© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

9/9/1961 - Background to Jomo Kenyatta by Ian Michael Wright

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRNT WORLD AFFAIRS P O Box Nairobi Kenya Background Jomo Kenyatta August Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr lolte On August Governor Kenya Sir Patrick Rennison announced Jomo Kenyatta moved house which being built Kiambu ready under minor restrictions there short period enable authorities public excitement which doubt caused return thereafter released restriction His house completed middle August Jomo Kenyatta arrested October convicted following managing being member Mau Mauo Since symbolized darkness death Kenya Europeans freedom respect Africans During recent elections January February Kenyat release became major campaign issue The Governor quite clear however wouldn released until predominantly African government functioning until known attitudes toward current issues For purpose kenyatta moved Lodwar barren Northern Frontier District Maralal miles Nairobi where allowed visitors first since imprisonment eight years earlier Sir Patrick Rennison ostensibly based decision My Government working recently Kenyatta given every indication irreconcilable maintenance order association peoples Kenya progress independence East African setting based sound economy He continued Even those there still deeply anxieties about possible consequences release realise changed political circumstances Kenya wiser counsel release Great Britain responsible order They realise continued restric impediment relations orderly progress Kenyatta around educated Church Scotland Fiission 2airobi where baptized From clerk Fublic Works Department iairob became interested politics joined Young Kikuyu Association headed Earry Thuku With Thuku arrest later Y K A became inactive later revived Kikuyu Cntral Association which Kenyatta became General Secretary ditor their newspaper Mwigwithania whose motto Progress Work In E C A Eenyatta London present Kikuyu grievances Colonial Office He visited Russia months Co rfild Rport claims joined Communist Party In September returned Eenya turned England May present memorandum kenya Land Commission known Carter Commission He spent fifteen years England where found influential friends helped spokesman Eikuyu England In again visited Russia Corfild Rport states rliably repor having attended Lenin School Subversion EENYATTA Moscow Eenya Information Srvics unconfirmed lswhr During period Knyatta attended London School Economics worked diploma anthropology under Professor Malinowski H published Kikuyu called Facing Mo K which anthro pology rather fication Eikuyu cultur gnral It attempt wstrn world rcognition Eikuyu heritage After Kenyatta closely concerned Pan Africa 4ovement leaders among Kwame Nkrumah George Pad Peter Abrahams When became evident British colonial policy Kenya would change confronted massive popular organ izations Kenyatta September sailed The Origins Growth Mau Mau The Government Frinter Nairobi Mombasa little warning fiends He returned Kenya Kikuyu intellectual Europe Soon after arrival visited Governor Sir Philip Mitchell asked could active politics The Governor suggested since should start local government suggestion follow Instead helped develop aenya African which elected president Kenyatta emerged central figure African politics This entirely control situation however KAU beset great strains stresses Kenyatta found himself increasingly trying arbitrate range opinion those wished independence through violence those committed violence The situation rapidly deteriorated violence increased On August Mau Mau declared illegal society although known behind anyone Europeans generally assumed Kenyatta guiding force there direct evidence prove connection despite every three years observed Kenya Police countless informers There however number factors which pointed close association society On October state emergency declared Jomo kenyatta arrested charged managing Mau Mau After lively trial which lasted months convicted sentenced years imprisonment indefinite restriction What Kenyatta connection Mau Mau question Mau Mau records there little doubt involved Since henyatta conviction virtually contact Kenya political scene through newspapers radio until moved Maralal beginning Since there steady stream visitors among government officials newspapermen scholars representatives religious groups African politicians He sometimes given impression agreeing everyone sought unity between rival political parties kenya African Democratic Union KADU Kenya African Nationa Union KANU Kenyatta imminent release looked great expectation No really vaguest happen political speculation centers several questions The mportant whether henyatta achieve unity among EADU KIND Six months doubted member Legislative Council LegCo recently remarked We henyatta stand modern politics It someone emerge national leader His independent Eenya government federal government Eenya Tanganyika Uganda means assured exert leadership effectively bight young ooliticians present undoubted leadership Of immediate importance whether Kenyatta active Eenya politics immediately At moment there Order Council debaring Eenya Legislative Council people served imprisonment exceeding years About weeks LegCo passed esolution asking removal provision Colonial Secretary Iain Macleod U Govern proposal relation Order Council Eenya settlers point order amended allow Eenyatta LegCo would country under Bitish wherein convicted felon opposed convicted misdemeanor mected Legislature Until amended Eenyatta remain sidelines Lastly there question personal politics Will pursue policy Eenya Eikuyu Mau Mau greater unity among tribes What attitude toward growing Kenya Land Freedom Army KLFA This group between loosely organized terrorists reportedly master minded member forme Mau Mau hierarchy Its purpose Eenya white dominate leadership independence Already Ronald Ngala Leader Government Business equivalent minister colonial government discovered destroyed There always possibility Kenyatta himself might target politics counter those KLFA The ELFA reaching number people evidenced African recently asked member Mau Mau replied The We interesting period Kenya Whatever Very sincerely yours Ian Michael Wright Received New York August