The name is absent



the most important aspects of oathing statements was that they were being
heard by the Supreme Being who was witness to the statements. Therefore, the
failure to abide by the statements meant severe punishment.

The best way to illustrate the variety of different oathing statements is
through actual examples. Some oathing statements focused more on the
punishments for breaking the oath in achieving Mau Mau unity. For example,
consider the following oathing statement from one oather, J.M Wambua:

7 will not reveal any secrets to any government officials. If I do, I should die. I
will never report Mau Mau to the government. If I do, I should die. I will never
take away the property of an African. If I do, I should die.,β4

Other statements were more concise but also followed the theme of freedom.
According to Mutituni interviewee, J.M. Malei, born in1936, the Mau Mau oath
meant “setting ourselves free from colonialism.” His oathing statements were, “I
will not reveal the oath. If I do so, I should be killed. I will help other members of
Mau Mau when hungry or in need. If I do not, I should be killed.”65 He also
mentioned oathing Mau Mau songs that were important statements. The
following is a documented song in Kikuyu (translated afterwards in English):

“Nitamukethia inyonthe asyari na arata. Na tusyokerie nagato. Tondu
niatuotehisye Kukoro twiamwe. Tukethania na kikeno. Wiathi, wiathi, wiathi,
mbururi wa kirinyag. Mbururi wa kikeno, Wikamba no Kikuyu, Kenya ni
mbururi wa and uairu. Tuturasha na kwowo na kuthamio. Na mutikatika
kuterera wiathi, Kenya ni mbururi wa andu airu. Kenyatta Ha wekire kwoko
thankdukuni ya kura ndamuthaitha no Kenya woire. "6e

English version: “We have greeted all of you parents and friends. Let us
thank the Lord, because he has made us to be together to greet each other
happily. Independence, independence, independence, the land of Kirinyaga,

64 Interview, J.M. Wambua, January 2009, Machakos District.

65 Interview, J.M. Malei, January 2009, Machakos District.

66 Interview, J.M. Malei, January 2009, Machakos District.

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