A SPECIAL FEATURE
The following document was exhibited by Kibacia Gatu at a Conference hosted by the Department of History and Archaeology, University of Nairobi in October 2022. The Theme was: ‘Recasting Mau Mau Discourse: Reflections on the Declaration of the State of Emergency 70 years later.’
The document consists of a letter written by William Jenkins of the American Consular Service in Nairobi dated 1922 to Rev. William Knapp in Kyambu regarding the Harry Thuku ‘riot’ that year. Rev. Knapp’s reply is interesting – his concern about keeping the Africans, particularly the Kikuyus, away from Indian influence; and Christians from Moslems. Clearly ‘divide and rule’ and ‘Islamophobia’ are deeply rooted in Colonialism.
Courtesy: Kibacia Gatu
