Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses CAHSS Theses and Dissertations and Dissertations 1-1-2015 Perpetrator and Victim Constructions of Justice, Forgiveness and Trauma Healing: Results of a Thematic Narrative Study of Intra-group Conflict in Colonial Central Kenya, 1952-1962 Daniel Njoroge Karanja Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd Part of the African Studies Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Regional Sociology Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Daniel Njoroge Karanja. 2015. Perpetrator and Victim Constructions of Justice, Forgiveness and Trauma Healing: Results of a Thematic Narrative Study of Intra-group Conflict in Colonial Central Kenya, 1952-1962. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences. (21) http://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/21. This Dissertation is brought to you by the CAHSS Theses and Dissertations at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Perpetrator and Victim Constructions of Justice, Forgiveness and Trauma Healing: Results of a Thematic Narrative Study of Intra-group Conflict in Colonial Central Kenya, 1952-1962 by Daniel Njoroge Karanja A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Nova Southeastern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nova Southeastern University 2015 Copyright © by Daniel Njoroge Karanja January 2015 Dedication This work is dedicated to my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents who provided logistical support at the tactical, operational and strategic levels to the Mau Mau defense forces also known as the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA). We honor the fallen and recognize that their sacrifices were not in vain. To all the veterans of this war, all succeeding generatiosn will be forever in your debt. For all the research participants who shared their precious narratives to make this research possible, we honor you for this gift. Acknowledgements I take this opportunity to acknowledge a few people who have walked with me along this journey to the successful completion of this dissertation. My mother Wanjiku wa Karanja for the stories she shared me growing up about her experiences during Kenya’s war of independence and against seeds of interest in this topic. I am grateful to my father Karanja Wabuga whose support for my education was solid from nursery school to the University level. My dissertation chair, Robin Cooper, Ph.D., for providing outstanding mentorship and the members of my dissertation committee, Toran Hansen, Ph.D and Ismael Muvingi, Ph.D., plus the external reviewer, Nancy Erbe, J.D., all subject matter experts with vast knowledge and experience in this field who offered me unlimited guidance and support . Much appreciation is extended to Toran Hansen, Ph.D., for his immeasurable generosity during the initial days as I strived for a clear research focus and direction. I owe a significant debt of gratitude to all the fourteen research participants who willingly and kindly devoted quality time and generous stories. Their desire to educate others was an invaluable gift to the field of conflict analysis. Finally, I would like to thank my family members, friends and colleagues who have provided seamless support throughout this long academic journey. Special thanks to our children Saraphina Wanjiku Njoroge, Joseph Karanja Njoroge and Gideon Gitahi Njoroge who have endured many years of endless mini-stories and chats about peace and conflict studies at home. Special thanks to my wife Joyce M. Njoroge. She has been my primary inspiration with her strong convictions that justice, forgiveness and trauma healing are possible between people groups and nations. Table of Contents List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………….….........iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 – Introduction to the Study ................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 – Literature Review .......................................................................................... 13 Dehumanization.............................................................................................................13 Hatred ............................................................................................................................ 17 Structural Violence ........................................................................................................ 21 The Mau Mau ................................................................................................................ 31 The Loyalists “Home Guard” ........................................................................................ 36 Escalation of Grievances ............................................................................................... 40 Massacres: Lari, Chuka and Hola ................................................................................. 43 Chapter 3 Research Methods……………………………………………….........……....64 Narrative Inquiry ........................................................................................................... 64 Sample Selection ........................................................................................................... 71 Narrative Thematic Analysis ......................................................................................... 74 Reliabilitiy ..................................................................................................................... 81 Delimitations and Limitations ....................................................................................... 83 Ethics and Reflexivity ................................................................................................... 88 Chapter 4 – Results ......................................................................................... …………. 92 Chapter 5 - Discussion Conclusions and Recommendations ..........................................207 References........................................................................................................................230 i Appendix A......................................................................................................................285 Appendix B......................................................................................................................286 Appendix C 1...................................................................................................................287 Appendix C 2 - Narrative thematic analysis matrix.........................................................288 Appendix D Psychological warfare pamphelt I...............................................................289 Appendix E Psychological warfare pamphlet II..............................................................290 Appendix F Dedan Kimathi Wachiuri - KLFA Commander in Chief.............................291 ii List of Abbreviations GEMA Gikuyu Embu Meru Association KA Kikuyu Association KAU Kenya African Union KCA Kikuyu Central Association KLFA Kenya Land and Freedom Army KLLA Kenya Land Liberation Army YKA Young Kikuyu Association iii Abstract This dissertation investigated how the Gikuyu people of central Kenya understood justice, forgiveness and trauma healing or their absence during a decade of intra-group reciprocal violence. This qualitative research study employed the narrative research method utilizing the “Williams Model” (Riessman, 2008). Field interviews were guided by a primary research question: What do the narratives of perpetrators and victims in reciprocal violence reveal about their understanding of justice, forgiveness and trauma healing or their absence? Fourteen research participants aged 78 to 92 years shared their full narratives. Current conflict analysis literature overwhelmingly centers on the victims and less on perpetrators. The reseach sample allowed perpetrator voices to be heard. The findings of this study suggest that the absence of justice as defined by the stakeholders is a primary perceived barrier towards forgiveness and trauma healing in post-conflict environments. While restorative justice literature offers hope in repairing harm, it’s applicability in this study bears some complications when faced with the unreadiness of perpetrators to face their victims in a voluntary process. An extended discussion on restorative justice is offered under implications. Fair land re-distribution was identified as the most preferred response to the question of justice but is yet to be addressed. This stalemate suggests the need for a new negotiated framing and definition of justice if progress