Mau Mau Actions Flashcards
What was central to the Kikuyu culture?
Oathing
How did the Kikuyu regard oathing?
Central to their culture
By 1950, what did Kikuyu militants do?
Use a new ‘Killing oath’, which pledged its takers to rid Kenya of Europeans and kill Africans who stood in their way
In what year was the ‘Killing Oath’ introduced by the militant Kikuyu?
By 1950
Who had introduced the ‘Killing Oath’ by 1950, which promised to kill all Europeans and Africans who stood in their way?
Kikuyu militants
Why did people take the oath?
They would be entitled to land when the Europeans were thrown out
What was the impact of being able to claim land when the Europeans left?
Many took the killing oath
What happened in September 1952?
Joseph Kabunja and his wife refused to take the killing oath. Kabunja was beaten to death with a rope, as he was throttled.
What happened in September 1952, 12 days after Kabunja was throttled to death with a rope?
Mau Mau forced other members of the village to dig up his body and hack it pieces and then they weer forced to rub the bloody flesh on their bodies
When was Kabunja and his wife beaten and throttled to death with a rope after refusing to take the Mau Mau oath?
September 1952
How many days after the death of Kabunja, did the Mau Mau make the villagers dig up his body, hack it to pieces and make them rub the bloody flesh on their bodies?
12 days after he was killed in September 1952
What was the impact of the Mau Mau making the villagers dig up his body of Kabunja, hack it to pieces and make them rub the bloody flesh on their bodies 12 days after he was murdered?
Showed that there were bloody consequences for not joining their movement
Who was Chief Waruhiu?
Kikuyu chief who worked closely with the British government becoming the most senior African official in Kenya. He evicted Kikuyu tenants from his land and opposed Mau Mau
Who was the Kikuyu chief who worked closely with the British government becoming the most senior African official in Kenya? He evicted Kikuyu tenants from his land and opposed Mau Mau
Chief Waruhiu
What happened on the 7th October 1952?
Chief Waruhiu was shot in the backseat of his car by a Mau Mau gunman
When was Chief Waruhiu shot in the back sear of his car by a Mau Mau gunman’s?
7th October 1952
Who was shoot in the back of his car by Mau Mau gunman on the 7th of October 1952?
Chief Waruhiu
Who was beaten and throttled to death in September 1952?
Kabunja
What was the impact of Chief Waruhiu’s murder on the 7th October 1952?
Shockwaves through Kenyas it showed how no one was protected from the wrath of the Mau Mau and how the British ineffectiveness as they couldn’t protect Waruhiu, who was a senior African official, they wouldn’t be able to protect him.
What happened in January 1953?
Ruck family (Roger, Eseme, and their six year old son, Michael) were brutally hacked to death by Mau Mau fighters
When were the Ruck family (Roger, Eseme, and their six year old son, Michael) were brutally hacked to death by Mau Mau fighters?
January 1953
What happened in January 1953 to the Ruck family (Roger, Eseme and their six year old son, Michael)?
Brutally hacked to death
Who was hacked to death in January 1953?
Ruck family (Roger, Eseme and their six year old son, Michael)
What happened on the 26th of March 19533?
500 Mau Mau attacked the village of Lari, because this was the centre of loyal Kikuyu and Home guard
When were 500 Mau Mau attacked the village of Lari?
26th of March 1953
Why was Lari targeted by the Mau Mau on the 26th of March 1953?
Centre of loyal Kikuyu and Home Guard organising
What did Lari being a centre of loyal Kikuyu and Home guard organising?
This made it a suitable place for the Mau Mau to attack
How many Mau Mau attacked Lari on the 26th of March 1953?
Over 500
Within one hour of the attack, on the 26th of March 1953, how many lay dead?
120
Within how many hours on the attack on Lari on the 26th of March 1953 were 120 dead?
One hour
What groups did the 120 dead in the Mau Mau attack on Lari on the 26th of March 1953, belong to?
Women and children
What city was attacked by the Mau Mau on the 26th of March 1953 that caused 120 to be dead within an hour
Lari
What was the impact of the attack on the 26th of March 1953 on Lari?
Showed Kikuyu that resistance to the Mau Mau was deadly and it also showed that the British could not be trusted to protect the loyalists
Why did many women and children join the Mau Mau?
Introduction of detention centres in April 1953
What was the impact of the British introduction of detention centres?
Pushed many women and children to support the Mau Mau
Who was central to the running of the Mau Mau?
Women
Why were women central to the running of the Mau Mau?
Move more easily between forests and the villages in comparison to men. Therefore, they were essential for carrying intelligence and supplies
Who were essential in carrying intelligence and supplies?
Women
What camp had 400 women?
Dedan Kamathi’s camp in the Aberdares mountains
How many women were in the Dedan Kamathi’s camp in the Aberdares mountains?
400 women
What did the Mau Mau announce in September 1953?
Mau Mau announced a boycott of the city’s buses
When did the Mau Mau announce a boycott of city’s buses?
September 1953
In September 1953, what did the Mau Mau announce was boycotted?
Buses
How many months did Africans boycott buses, by walking to work?
8 months
What did Africans spend 8 months doing?
Boycotting buses after the Mau Mau announced a boycott in September 1953, by walking to work
After boycotting the bus for 8 months, what did the British do?
Because of a loss of revenue, they were forced to back down
What other products did the Mau Mau organise boycotts for?
European beer
Cigarettes
By late 1953, how many fighters were there in the Land and Freedom Army?
24,000
In what year were there 24,000 fighters in the Land and Freedom army?
Late 1953
By late 1953, in what army were there 24,000 fighters?
Land and freedom army
What did the Mau Mau do from training camps?
Launched highly planned attacks on European settlements and Kikuyu, who remained loyal to the British
From where did the Mau Mau launch highly planned attacks on Europeans settlements and loyal Kikuyu’s?
From training camps
What happened in August 1953?
Mwathe Conference, in which Dedan Kimathi was recognised as the Supreme leader
When was the Mwathe Conference, in which Dedan Kimathi was recognised as the Supreme leader?
August 1953
In what conference in August 1953 was Dedan Kimathi recognised as the Supreme leader?
Mwathe Conference
In the Mwathe Conference on August 1953, who was claimed the Supreme commander?
Dedan Kimathi
In August 1953, what role was Dedan Kimathi given in the Mwathe Conference?
Supreme commander
Who did the Mau Mau have a powerful appeal to?
Unskilled and Improvished Kikuyu masses who lived in Nairobi slums
What was the relationship between the Mau Mau and Unskilled and Improvished Kikuyu masses who lived in Nairobi slums?
Powerful appeal
What did the Mau Mau call the educated middle class?
“Tai-Tai”
Who were the “Tai’tai”?
Mau Mau name for the educated middle class
Who did the Mau Mau target as they grew in power?
Educated middle class who were known as “Tai-tai”
What happened to the “Tai-tai” as the Mau Mau grew in power?
They were targeted
Who was Tom Mbotela?
Senior official on the African Advisory Council
Who was the Senior official on the African Advisory Council?
Tom Mbotela
What happened on the 26th of November 1953?
Tom Mbotela was hacked to death in Nairobi by Mau Mau fighters
When was Tom Mbotela was hacked to death in Nairobi by Mau Mau fighters?
26th of November 1953
Where was Tom Mbotela hacked to death by Mau Mau fighters on the 26th of November 1953?
Nairobi
Who was murdered in Nairobi on the 26th of November 1953 by Mau Mau fighters?
Tom Mbotela
Where did women steer loyalists?
Into Mau Mau traps
Who did women steer into Mau Mau traps?
Loyalists
