MAU MAU WAR SECRETARY GEN KARARI NJAMA IN HIS OWN WORDS - PART 1

MauMau Chronicles
MauMau Chronicles
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Publicado 2023-11-23
If there is anyone who knows the intimate details of Mau Mau war council, it is Gen Karari Njama. Arguably the most educated Mau Mau soldier, he was the Secretary to the Kenya Land Freedom Army. He advised Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi, drafted orders, wrote letters, and sent them to different battalions or to sympathisers abroad. He was also in charge of archives. He was so feared by the colonialists that when he was detained at Manda Island in Lamu, he had to be separated from fellow prisoners, including the likes of Pio Gama Pinto, in case he radicalised them even more. By the time he joined Mau Mau, he was a highly educated man by the standards of the time, having been educated at Alliance School, which had been set up in 1926 by an alliance of protestant churches at Thogoto, Kikuyu. Humble and soft spoken, he is one Alliance graduate without the Kiburi (egotism) that characterises the alumni of that great institution. He is one of the few Mau Mau veterans who wrote books, co-authoring, with Donald Bennett, MAU MAU FROM WITHIN: THE STORY OF THE KENYA LAND FREEDOM ARMY. Writing the book was in a sense a continuation of the war as he felt compelled to push back against an avalanche of orchestrated propaganda that disparanged Mau Mau and downplayed their role in the fight for independence. In this interview, conducted over two days at this farm in Naro Moru, he gives the story of his life, his education, how he joined Mau Mau, and reveals details about senior Mau Mau leaders, whom he knew quite well, and expounds on the differences that arose between Kimathi and Mathenge. The dispute between the two, he reveals, originated from a fire accident and evolved into a bitter rivalry. Ultimately, Kimathi had a larger mental map of Kenya while Mathenge tended to be provincial. He also discounts that Ato Lemma Ayanu, the old man brought to Kenya in 2003, was Mathenge, his village mate, whom he knew very well. Njama also gives a spirited justification of the Mau Mau oath, saying it was necessary to unite the people. Later, he was detained and upon release, he resumed his teaching career until his retirement. Part 2 of this interview will be published later on this channel.
Todos los comentarios (19)
  • @fundile
    Thank you for this very important documentary! We heard brave stories of the Mau Mau while growing up in SA; their tactics helped inspire many rural uprisings that happened in the 1950s and 60s. Much respect to Baba Njama for sharing this piece of history in his own words. Peace and love from Johannesburg✊
  • @gebalinvestments6751
    What a touching episode from the General.Listening to these freedom fighters first hand narrative is so precious.Very Good documentary great people.documentary
  • @MAXIMUS-rq1pe
    In terms of information about the movement for Karari Njama is my most reliable source. Secondly every freedom fighter I ever talked to, and I have interviewed many, had a lot of respect for the soft spoken secretary general. The fact that he had the trust of Kimathi and Mathenge. Meanwhile I wonder if Maumau Chronicles could confirm the residence of General Kahinga Wachanga because I grew up with the old man as a neighbor in Nyandarua and actually and interviewed him later😢as a journalist yet I recently listened to a chronicle that placed him in Muranga. And thanks for the Chronicles. In the ignored history Kenya has lost trillions that coould have realized from books, movies and tourism. Think about how much Hollywood continues to earn from the war they lost in Vietnaml🎉
  • @gitauregina2618
    A Very brilliant production,Mr Njama is sharp even in old age!
  • @REVOLUTIONARYLYRICS
    Nuff Respect to the General and big up to those behind this great documentation.
  • @florencekimotho887
    MauMau chronicles tutikianjie FUND to support our hero grandpas please? I am sure many people would be willing to support many who are still in abject poverty😭. Migunda nimaumirwo na ithui no ndeto tugiraga
  • @helenmureithi8660
    Our Dad here has a very good memory and a well cordinated speech even at his age. Nitwuhetwo miri miega ni MUMBI witu tiga ni ithui twithukitie miiri itu.
  • @user-jz2fv1qv7j
    Shujaa James Mutie from Masii, Machakos county, was a soldier with kimathi
  • @RobertGakumu
    What a touching recollection, and you guys asked great questions. God bless this man. i wonder if some of these records remain somewhere in the tree trunks waiting to be discovered one dayy,
  • @cytkl
    Nyakeru arotoma agathira na njiarwa ciake igathira. May the blood of our forefathers destroy them demons okuria guothe ari. Thaii njamba citu
  • @lithotechnairobi3591
    Karari wa Njama was a brilliant student at Munyange primary school , Kagumo High & Alliance High school.Its true he was smart in Maths & English.He was a classmate of Isaac King'ori Warugongo among others from Munyange in Mahiga othaya both in Kagumo High & Alliance High.
  • @camiloisla1390
    It's crazy how much damage the British and others Country's, having done to Africa, and still we haven't recovered.we need someone like Malema
  • @rosewandebi6496
    Na ilienda aje ikawa Leo jamii ya NGATI ndio wanajiita watoto wa MAUMAU??kadi ziligeukia wapi??sisi wana MAUMAU umoja wetu ulibaki wapi mpaka ngatiwakatuzidi nguvu Leo.