MAU MAU REPARATIONS, MEMORIALIZATION AND KENYA’S FUTURE BY SIRONKA AMY WANJIRU REG NO: 637671 A Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in International Relations UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY- AFRICA SUMMER 2016 vi STUDENT’S DECLARATION I, the undersigned, declare that this is my original work and has not been submitted to any other college, institution or university other than the United States International University – Africa in Nairobi for academic credit. Signed: ________________________ Date: __________________ (Sironka Amy Wanjiru) This thesis has been presented for examination with my approval as the appointed supervisor. Signed: ________________________ Date: _____________________ (Dr. Duncan Ojwang) Signed: _______________________ Date: ____________________ Dean, School of Humanities & Sciences Signed: _______________________ Date: _________________ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs vii © Copyright by Sironka Amy 2016 All Rights Reserved viii Abstract The Mau Mau uprising took place between 1952 and 1960 in Kenya. It was a revolt against the British colonial government by the Kenyan local communities. During the uprising, many Africans were tortured and others killed by the colonial government. In 2002, the victims of torture filed a civil case in the United Kingdom. It was opposed by the Foreign Affairs ministry of the United Kingdom on the grounds of lapse of time. The court overruled this objection in 2012 and allowed the case to proceed to full hearing. In June 2013 and before the main hearing of the case could start, the United Kingdom government offered an out of court settlement to the victims of torture to compensate them at the sum of £20 million and the victims agreed to the offer. The United Kingdom in addition to the compensation offered to build a memorial for the Mau Mau war veterans in Nairobi. Being a case that has had numerous developments in the recent past, little has been written on the effectiveness of the compensation in addressing the victims’ concerns. This study takes a deeper look at the effectiveness of the reparations, apology and memorial, in addressing the plight of the victims of torture, for those who died, their families and to the nation as a whole. The study further argues that in order to rectify the wrongs that were done during the colonial period and to mend relations with the victims that suffered the various atrocities, their families and the nation at large, there is need for Britain to continue to support the healing and reconciliation process with the victims in addition to the reparations, apology and memorial. ix Acknowledgement I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor Dr. Duncan Ojwang for the support in research. His guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this thesis. Besides my advisor, I would like to thank my colleagues and classmates, for their encouragement, insightful comments, and hard questions. Last but not the least, I would like to thank my family for continuous support and immense contribution in the development of this thesis, and supporting me throughout my life. x TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................xiii CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Background of the Study .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Statement of the Research Problem ................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Objectives of Study ........................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.4 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................................. 18 1.5 Research Questions ......................................................................................................................... 19 1.6 Hypothesis ........................................................................................................................................ 20 1.7 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................................ 20 1.8 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 20 1.9 Chapter Outline .............................................................................................................................. 21 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................................... 22 2.1 Inception of colonialism in Kenya ................................................................................................. 22 2.2 Beginning of the Mau Mau Movement ......................................................................................... 25 2.3 Declaration of a State of Emergency ............................................................................................. 28 2.4 Onset of the ‘Screening Process’.................................................................................................... 32 2.5Filling of the case by the MMWVA before UK courts ................................................................. 41 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................................. 44 3.1Reparations, Apology and Unveiling of Memorial in Honour of Victims ................................... 44 3.2 Treatment of Mau Mau Suspects during the Emergency Period ............................................... 46 3.3 Forgiveness in International Relations ......................................................................................... 48 3.3.1 Role of collective remembrance in addressing past injustices ............................................. 48 3.3.2 The juridico-political and theologico-philosophical models of forgiveness ........................ 51 xi 3.3.3 Importance of the participation of ordinary citizens in the process of forgiveness ........... 57 3.3.4 Challenges in political forgiveness .......................................................................................... 58 3.3.5 Distribution of responsibility for past atrocities ................................................................... 61 3.3.6 Importance of the public acknowledgement of past wrongs ................................................ 62 3.3.7 Dual model of forgiveness encompassing retributive and restorative justice ..................... 63 CHAPTER 4 .............................................................................................................................................. 65 4.1 Role of Leigh Day Law Firm in MMWVA Case .......................................................................... 65 4.3 Impact of Colonialism in Kenya .................................................................................................... 67 4.5 Rectificatory Justice in International Relations ........................................................................... 72 CHAPTER FIVE ...................................................................................................................................... 82 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................ 82 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 86 xii LIST OF ACRONYMS U.K United Kingdom MMWVA Mau Mau War Veterans Association K.H.R.C Kenya Human Rights Commission K.C.A. Kikuyu Central Association K.A.U Kenya African Union D.C District Commissioner K.A.D.U Kenya African Democratic Union K.A.R Kings African Rifles Y.K.A Young Kikuyu Association D.D.O Delegated Detention Officer xiii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background of the Study The study is centered on the rise of the Mau Mau Movement, a revolt against colonial rule in Kenya. The movement arose as a result of the oppression that the native Africans faced under colonial rule through forceful eviction and loss of their freedom. The movement was opposed by the colonial government, and as a result, many Africans especially those suspected of being members of the Mau Mau movement suffered gross abuses. The East Africa was opened to colonial domination through the constructionof roads and railways. One such railway was the Uganda railway line which opened up the interior of East Africa. Infrastructure projects cost the British government enormous amounts of money. Consequently, it was faced with the task of repaying back