Wamuyu Gakuru

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Early life[edit]

Wamuyu Gakuru, originally named Anna Wamuyu Kabubi was born in 1934 at the foothills of Mt. Kenya. Her parents were Mundu Kakuru and Thigia Gakuru. She was from the village of Kariuthi. For an occupation, her father was a subsistence farmer who grew and sold fruits, coffee, and vegetables, and her mother was a homemaker.[1] This role of subsistence farmer, performed by her father featured a common practice employed by Kenyan civilians as a result of British occupation and limited social mobility.[1] Gakuru. In 1947, attended Goramo Private School located nearby her home village.[1] While attending this school, Gakuru maintained contact with a nearby local independent school. These independent schools provided a location for political agitation to thrive. When Gakuru was 16, she met and conversed with a traveling political firebrand. This political group was named Gakaara Wa Wanjau, and started to develop Gakuru’s political beliefs surrounding colonialism.[1] The Mau Mau movement ended Gakuru’s schooling career when she was in class five. She had heard about the British forces relocating people groups, and feared the same fate for her family. This was her first introduction to the Mau Mau movement.[2]

Historical background[edit]

The Mau Mau Rebellion took years of previously established injustice and frustration to develop. The arrival of the British in Kenya in the 19th century, signaled the start of poor living conditions, and injustice. The British desired to build a railroad to connect with their colony in Uganda. However, the railroad went through several already established ethnic Kenyan kingdoms and territories. This disruption frustrated the Kikuyu ethnic group, the largest ethnic group. The British met the Kikuyu resistance with force. The British conducted executions and other brutal responses to put down the Kikuyu people. As a result, disease and famine took hold of the area. The Rebellion grew in popularity as a result of continued discontent and mistreatment.[3]

The name Mau Mau does not refer to a singular ethnic group of Kenyans, but many. The term Mau Mau found its origin from British forces, who labeled liberation fighters Mau Mau. The various ethnic groups involved included the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Kikuyu. The Mau Mau believed that the colonial government had failed them. To join the Mau Mau, a special oath had to be given, and accepted in the form of ceremony.[4] During said ceremony, members would swear an oath of secrecy, regardless of gender or ethnic group.[5] To be a loyalist meant swearing allegiance and service to the British Colonial government. Loyalists were targeted by Mau Mau fighters to send a message to the rest of the people.[6] The Rebellion had begun.

The Mau Mau visit to the Kenya Africa Union (KAU) marked the turn to violent rebellion. The KAU promoted a militant approach rather than a constitutional one. The activists began to force people into the oathing ceremonies by threats, intimidation, and consequences. These consequences included death and other wicked practices. The conflict escalated into a larger conflict in 1952 through an increase in British troops. British soldiers began to round up any suspected Mau Mau supporters or perpetrators and hung or detained them in prison camps.[7]

The Mau Mau Rebellion featured both political and social changes in the Mau Mau's quest for liberation. During the rebellion, the Mau Mau employed the use of women inside of their forces as both spies and soldiers. The women served faithfully in the forest armies. The women, when not running supplies or fighting the British/Loyalists, led the oath ceremonies or acted as medics. The women challenged the social expectations of women through combat and leadership, roles employed by men in Western civilizations. However, in Kenya, these Women served alongside their male counterparts, fighting for the goals of the rebellion.

Pioneering engagement[edit]

Wamuyu Gakuru was defined by her pivotal role in Kenya's political landscape, particularly in the push for decolonization and women's empowerment. Taking the Mau Mau oath in 1948 as part of the Kenya Africa Union (KAU) marked a significant turning point.[8] Her commitment to recruiting girls into the movement showcased her dedication to fostering political consciousness among women. Despite the vow of secrecy surrounding the oath, her efforts were visible through her active involvement in political activities. As a trailblazer, she displayed courage and leadership, inspiring others to join the cause for independence.[8]

Courage amidst conflict[edit]

Wamuyu Gakuru's dedication to the cause extended beyond her initial oath. She later took the batuni oath in 1951 in Goramo village, Central Province.[9] This marked a significant shift in her involvement, as the Batuni oath signified a call to arms and a commitment to the guerrilla movement.[10] Motivated by the arrest of Kenyatta and others in 1952, she embraced the belief that armed resistance was necessary to drive out the colonialists.[11] Wamuyu Gakuru's willingness to take a solemn oath demonstrated her determination to fight for Kenya's independence, playing crucial roles as both a recruiter and a warrior, shaping history and leaving a legacy as a fearless activist and advocate for liberation.

Undercover operations[edit]

After taking the batuni oath in 1951, Wamuyu Gakuru’s covertly infiltrated the homes of white settlers, strategically positioned by the Mau Mau leadership to gather intelligence and locate hidden weapons.[12] Employed as a maid in the house of a settler named Kihara, she discreetly identified the whereabouts of guns, facilitating a successful raid by Mau Mau fighters.[12] Subsequently, she undertook a similar role in the household of another settler named Hines, aiding in retrieving additional firearms during a subsequent raid.[12]

In 1953, Wamuyu Gakuru's involvement escalated as she participated in gun running near Nanyuki Airport, shuttling between the forest camp at Mt. Kenya and the operational base.[13] Her efforts were instrumental in securing a substantial cache of weapons, necessitating a railway wagon for transportation, facilitated by a fellow oath-taker named Musoka.[12] Following these missions, Wamuyu Gakuru fully committed herself to the cause, joining the forest fighters in their struggle against colonial oppression.[12] Her resourcefulness and role in this movement solidified her legacy as a freedom fighter, remembered for her role in Kenya's fight for independence.

Frontline leadership[edit]

Wamuyu Gakuru's journey as a freedom fighter led her to join the Hika Hika battalion in 1955, also known as the Mount Kenya/Mathathi Army, under the command of Waruhiu Itote, famously known as General China.[14] With other distinguished leaders like General Tanganyika and General Kariba, the battalion encompassed the Nyeri, Embu, and Meru regions, embodying the spirit of "go quickly, go quickly."[12] Within this formidable force, 30 women, including Wamuyu Gakuru, played crucial roles, engaging in activities such as gathering provisions and intelligence.[15] Wamuyu Gakuru's specific duties involved espionage, focusing on monitoring the movements of the colonial army, particularly the native colonial police forces.[12][16] As a ration commander, she also ensured the equitable distribution of scarce resources among the combatants.

Her military training, conducted by World War II veteran Mbithi Manyuira, equipped her with essential skills in handling firearms like the 303 Enfield rifle, Bren gun, and Sten gun, as well as specialized training in using "gaturauhoro" for combat purposes.[17] Through her unwavering dedication and bravery, Wamuyu Gakuru emerged as a figure in the struggle for Kenya's independence.

Legacy and critique[edit]

Wamuyu Gakuru reflected on the weaknesses of the Mau Mau movement, noting a lack of unity among its leaders as a significant flaw.[18] She criticized self-appointed leaders without leadership qualities, hindering coordination.[18] Gakuru highlighted the marginalization of women, weakening the movement's impact.[18] Despite its faults, the Mau Mau movement accelerated Kenya's independence, challenging colonial rule.[18] Gakuru advocated for recognizing Mau Mau's contributions through museums and monuments.[18] She asserted Mau Mau's legacy laid Kenya's foundation for freedom and democracy, emphasizing educating younger generations about its significance.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Paukwa (2021-12-16). "Cinda Reri". Paukwa. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  2. ^ Alam, S. M. Shamsul (2007). Rethinking Mau Mau in colonial Kenya (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-4039-8374-9. OCLC 77573881.
  3. ^ "The Mau Mau Rebellion: Anticolonial Upheaval in Kenya". TheCollector. 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  4. ^ "What Was The Mau Mau Uprising?". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  5. ^ Presley, Cora Ann (1988). "The Mau Mau Rebellion, Kikuyu Women, and Social Change". Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne des Études Africaines. 22 (3): 515–521. doi:10.2307/485952. ISSN 0008-3968. JSTOR 485952.
  6. ^ "Chapter 12: 'Forgive and forget'? The Mau Mau uprising in Kenyan collective memory", Sites of imperial memory, Manchester University Press, pp. 207–224, 2017, doi:10.7765/msi/9781526111890.12, ISBN 978-1-5261-1189-0, retrieved 2024-04-27
  7. ^ TIME (May 4, 1953). ""Kenya Lies Under the Sword"" (PDF). TIME Magazine. pp. 143–150.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b Alam, S. M. Shamsul (2007). Rethinking Mau Mau in colonial Kenya (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-4039-8374-9. OCLC 77573881.
  9. ^ Nasong'o, Shadrack Wanjala; Amutabi, Maurice Nyamanga; Falola, Toyin, eds. (2023). The Palgrave handbook of Kenyan history. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 208. ISBN 978-3-031-09486-6.
  10. ^ Shiraz, Durrani (2018-08-03). People's Resistance to Colonialism and Imperialism in Kenya. Vita Books. p. 40. ISBN 978-9966-114-52-5.
  11. ^ Alam, S. M. Shamsul (2007). Rethinking Mau Mau in colonial Kenya (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-4039-8374-9. OCLC 77573881.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Alam, S. M. Shamsul (2007). Rethinking Mau Mau in colonial Kenya (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-4039-8374-9. OCLC 77573881.
  13. ^ Wangui Gachíhi, Margaret (1986). The Role of Kikuyu Women in the Mau Mau. University of Nairobi. p. 6.
  14. ^ Wangui Gachíhi, Margaret (1986). The Role of Kikuyu Women in the Mau Mau. University of Nairobi. p. 218.
  15. ^ Mwanzia Koster, Mickie; Kithinji, Michael Mwenda; Rotich, Jerono Phylis (2016). Kenya after 50: reconfiguring education, gender, and policy. African histories and modernities. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-137-57462-6.
  16. ^ Wangui Gachíhi, Margaret (1986). The Role of Kikuyu Women in the Mau Mau. University of Nairobi. p. 175.
  17. ^ Alam, S. M. Shamsul (2007). Rethinking Mau Mau in colonial Kenya (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-4039-8374-9. OCLC 77573881.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Alam, S. M. Shamsul (2007). Rethinking Mau Mau in colonial Kenya (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-4039-8374-9.
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