The history of British occupation in foreign territories is marked by a series of massacres. Across the various regions where the Union Jack was forcibly raised, the same disturbing pattern emerges: massacres followed the expansion of the British Empire. From India to South Africa to Malaysia, the atrocities committed by the British Empire are numerous.
Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising was no exception, with its own share of massacres. Unfortunately, awareness of these events remains limited among Kenyans today, highlighting the fact that much of the British Empire’s shameful past is not adequately taught in our schools. This is partly because the history included in school curricula is often a one-sided narrative, crafted by the victors and omitting uncomfortable truths.
As we commemorate 70 years since the declaration of the state of emergency in Kenya, this series seeks to shed light on some of the lesser-known massacres that occurred during the Mau Mau uprising. We will focus on four massacres that took place in Murang’a County, with an additional one in Meru. These include:
- Kirwara
- Rwathia
- Kaywahwe
- Mununga
- Chuka
By bringing these stories to the forefront, we aim to preserve the memory of these tragic events, acknowledging that they cannot simply be forgotten or erased.