which stood for Kenya Mau Mau Corporation. I was then given some meat to
eat.”47
Interestingly, Ndibo’s testimony given to the local Third Class Magistrate
Court at Machakos on December 29, 1953, was a much more descriptive
account of the oathing ceremony. These statements included holding a mixture
near his stomach and later sawing meat seven times while taking the oath.48 He
was also recalled to repeat the following oath statements:
“If I am called any night by Mau Mau to go and kill Europeans, Government
servants or any one or to go and to do damage to any Government servant, I
must go or I will be killed...If I revealed the Mau Mau oath to anyone I was
told I would be killed.”
However, these details were not mentioned in the Supreme Court hearing,
but were notes in the Third Class Magistrate Court at Machakos. One of the most
striking parts of the Ndibo testimony is what was left out between the two
recorded accounts (the statements captured in the Third Class Magistrate Court
versus the Supreme Court statements). The documents show that the initial
statements on killing recorded in Machakos included the severity of killing the
Europeans, Government servants, and himself if necessary. These statements
seemingly would have been hard to erase, surprisingly, they were not included in
the Supreme Court testimony. In addition, it is interesting that Ndibo was able to
overcome the fear of the oath and testify.
47 Testimony of Masau Ndibo, KNA MLA 1/791 - CC 36/54 Rex vs. Masika S/О Nyanze p. 1.
48 Testimony of Masau Ndibo, Third Class Magistrate Court at Machakos, case 60, 1953. KNA MLA 1/791
- CC 36/54 Rex vs. Masika S/О Nyanze p. 4.
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