Thread by @wmnjoya

This is a beautiful article by Maina wa Kinyatti about the military and institutional organization of the Mau Mau. It give details.of the military strategies and the internal contradictions of the Mau Mau. #PoliticalEducationKE

escholarship.org/uc/item/3c8738…

From the beginning, Jomo was committed to "peaceful" negotiation with the British. He tried to get an audience with settlers and the colonial government here, they refused to meet him. Most Kenyans had no time for that nonsense. Jomo knew it. #PoliticalEducationKE

In 1948, Jomo told an American journalist that he was scared that the "left-wing" arm of KAU were "dark and half-educated minds" who were prepared to use force.

In 1952, Jomo sent Oneko and Koinange to London for a last ditch negotiation with the British. #PoliticalEducationKE

The British were so rude, they refused to meet them. Upon return, Oneko was honest enough to tell the Mau Mau the truth about their (non)reception in London.

Another interesting thing is the involvement of the trade union movement, especially Makhan Singh. #PoliticalEducationKE

When kina Kaggia got tired of the middle of the road position of Jomo, they got clarity and support from the trade unions.

Lastly...Ive learned that Anglo-Americans are cowards. They don't fight militarily. They don't win on the battlefield. #PoliticalEducationKE

They fight by torturing the populations and breaking the spirit of ordinary people through starvation, torture and buying out people. The straw that broke the Mau Mau back wasnt on the military field but money enriching the homeguard class.

Bloody cowards. #PoliticalEducationKE