Photos
Unhistories – Kenya’s Mau Mau: Detention Camps and Torture
7 min read.This second part of the Unhistories series covers the ‘prohibited areas’ where the fighting took place, the mobile gallows, the trials, torture, and prisons.
In 2014, Belgian documentary artist Max Pinckers was invited to the Archive of Modern Conflict in London, where he came across a collection of British propaganda material relating to the 1950s “Mau Mau Emergency Crisis” in Kenya. Since then he has been working with various Mau Mau War Veterans Associations in Kenya, with a particular focus on using photography to (re-)visualize the fight for independence from their personal perspectives. This includes mass graves, former detention camp buildings, locations of former mobile gallows, cave hideouts, oral witness testimonies, portraits and demonstrations of personal experiences.
This ongoing documentary project titled Unhistories departs from the Hanslope Disclosure in which British colonial archives were destroyed, hidden and manipulated. Known as Operation Legacy in the 1950s, the British colonial administration in Kenya destroyed much of the documentation relating to the Emergency prior to their departure in 1963. Unhistories is a collaboration with Mau Mau veterans, Kenyans who survived the colonial violence, historians, artists, activists, writers, archives, universities and museumsto fill in the missing gaps of the archives.
This second part of the Unhistories series covers the ‘prohibited areas’ where the fighting took place, the mobile gallows, the trials, torture, and prisons.
Thomas Askwith, Commissioner for Community Development in Kenya (1911-2001), developed the “pipeline” in 1953. A large-scale system to “rehabilitate” suspected supporters and fighters of the Mau Mau movement. As military operations ramped up in 1954, it was converted into a system of punitive detention, torture and collective punishment. Concerned by the lack of standardized procedures and heightened use of violence, he was a spirited advocate for the humane treatment of prisoners in detention camps. For his efforts, he was quietly marginalized by the colonial administration.
Mobile Gallows
Public hangings were outlawed in Britain for over a century but took place in Kenya during the emergency. A mobile gallows was transported by the British around the country to carry out the execution of Mau Mau suspects. Between 1952 and 1958, 1,090 Kikuyu were hanged. In no other place, and at no other time in the history of British imperialism, was state execution used on such a scale.
Mburu wa Gitou
The gallows stood here and this cemented block is where the bodies would drop dead before they were wrapped up and hauled out. During the hangings there was a Catholic Father at the door. He prayed and after the conviction, he would sign, break the pen and wash his hands. 57 people were hanged here.
The hanging begun at 11 at night and we could hear them saying: “We have gone, we have died and you have been left. Never let go of this land, for it is what we die for.” They all died with a fistful of soil in their hand.
Once hanged, the bodies were not disposed of immediately, they were seen by everybody so that people would be afraid. So that they would stop the war. But they would dare not surrender. The bodies were hauled into a truck in the morning. The army trucks rode away with legs dangling from the back.
The monument serves as a reminder of those who were hanged in this nation, who died for independence. We can come for prayers here. The design of the monument is made in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya, and we will engrave their names on the wall.
— Mburu wa Gitou (Chairman of the Kenya Unity for Memorial, Peace, Heritage and Culture Organization), Githunguri, Kiambu County, 2019
Sir Evelyn Baring, KG, GCMG, KCVO (1903-1973) was the Governor of Kenya from 1952 to 1959. Together with Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd, he played a significant role in the government’s efforts to cover up the abuses carried out during the suppression of the Mau Mau and keep them secret from the British public.
Paul Mwangi Mwenja
During the struggle for independence I was a student at a school where the King’s African Rifles were staying. They were fighting for the British, but the soldiers became our friends. They showed us everything, and that’s when I learned how the gun works.
I began making homemade guns. You could only use one bullet at a time. You’d take out the cartridge and put in another. We used these guns to hunt European soldiers. When we’d get one—we would ambush or hide beside him in the bush and shoot him—we’d take his gun. That way we’d gain a gun. A new gun.
We used water pipes to make these guns. And then we were using door locks. We would sharpen the tip of the door lock and use a spring or elastic rubber to hit the bullet, so that oxygen would get in and the bullet fires. The guns we were making could be taken apart while traveling. In order to hide it in the kabuthi, the jacket, you could break it up into two pieces, and when you wanted to be in action you could put it together again. It was easy to travel with.
— Paul Mwangi Mwenja (MMWVA Murang’a Branch Secretary), Murang’a, 2019
Terence Gavaghan, MBE (1922-2011) was a British colonial district officer in Kenya responsible for six detention centers in Mwea during the emergency. He was the chief architect of the “dilution technique” and was known for implementing the systematic destruction of bodies and minds in Kenya’s detention camps. During Operation Legacy, Gavaghan also participated in the burning of documents in incinerators and ensured that others would be permanently held under lock and key. The colonial government’s chief torturer in Kenya was also one of its chief archivists in the final days of rule.
Terence Gavaghan interviewed in BBC Correspondent documentary Kenya: White Terror, aired on November 17, 2002.
Extra’s on Death Row
Simba (1955), directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, starring Dirk Bogarde and Virginia McKenna, was filmed in Kenya at the height of the emergency. The film tells the story of a White settler family who find themselves involved in the Mau Mau uprising. The characterization of the Mau Mau movement is conformed to what was by then a well-established British stereotype, using all of the conventional colonial imagery. South African producer Peter de Saringy, who was responsible for most of the location filming in Kenya, explained that they used Mau Mau prisoners in some of the scenes as extra’s. They had obtained the prisoners from a jail on the outskirts of Nairobi, with the full co-operation of the prison authorities, who “brought them from their cages” to be filmed at the perimeter of the gaol. Several of the prisoners were reported as being handcuffed to prevent their escape while the filming took place. Three of the eleven men filmed were taken to the gallows only three days later.
More from the Unhistories series
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Photos
Maandamano Thursdays in Photos – 30th March
In Nairobi the opposition coalition marked its third day and second week of protests by engaging the residents of Imara Daima, Kware and Mukuru Kwa Njenga. It all started peacefully before turning ugly as the day progressed.
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga on Thursday 31 March 2023 led anti-government demonstrations across the country. In Nairobi the opposition coalition marked its third day and second week of protests by engaging the residents of Imara Daima, Kware and Mukuru Kwa Njenga. It all started peacefully before turning ugly as the day progressed.
Businesses in the Nairobi Central Business District were open for the better part of the day after security forces managed to lock out opposition protesters for the second time since the demonstrations started.
A lady tries to protect herself from teargas along Juja Road.
A tree that provides shade to Bunge la Wananchi on Jacaranda grounds was cut down by police.
Parents around the Jacaranda grounds rushed to various schools to pick up their children as news spread that opposition supporters were making their way to the area for a political rally.
Protestors barricade the Donholm underpass with stones and tires.
A protestor throws stones at the police in the Quarry area as passers-by try to get away from the scene.
Major standoff between police and protesters in the Pipeline area after a police officer was seriously wounded and a protestor shot and killed.
Some protestors walked away with police shields taken from wounded officers.
To reach their customers in Fedha Estate, delivery riders had to make tough choices after finding themselves caught between the police and stone-throwing protesters.
Kenyans coming from work are caught up in the fracas.
A police officer pleading with protestors in the Soweto area to remain calm.
Members of the press were under constant attack from both the police and the protestors as they covered the protests around the country.
A demonstrator supplying frontline protestors with stones in the Pipeline area.
Protesters cross a police roadblock on Old Donholm Road to join the opposition leaders’ motorcade.
Police provide cover for residents helping to open the road at Donholm.
A protester executing cartwheels on Jogoo Road.
Photos
Maandamano Mondays in Photos – 27th March
Kenya is settling into a protracted period of resistance as land and property invasions have accompanied the demonstrations. Images from the Monday, 27th March 2023 protests.
Kenya is settling into a protracted period of resistance as land and property invasions have accompanied the demonstrations. Many observers fear that the near future will be determined by missteps on the part of the state and the opposition. Here is a look of how things were on Monday, as captured by our photographer.
A team of trespassers invade Northlands farm associated with former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s family.
Anti-riot police officers block roads leading to Statehouse Nairobi as their counterparts patrol the Nairobi Central Business District.
Police block protesters on motorbikes from trying to access the Central Business District in Nairobi.
A woman carries a bible while praying for the nation along Moi Avenue.
An opposition politician accused of spying on police is cornered by anti-riot officers and forced out of his car in the Nairobi Central Business District.
The Nairobi Central Business District remained paralysed for the better part of Monday, 27th March 2023 as traders feared possible looting by protestors.
The calm before the storm. A woman takes a walk in the city streets with two children, before the tension between police and protesters spelt over later in the day.
Shops in the larger Nairobi Central Business District remained closed.
Delivery riders around the Nairobi Central Business District were the most hit with the closing down of business in Nairobi.
A Nairobi Municipal Council parking lot along Aga Khan Walk Nairobi remains deserted for the better part of Monday.
Photos
Maandamano Mondays in Photos – 20th March
Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s supporters took to the streets on Monday, 20th March 2023 to protest the high cost of living in Kenya.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s supporters took to the streets on monday to protest against surging prices for basic necessities, as well as a sharp drop in the local shilling against the US dollar and a drought that has left millions hungry.
A large police contingent was deployed around the major towns and authorities strictly restricted movement in potential hot-spots especially around Nairobi like Kibera, Mathare, Huruma, Lucky Summer to mention but a few.
Shops in the larger central business district remained closed, some schools cancelled classes and less traffic on the streets than normal was experienced.
The protestors engaged police in running battles on the streets as others found it ruff in the hands of the law enforers, who were under strict instructions to contain the city.
Mr. Odinga motorcade also came under heavy police resistance as he was trying to access the central business district to join his supporters. However he has vowed to keep their supporters on the streets against the government every monday until all his demands are met.
Thika Super Highway early morning with no traffic heading to Nairobi.
A man pulls his cart along a traffic-less Moi Avenue on Monday morning.
Armed police guarding entries to government buildings withing the Nairobi Central Business District, Lt. Tumbo Avenue and City hall Way.
Protesters taking over the streets to voice their concerns as some enjoy a game of “soccer.”
Some protestors found it rough in the hands of police officers.
Both local and international journalists used all means to cover the demonstrations.
Kenyans who were lucky to make it to their offices following the protest proceedings from the safety of their windows.
Shops in the larger Nairobi Central Business District remained closed.
Plain clothes police offficers plotting how to disperse protestors and executing their security plan.
Protesters scatter for safety near KenCom bus station.
A protester braves teargas to dance on the street along City Way, Nairobi.
Protesters in Kaloleni light bonfires on the road.
Police officers putting out burning tyres along Jogoo Road, Nairobi.
Chaos, roadblocks and confusion along Ricana and City Stadium area as innocent Kenyans scatter for safety.
An injured lady journalist is helped to safety by a fellow journalist.
Police barricade Kenyatta Avenue as Raila Odinga’s convoy makes its way from Serena Hotel through a heavy cloud of teargas.
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