Mau Mau Inventions and Reinventions

Abstract

On June 23, 2009, five elderly Mau Mau exsoldiers filed into a London courtroom seeking justice and openly stated their case:¹ They wanted retribution for atrocities committed against them by the British government during the struggle. Their testimonies and remembrances show that it is impossible to erase the lingering Mau Mau war emotions, destruction, hardship, turmoil, and memories associated with violence of that magnitude. In addition, the claimants’ statements point to a past that is still being shaped. The Mau Mau revolution remains a point of fascination, myth, and controversy. It serves as an excellent model to discern ways in which historical adaptations are functions of political, social, and cultural moments. Although the Mau Mau war, fought from 1952 to 1960, ended British hegemony in Kenya, it remains an unresolved aspect of the country’s history and serves as an excellent example of the uses and abuses of history making. Presently, this past is still being played out in the minds of Kenyans who are trying to understand the war’s impact on Kenya’s present and future.² From the very beginning of the war, in October 1952, written details on the topic have been blurred, misrepresented, and polarized. The literature on the topic reflects a wide range of perspectives, interpretations, meanings, and political objectives, which have made the study interesting but challenging.