Mental warfare to 'wipe out' Mau Mau

By Patrick Mathangani

Colonial Government officials sanctioned a ‘psychological warfare’ against Mau Mau that saw suspects break down with mental disorders, newly released files show.

Yet, some officials believed the Mau Mau violence was not really a result of desire for emancipation, but was being driven by ‘psychopathic’ individuals.

The mental breakdown of detainees, most whom were locked up without trial or proof of guilt, was later to become a major issue toward the end of the Emergency period.

Hundred of Kenyans are shephered to screening points in Grogan Road (now Kirinyaga Road) in 1953. Photo: File/Standard

Inhuman conditions

Officials considered a psychological investigation of hardcore detainees, who were classified as ‘Zs’ and locked up in most inhuman conditions.

Some of the psychological methods used to break down Mau Mau are described in detail by a memo outlining activities at the Bahati Resistance Movement Centre.

The memo, written by an official, shows interrogation methods that smack of racism.

It reveals systematic mental torture designed to form a ‘void or vacuum’ in the victim’s mind.

The unidentified official says the first measure was to create fear about the goings-on at the camp, including starting rumours about "occult powers that exist here and are practiced on their entry."

Rumours would also be created to the effect that once you enter the camp, it would strangely be impossible to hold on to Mau Mau secrets.

Once a suspect was taken in, hordes of other inmates would then be unleashed on him to ridicule him. The other inmates would then surround him, "where the game of ridicule can then be played to its limit."

Wrote the official: "Such unsavoury pastimes such as spitting on (images of) Kenyatta can create the atmosphere of ridicule. Doubt and bewilderment is then paramount in the primitive minds.

‘Psychological shock’

A further reminder is then given to them by the other Mau Mau of some of the terrible calamities that will befall them if they do not talk."

The official said the camp was not, however, using physical violence, and some converted Mau Mau showed noticeable signs of gratitude "which is uncommon in the black man’s make up."

However, in an earlier memo to Secretary of State Alan Lennox-Boyd, Governor Evelyn Baring had justified the use of violence, saying it was effective as it provided some kind of "psychological shock."

Wrote the official at Bahati: "Ask a Mau Mau what tribe he is, and if he answers ‘Gikuyu’ let the members of your team laugh and be cross with him at the same time, and let it be clearly understood that Mau Mau and Gikuyu are two very different tribes; and that the Gikuyus want nothing whatsoever to do with Kenyatta and his dirt."

Those who confessed would then be introduced to Christianity.

"It is useless to present Christianity to a Mau Mau who has not previously confessed; otherwise he will completely exclude God from his thoughts.

"Remove Mau Mau, and by so doing, you will create a vacuum and he will be susceptible to new ideas. This it the time for Christianity to do its part."

Hardcore detainees

But it would appear the psychological shock produced undesired effects on the detainees.

During a meeting of the rehabilitation advisory committee that met in Nairobi on September 2, 1957, participants said hardcore detainees were mentally disturbed and recommended psychological investigations.

Mr T G Askwith, the PS for Community Development, told the meeting the Government’s psychiatrist had already made visits to camps.

"The Bishop of Mombasa said he suspected many intransigent hardcore detainees were really psychopathic cases.

"If this was so, it was understandable that rehabilitation officers, however competent, could not deal with them without medical assistance," reads the minutes of the meeting.