Description
Object description
British civilian served as community development/welfare and District Officer with Colonial Administrive Service in Kenya, 1947-1960
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as community development/welfare and District Officer with Colonial Administrative Service in Fort Hall District in Kenya, 1947-1952: work helping ex-servicemen back into civilian life; example of ex-servicemen discontented through experiencing service in Far East during Second World War; how he gradually became involved into routine district work in Fort Hall district; female riots over terracing work, 1948; evidence of male instigators over riots, 1948; how he acquired magisterial powers, 1950; administrative structure of Fort Hall District; operation of Kikuyu chief system; example of choice of chief was made.
REEL 2 Continues: his work as administrator; poll tax system operated; sources of individual African sense of ill will; Kikuyu grievance over land and white settlement; growth of Kikuyu Central Association; Kikuyu grievances over missionary activity and education; Kikuyu religious belief and organisation; activities of Kikuyu Central Association in his area.
REEL 3 Continues: appearance of uniforms amongst Kikuyu and rise of disrespectful attitude amongst young Kikuyu; influence of Indian diplomat; origins of oathing; Mau Mau oathing methods; character of Kikuyu 'loyalists'; slowness of administration to react to Mau Mau. Recollections of period as District Officer with Colonial Administrative Service in Kenya, 1952-1960: declaration of State of Emergency, 1952; memories of Sergeant Idi Amin during service with King's African Rifles; how Mau Mau were recognised.
REEL 4 Continues: his decision to concentrate on administrative rather than paramilitary role; his card index system and it's uses; establishment of de-oathing teams; development of security system for 'loyalist' Kikuyu; organisation of armed posts; example of armed clash; role of Kenya Regt; protected village system; geographical definition of Mau Mau rebellion.
REEL 5 Continues: reads from captured Mau Mau war diary; effectiveness of air power; turning of tide against Mau Mau; problems of obtaining hard evidence for trial; detention system; manipulation of Mau Mau by Kenyan politicians; development of Kikuyu political consciousness; material benefits Kikuyu derived from Emergency; conduct of Kenyan elections; memories of Jomo Kenyatta; Mau Mau attitude towards Asians.
REEL 6 Continues: African attitude towards Asians; relations of Mau Mau towards missions and Christianity; role of Kikuyu organisation of their own church; anti-Christian attitude of Mau Mau; rural origins of Mau Mau; role of urban area of Nairobi in rebellion; question of killing of children by Mau Mau; declining quality of Mau Mau leadership.
REEL 7 Continues: methods he employed to defeat Mau Mau; attitudes of other tribes towards Mau Mau; story of his capture of Mau Mau war diary; his relations with settlers; his handling of killings of Mau May prisoners at Hola Detention Camp.
REEL 8 Continues: question of detainees release after Hola Detention Camp incident; his method of sifting detainees for release from camp.