evening, in this case about 10 p.m. at the home of Kiswii. Like the other witness’
statements, Muinde was instructed to remove his clothes for the oath ceremony.
He was also given meat to eat. The specific oathing statements of Muinde were
similar in overall content to the other testimonies:
“If I am called out at night by the Mau Mau, even if it is to kill Europeans,
Government servant or Chiefs, I must go; if I do not go I must die. If I am
called out to do damage to the property of Europeans, Government Servants
of Chiefs I must do it or I must die. If I hear of any member of Mau Mau who
is in trouble with the Government I must help him or I will be killed. I must not
pay money when I go to Church as the money is not for God but for
Europeans. If I tell the secret of Mau Mau oath to anyone, I will be killed.”56
Unlike Nzango’s account, the accused clearly identified the oath as Mau
Mau. This is inconsistent with the names provided by the other testimonies
where it was referred to by Ndibo as “Taking the oath of K.M.M.G. which meant
Mau Mau Corporation”57 and the statement of Nzibe with the accused calling it
“Mau Mau Corporation.”58 Also different in the testimony was the application of
blood in the ceremony. Muinde’s oath consisted of exchanging and tasting blood.
This exchange occurred between the accused and the witness. The accused
used a needle to take blood from the middle finger of the right hand of Muinde.
The accused stated that the exchange of blood united them both together as
one.59 The oathing ritual had specific actions like holding something in his hand
and passing through the arch seven times, which were also mentioned in other
56 Testimony OfWilliamNzango S/0 Muinde, Third Class Magistrate Court at Machakos, case 60, 1953.
KNAMLA 1/791 p. 1.
57 Testimony of Musau Ndibo Testimony on 12/29/53, Third Class Magistrate Court at Machakos, case 60,
1953. KNA MLA 1/791 p. 3.
58 Testimony of Mbubi S/0 Nzibe, Testimony on 12/29/53, Third Class Magistrate Court at Machakos,
case 60, 1953. KNA MLA 1/791 p. 6.
59 Testimony OfWilliamNzango S/0 Muinde, Third Class Magistrate Court at Machakos, case 60, 1953.
KNAMLA 1/791 p. 1.