Description
Object description
British civilian served with Colonial Administrative Service in Kitui, Kiambu and Thika Districts, Kenya, 1947-1949; district commissioner wth Colonial Administrative Service in Kenya, 1950-1954; served as personal assistant to intelligence adviser to security forces during Operation Anvil in Nairobi, Kenya, 24/4/1954-26/5/1954; served as District Commissioner in Embu District, Kenya, 1954-1956; served as Provincial Commissioner in Central Province, Kenya, 1959-1963
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian officer with Colonial Administrative Service in Kitui, Kiambu and Thika Districts, Kenya, 1947-1949: character of Kamba tribe and former troops of King's African Rifles; opinion of Goan District clerks; role of Asian traders; problems in Kitui District; character of colonial system; tribal laws and customs; question of protecting Africans against European settlers' interests; opinion of missionary influence; opinion of European settlers.
REEL 2 Continues: question of Kenyan Independence, 1947; description of disturbance in bacon factory in Limuru, Kiambu District, 9/1947; awareness of Jomo Kenyatta's political organisation in Kiambu District; Mau Mau oathing. Aspects of period as district commissioner with Colonial Administrative Service in Kenya, 1950-1953: contact with Jomo Kenyatta; dealing with African District Council.
REEL 3 Continues: attending Jomo Kenyatta's trial, 1952; appearance of Jomo Kenyatta; opinion of Jomo Kenyatta's achievements. Aspects of period as personal assistant to intelligence adviser to security forces during Operation Anvil in Nairobi, Kenya, 24/4/1954-26/5/1954: secondment to role; description of aims and execution of operation; nature of holding action and screening.
REEL 4 Continues: method of screening suspected Mau Mau; atmosphere in Nairobi prior to Operation Anvil; planning of operation; opinion of quality of intelligence. Aspects of period as District Commissioner in Embu District, Kenya, 1954-1956: distribution of Mau Mau support and activity in district; further details of Jomo Kenyatta's trial; public reaction to trial.
REEL 5 Continues: question of location of trial; opinion of causes of Mau Mau insurgency; question of need for land reform; effect on populace of Mau Mau gangs' influence; role of security forces; Kikuyu attitude towards Mau Mau oathing; personal attitude towards Mau Mau; question of potential spreading of Mau Mau to other tribes; opinion of Mau Mau campaign.
REEL 6 Continues: reasons for surrender of Mau Mau gangs; problems caused on release of former Mau Mau detainees. Aspects of period as Provincial Commissioner in Central Province, Kenya, 1959-1963: move towards Independence; organising of Kenyan successors to carry on after Independence.