Mau Mau Oaths (Hansard, 6 May 1953)

§ 5. Mr. Remnant
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent information has come into the possession of the Kenya police as to the wording of the Mau Mau oath; how far such wording contains directions as to the treatment to be meted out to those Kikuyu and others who may assist the whites; and whether he will state those directions.

§ Mr. Lyttelton
At least four forms of categories of Mau Mau oaths have now been uncovered. Apart from this fact, nearly all Mau Mau oaths include undertakings to burn houses, to kill and to commit or assist in other forms of violence against both Europeans and loyal Africans. It is noticeable that by the increasing bestiality of the third and fourth-oath-taking ceremonies the Mau Mau is attempting to drive groups of adherents outside the civilized and tribal pale. Thirty-nine persons in the Meru district have recently been convicted not merely of oath-taking but of attempting unnatural offences as part of that ceremony. Such practices are held in peculiar odium by the Kikuyu and other Tribes.
My hon. Friend may, however, be referring to recently captured orders issued by Mau Mau leaders in Nairobi. I will consult the Governor about their circulation, or extracts from them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mr. Remnant
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider placing the other documents to which he has referred in the Library so that Members may see them, and can he say whether it is part of the policy of Mau Mau to inculcate people in crime?

§ Mr. Lyttelton
The only reason which makes me a little hesitant in giving an affirmative answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that these things are of such a foul nature that one hardly likes to put them in the Library; nevertheless I will do so. As to the second part of the supplementary question, it is a fact that some of the practices of Mau Mau are intended to inculcate, beyond doubt, people in murder.

§ Mr. Sorensen
Does the right hon. Gentleman feel that he is quite capable of looking at these pictures and hearing these descriptions but that we are not?

Mr. Lyltelton
I did not say anything of the kind. It is unhappily part of my responsibility as a Minister to have to look at photographs and also read subject matter which I should not like to burden other hon. Members with unless they feel that it is necessary. If they feel that they must have the information, it is open to them. I assure the House that it is not very pleasant but it is part of my duties to go into these matters.