The War Council Emergency profound effects Kikuyu Reserve Education suffered Forty three schoolteachers killed Mau Mau years schools destroyed Mau Mau sought intimidate Kikuyu parents keeping their children white schools Enrollment dropped Meanwhile school attendance Increased other tribes The effect becom aoareut until several years passed until today schoolchildren apply advanced positions found there fewer qualified Kikuyu The Kikuyu living ending They scattered homesteads Now grouped little villages Kikuyu Guard The villagization greater protection against Mau Mau difficult theuMau local people money Sixty Embu Nyeri Kikuyu villages More going On Friday September Mau Mau proved punch A estimated number attacked Lukeuya prison miles Nairobi An African guard killed others driven The European barricaded himself house The complete control prison They freed O0 convicts K ikuyu Meru Embu serving short terms passbook violations The brought large supply civilian clothing prisoners discarded their prison Some leave prison threatened death remained behind As police reinforcements arrived freed prisoners disappeared surrounding hills They rifles three shotguns revolver prison armory About prisoners caught following weeks stolen prison weapons recovered clashes Mau Mau gangs The Mau Mau leader thought commanded DER Mwangi Mtoto could translated Mwangi Kid killed Nairobi clash The War Council reported Security Forces recovered firearms gangs years But known stolen mostly European civilians It known firearms Mau Mau The authorities suspect Mau Mau stole other weapons owners fearful failed report Man Mau number firearms During World War II Kikuyu askaris trained armorers putting their skill Mau Mau A piece bicycle frame serves barrel rubber firing mechanism Many blown firer But others efficient enough accomplish their purpose In October Dr L S B Leakey scholar East African history author Mau Mau Kikuyu other books wrote indignant letter East African Standard about considered grave injustice He noted recent newspaper report whites detention those considered Mau Mau being worked under rehabilitation program Said Leakey Surely screening operations completed those proved white rehabilitation other apology inconvenience caused speedy release issue necessary passbooks right return forthwith their normal employment Leakey missionary Kikuyu He speaks their language better speaks English often thinks dreams Kikyu He refers himself white Kikuyu through initiation rites tribe Two after Dr Leakey letter appeared paper Mau Mau visit cousin Mr A G A Leakey Nyeri Mr Leakey considered himself blood brother Kikuyu He fluent Kikuyu language He liked Kikuyu trusted He always refused carry firearm refused employ guards He figured because friendship Kikuyu As theau entered Leakey Mary their daughter Mrs Diana Hartley bedroom locked Leakey suggested daughter climb through small Government their release delayedy yphod Mrs Hartley Then recounted later I tried mother heavy After while would again She would noise Keep quiet children think I thiuk I hiding behind basket Then forced I heard speaking mother broken English Swahili They asked where mouey The struck quiet which spoke Mother money There noise struggle An later Mrs Hartley She fouud mother strangled slashed Dauas The bodies Kikuyu servants found Mr Leakey Police thought taken killed But inore possibility being hostage An intensive search aided hundreds Kikuyu Guards But oassed there Mr Leakey He diabetic could without iusulin The police search The Rt Rev L J Beecher Bishop Mombasa conducted Mrs Leakey funeral service His cousin Leakey Several later Dr Leakey radio broadcast Several eople predicted around You trust these Africans Instead Dr Leakey urged people greater precautions locking their doors carrying firearms fixing emergency slguals He added However loyal African servauts I truly loyal servants cousin count being attacked counting warning neighbor The Mau Mau intelligence service knows servants loyal which abduct before attack More Week later Security Forces captured terrorists Mount Kenya One leader called himself General Kaleba He taken Geueral China surrender negotiations The patrol found Mr Leakey clothing Digging arouud discovery They found letters indicating terrorists wanted capture European They wanted alive ritualistic sacrifice fortunes Mau Mau would improved The government there strong probability Mr Leakey sacrifice The ritua believed taken place upper slopes Mount Kenya government added The mountain brightness Mount Kenya believed Gikuyu Ngai God official resting place their prayers towards Kere Nyaga Mount Kenya their hands raised towards offer their sacrifices Thus Jomo Kenyatta describes Kikuyu rituals _Facing Motu Kenya In goats sheep sacrifices They strangled As Emergency neared years become apparent sight Blundell spoke another years active operations against gangs followed another unsettled conditions Some people suggested efforts revive surrender talks But strong hopes these could revived revived would successful The Kenya It becoming apparent there would peace peace Kenya Kikuyu tribe remained rebellious To could would enormous Some settlers continued stronger measures The Germans would ended whole thing But realized arguing Britain Germany public official opinion United Kingdom would never tolerate stronger measures A number settlers I planned leave Kenya Others talked doing The War Council reported To operational despite progress parts Reserves Nairobi Mau Mau still tacit support African population areas there still armed gangs capable disturbing peace I Sincerely Rec New York I Sh David E Reed Photograph Page H Firmin Nai Others courtesy Department Information Kenya Government