Talk:Rawson Macharia

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The trial of Kenyatta was a decisive event for colonial Kenya (and the imperial project more generally). Its failure was indicative of colonial inability to either co-opt or defeat even moderate African nationalism, except by methods as unscrupulous as rather blatant perjury. Hythlodayeus 19:48, 9 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, that was rather quick; I was pressed for time. I still am, but can make a better go of it now. The colonial theory appears to have been that Mau Mau was a creation of Kenyatta: so - it did not quite follow - Mau Mau lacked mass support, and its claims of grievance were false or non-serious. The Baring administration tried the case in an exceptionally mendacious manner; the centrepiece of its case was Rawson Macharia's testimony that he had been present at an oathing ceremony over which Kenyatta had presided. That testimony is provably unsound, and so, therefore, is the colonial theory. Informed opinion now holds that Mau Mau was independent of Kenyatta (See e.g. Anderson (2005), Histories of the Hanged: Britain’s Dirty War in Kenya and the End of Empire, Weidenfeld & Nicolson: London). This has consequences for the understanding of Mau Mau. Hythlodayeus 21:44, 9 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]