Table Of Content3000000000000000C
Squatters and the
Roots of Mau Mau
EASTERN AFRICAN STUDIES
Swahili Origins: Swahili Culture & the Shungwaya Phenomenon,
James de Vere Allen, John Middleton, editors
Control & Crisis in Colonial Kenya: The Dialectic of Domination,
Bruce J. Berman
Unhappy Valley: Clan, Class & State in Colonial Kenya,
Bruce J. Berman & John Lonsdale
The Mau Mau War in Perspective, Frank Furedi
Uganda Now: Between Decay & Development,
Holger Bernt Hansen & Michael Twaddle, editors
Changing Uganda: The Dilemmas of Structural Adjustment and
Revolutionary Change, Holger Bernt Hansen &
Michael Twaddle
Squatters & the Roots of Mau Mau 1905-63, Tabitha Kanogo
Penetration & Protest in Tanzania: The Impact of the World
Economy on the Pare, Isaria N. Kimambo
The Second Economy in Tanzania, T. L. Maliyamkono &
Mboya S. D. Bagachwa
Slaves, Spices & Ivory in Zanzibar, Abdul Sheriff
Zanzibar under Colonial Rule, Abdul Sheriff & Ed Ferguson, eds
Being Maasai: Ethnicity & Identity in East Africa,
Thomas Spear & Richard Waller, editors
Economic & Social Origins of Mau Mau 1945-53,
David W.Throup
A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855-1974, Bahru Zewde
Kakungulu & the Creation of Uganda, Michael Twaddle
Revealing Prophets: Prophecy in East African History,
David M. Anderson & Douglas H. Johnson, editors
Religion & Politics in East Africa: The Period since Independence,
Holger Bernt Hansen & Michael Twaddle, editors
Education in the Development of Tanzania 1919-1990,
Lene Buchert
Decolonization & Independence in Kenya 1940-93,
B. A. Ogot & William Ochieng*
Ecology Control & Economic Development in East African
History, Helge Kjekshus
- J U U U U U U O O O O O O O Q OC
S q u a t t e rs a nd t he
R o o ts of M au M au
1 9 0 5 - 63
T a b i t ha K a n o go
Lecturer in History
Kenyatta University
James Currey
LONDON
Heinemann Kenya
NAIROBI
Ohio University Press
ATHENS
Electronic edition published in 2016
Ohio University Press
www.ohioswallow.com
James Currey
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
PO Box 9, Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 3DF (GB)
www.jamescurrey.com
Boydell & Brewer Inc.
668 Mt Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731 (US)
www.boydellandbrewer.com
©Tabitha Kanogo 1987
First Published 1987
All rights reserved
BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Kanogo, Tabitha
Squatters and the roots of Mau Mau -
(East African Studies)
1. Kenya-Race Relations I. Title II. Series
305.8'9676'2 DT433.542
ISBN 0-85255-018-9 ISBN 0-85255-019-7 Pbk
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Kanogo, Tabitha M.
Squatters and the roots of Mau Mau, 1905-63
Includes bibliographies and index
1. Migrant agricultural laborers-Kenya-History-20th century
2. Squatters-Kenya-History-20th century 3. Mau Mau-History
4. Kikuyu (African people)-History
I. Tide
HD1538.K4K36 1987 307.336 87-11202
ISBN 0-8214-0873-9 ISBN 0-8214-0874-7 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-78204-778-0 (James Currey eISBN)
ISBN 978-0-8214-4446-7 (Ohio University Press eISBN)
300D00000D000000C
For my mother
and in memory of my father
3000000000000000C
Contents
Acknowledgements x
List of Abbreviations xii
Glossary of Kikuyu and Swahili Terms used in Text xiv
Maps xvi
Introduction 1
One
The Genesis of the Squatter Community, 1905-18 8
Land alienation among the Kikuyu 9
The Kikuyu expansionist dynamic 10
Factors behind Kikuyu migration 11
Early labour recruitment 14
The squatter system 15
Kaffir farming 15
Kikuyu migration to the Rift Valley 17
Squatter settlement patterns 19
Squatter accumulation: livestock 21
The paradox of a labour shortage: squatter self-perception 26
The other squatters 27
Notes 29
Two
Settlers and Squatters: Conflict of Interests 1918-37 35
The 1918 Resident Native Labourers Ordinance (RNLO) 37
Additional labour legislation 38
Settlers and squatter stock 40
Settler differences over squatter stock 44
'Kifagio' 46
Squatter resistance 47
viii Contents
Squatter production in the inter-war years 55
The sanctity of the White Highlands versus squatter assertion:
from squatters to wage labourers 59
Squatter insecurity 61
Squatters and litigation 64
Notes 68
Three
Social Organisation among Squatters 74
Elders' councils (ciama) 75
Official opposition to the kiama 75
Circumcision 77
The struggle for education 78
KISA and Karinga schools 79
Self help among squatters: the quest for education 81
Kikuyu Private Schools Association 84
The missions 87
Notes 92
Four
The Crisis: Decline in Squatter Welfare 1938-48 96
The 1937 Resident Native Labourers Ordinance:
provisions and implications 97
Olenguruone 105
The Olenguruone scheme 107
Resistance at Olenguruone 115
The Olenguruone oath 116
Notes 120
Five
Politics of Protest: Mau Mau 125
Post-war political mobilisation 125
KCA and KAU mobilisation 128
Militant politics among the squatters 129
The social basis of Mau Mau in the White Highlands 129
The rise of violence 136
Mau Mau food supplies: the women's war 143
Mau Mau and the control of the Rift Valley 149
The return of Kikuyu squatters to the White Highlands 152
Notes 155
Contents ix
Six
The Post Mau Mau Period: The Independence Bargain
and the Plight of the Squatters, 1955-63 162
The Kenya Land Freedom Army 164
Liberal European politics 169
Land and politics 169
The peasantisation of the White Highlands 174
Notes 176
Conclusion 179
List of Informants 182
Biographical Notes on Key Informants 184
Select Bibliography 188
Index 199
