General Discussion
Photo - John Moss/Black Star
On April 8th, 1953, Jomo Kenyatta received a seven-year hard labor sentence for his pivotal role in the Mau Mau movement while leading the Kenya African Union.
Kenyatta faced additional consequences, including a three-year hard labor sentence for his association with the movement.
Furthermore, Fred Kubai, Richard Achieng, Bildad Kaggia, Paul Ngei, and Kungu Karumba were each sentenced to seven years of hard labor for their involvement with the Mau Mau movement.
Despite an unsuccessful appeal, it is important to note that Jomo Kenyatta was not a member of the Mau Mau movement. Many historians argue that the British authorities conducted his trial unjustly.
Kenyatta completed his sentence on April 14, 1959, with all restrictions lifted in August 1961. Subsequently, on October 28, 1961, he assumed the presidency of the Kenyan African National Union (Kanu). By June 1963, Kenyatta had become Kenya's first prime minister during the period of self-governance.
In the following year, Kenya obtained independence from Britain, becoming a Republic within the Commonwealth, with Kenyatta serving as its president until his passing in 1978.
Notably, Kenyatta's administration included more individuals who opposed the Mau Mau movement than those associated with it.
The Kenyan Government officially lifted the ban on the Mau Mau organization in August 2003, marking a significant historical milestone.
MAU MAU MOVEMENT
The Mau Mau movement, which emerged in 1947 within Kenya's Kikuyu tribe, operated covertly with the main goal of expelling white and European settlers who had encroached upon African territories post-World War II.
Apart from targeting foreign colonizers, the movement also sought to address perceived betrayals within the African community.
Feeling disenfranchised by the colonial administration, Mau Mau members resorted to violent means to amplify their grievances. By the early 1950s, their actions had escalated into open conflict, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in 1952.
This period saw the apprehension of multiple individuals, including Jomo Kenyatta.
Over time, the Mau Mau insurgency dwindled, concluding in 1959. Regrettably, the conflict resulted in the loss of over 14,000 African and Asian lives, along with 95 individuals of European descent between 1952 and 1957.