had the same oathing steps and processes but played different roles in the
movement.
However, her presence did change the oathing process. As a female
participant in Mau Mau, she helped supply food to Mau Mau in the forest.40 Men
were unable to successfully perform this duty because they would get caught.
Cora Ann Presley refers to women in this role as “passive wing” supporters, she
states, “Perhaps the most crucial area of women’s involvement in the rebellion
was their contributions in the supply lines of the organization.41 Initially, during
the Mau Mau period, women such as Kakie were overlooked by the colonial
police since their gender made them invisible.
This role as a supporter carried the same punishment as those fighting in
the forest if caught - death.42 Kakie indicated that eventually this Mau Mau
strategy of women helping with supplies became apparent to the colonial
authorities. However, Kakie was fortunate because though she was caught, she
lived to discuss the experience and to provide a detailed account of her
imprisonment. She and three other women were caught carrying mukimo, boiled
arrow roots and porridge, to Mau Mau. The Otherwomen were from Kathiani and
Nduu. They were all taken to the Kabete police station where they were badly
abused. The guards used fencing wire and branches with thorns to beat the
40 Interview, S. Kakie, January 2009, Machakos, Kenya.
41Presley, Kikuyu Women, TheMauMauRebellion, 130.
42 See Criminal Cases associated with “the illegal activity associated with the Mau Mau”, penal code 6lb.
For example, Case Trail Notes from Statements on June 2, 1955. KNA MLA 1/1276-CC 64/1955. Rex vs.
Mukwate S/О Leti and Njuguna P 10
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