However, Mau Mau required a different oathing experience that would create a
new level of secrecy, unity, and commitment.
The presence of women in the ceremonies sexualized the oath.50 Based
on pre-colonial traditions, sexual matters were considered private matters with
strict codes of conduct based on the time of day, upcoming ceremonies,
initiatives, births, and marriages.51 In pre-colonial Kenya, sexual activity was
ordered within the constructs of the society. However, during the Mau Mau oath,
sexual taboos were practiced during the ceremonies that were foreign to the
traditional oath. Sexual acts and gestures became public as some men and
women were expected to symbolically gesture performing acts.52 Some oathing
involved menstrual blood and sexual acts with women during menstruation.53 The
use ofthis type of blood was taboo.54
In some societies outside of Kenya, contact with menstrual blood breaks
laws and is considered a taboo.55 Interestingly, men could not even utilize the
kithitu in the past if there were menstruating women in the family.56 And sexual
contact was strictly prohibited for seven days.57 Therefore, the Mau Mau oath
with the extension of female participation broke codes long established in the
society. The new sexualized aspect of the oath was the result of the inclusion of
50 The use of menstrual blood was also a new practice introduced with women involved in the ceremonies.
51 Dundas, “Native Laws of The Bantu Tribes of East Africa,” 244-248.
52 Interview notes, P. Musuo, date, January 2009, Machakos District.
53 Interview notes, P. Musuo, date, January 2009. Machakos District. Musuo mentioned the account of meat
being placed into the vagina of women participating in the ceremony. Also menstrual blood was considered
impure, so the handling of the blood was shocking.
54 See Rahel R. Wasserfall, Women and Water, Menstration in Jewish Life and Law (Hanover: Brandeis
University Press, 1999), 4.
55 See Wasserfall, Women and Water, 4.
56 Interview, P. Matheke, June 2009, Kitui, Kenya.
57 Interview, K. Mutunga, June 2009, Kitui, Kenya and Interview, P. Matheke, June 2009, Kitui, Kenya.
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