Those of you who have read my memoirs will know that I too was in Kenya during the Mau Mau era and in fact came in contact with many of the Mau Mau leaders, some of whom went on to become Ministers in Kenyatta's first independent government. I was also sent to Kapenguria during the Kenyatta trial and used to see Kenyatta and the political prisoners charged with him -being led daily from the Prison,passed my government quarter to the "improvised" Court house.Also met several of the Defence Counsel - D.N. Pritt, Diwan Chaman Lal, Kapila and Fitz D'Souza. Being stationed in a predominantly "White settler" farming area, I was well aware of the Mau Mau activity in the district and within the Province generally. Everyone lived in fear in those days, and seeing white farmers fully armed while shopping, was not an uncommon sight in town.
Part of my job(in the absence of the District Commissioner), also included the issue of Travel Passes to members of the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru tribes whose movements were restricted during the Emergency. There is no doubt that atrocities were committed on both sides, but some of methods described by Elkins are truly barbaric and cannot be condoned. During my later posting to the Northern Frontier Province - where many of the political prisoners were restricted, I was also responsible for visiting them, censoring all their in-coming and out-going mail etc. All this at a time when the D.C. was the sole Administrative official, with no District Officer to assist him. I always treated the detainees with respect but, as a serving civil servant at the time, could not discuss politics! The Mau Mau uprising turned bloody more because the powers that be failed to sense the mood of the African masses(especially the Kikuyu). Mervyn Maciel -- Mervyn
