Impact of Mau Mau Movement on The Family Unit: A Case Study of Nyandarua County From 1952 to 1963

Abstract

After the establishment of colonial rule, colonial land, labour, racial and other exploitative policies forced the Africans to take arms against colonial oppression. This led to Mau Mau War of Liberation. This war had far-reaching effects on the family unit. The purpose of this research is to identify the impact of the Mau Mau war on children and the family unit a case of Nyandarua County from 1952-1963. The social conflict theory has been used to explain how family unit endured heart trending consequences during the period of Mau Mau war. The Mau Mau war disrupted African child’s formal education. Independent schools were closed as the colonialists perceived these areas as breeding grounds for the guerilla fighters. School-going children who underwent the oath ritual were collected from schools. Teachers had done their assignment of indoctrinating them. Majority of these young children joined the forest fighters. Those who were left at home did nothing substantial with their days. Some spent their days singing freedom songs, others lazing around. Apparently, those who were from parents of collaborators continued attending the mission schools. They too had their fair share of agony. Learning too was disrupted after the Africans were moved into the villages where families were congested leaving no space for learners to study. The Mau Mau fighters looted them leaving them devoid of valuable teaching and learning essentials. At the peak of the Mau Mau war, colonialists turned schools into torture camps. Hard cores were brought to schools and tortured, women were sexually assaulted, while others bit the dust as a result of the colonial bullet. All this happened as learners were watching. This affected them psychologically. The study shall further illustrate how the war psychologically affected members of the Kikuyu families, especially the children. The view of dead bodies was horrendous to the children. Some of the informants of this study have never been able to shed off these effects even to date. The war separated family members. Some parents lost their children during the war. Others, their parents entered the forest leaving their families in the villages. Unfortunately, most Africans never returned home as they were killed by the colonial bullets. Women were forced to take up roles traditionally performed by men. Colonialists forced women to dig trenches, build bridges and roads. Furthermore, women were forced to take up security roles formally done by men. Physical violence meted on Africans, has forced some people to live with physical incapacitation; some with broken limbs, pierced eyes and broken jaws. Women were the more susceptible to the colonial wrath. Most were sexually abused leaving them with permanent physical and mental scars. In the home front, Africans suffered during the war period.  Food was never enough, houses could not accommodate the growing number of Africans and property was confiscated by the Europeans