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Land Freedom Army - Coggle Diagram
Land Freedom Army
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Grievances of KCA in Nairobi, Rift Valley and Kikuyu reserves
- more than 100 square miles of Kikuyuland in the vicinity of Nairobi had been alienated for European settlement
- Burgeoning in the main part of the White Highlands of the Rift Valley province which had been cleared for white occupation
- the cry for the return of 'lost lands' were the main demands of the KCA
- White farmers needing more land for their expanding operations imposed tight restrictions on Kikuyu squatters which forced thousands to leave in destitution
Response to Kenyatta’s detention, targeting of loyalist Kikuyu
Post-war developments:
- The British government set aside a quarter of a million acres of land in the white highlands for ex-servicemen and white immigrants who were escaping the post war austerity in Europe
Oathing:
- The Kikuyu squatters started a resistance campaign binding them together with secret oaths
- In the 1920s the KCA leaders were impressed with the oath of allegiance to the Crown and introduced their own oath pf loyalty to the Kikuyu people
- The oath involved holding a bible in your left hand and a handful of earth in the right hand pressed to the navel while swearing to serve to the Kikuyu people faithfully.
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Rising violence:
- Unemployment, poor housing, low wages, inflation and homelessness increased the discontent and worsened crime.
The 40 group:
- Consisting largely of former soldiers of the 1940 age group who had served during the war in India and Burma and Ethiopia were ready to employ strong-arm tactics in opposing the governments policies
Rejection of Mau Mau, detention and conviction/imprisonment
Kenyatta’s role in KAU:
- Formed in 1944, Kenyatta assumed command of the KAU on his return to Kenya
- Kenyatta was flamboyant, had great oratory skills and forceful personality
- Aim of Kenyatta was to make the KAU a truly nationalism movement