Thread by @Kenyan_Dawn

WARUHIU Wa KUNG'U

In the late afternoon of October 9, 1952, colonial collaborating Senior Chief Waruhiu stepped into the backseat of his spotless Hudson sedan for what would become a most fateful journey.

His driver whisked him and two of his friends away from the controlled order of downtown colonial Nairobi en route to the village of Gachie not far from the White Highlands.

The journey along winding, narrow roads would take them past the graceful pink stucco buildings and manicured grounds of the Muthaiga Club. Partway through the journey a gentle rain began to fall as the Hudson climbed the foothills, reflecting the vibrant green of the local coffe

As the driver made a sharp turn, three men wearing British colonial police uniforms waved the car to a stop. One of them approached the car, leaned in, and asked for Senior Chief Waruhiu.

The senior chief no sooner identified himself than the man drew a pistol and shot him in the mouth and then three more times in the torso. The Mau Mau adherents, masquerading as policemen, shot out the car’s tires before making their escape.

Despite three eyewitnesses—the driver and the other passengers were left unharmed—the real assassins were never apprehended. Detectives described this murder as Mafia style. The assassin had a sense of macabre humour too.

First, he saluted, then raised the .38 Wesson pistol & emptied five bullets into the senior chief’s body. At 12:48 pm, the most senior Kenyan administrator in Kiambu had just been shot.His body now lay with his head thrust back on his headrest and his right foot on the front seat

His eyes were closed and his mouth open, bleeding onto his dapper white shirt and pants. His beige hat was still intact. His death shocked the settler community and helped contribute to the declaration of a state of emergency in Kenya two weeks later.

Many locals did not attend his burial making it a white men and family affair. Jomo Kenyattas attendance raised eyebrows.