collect assets like money and guns to support the movement; kill all individuals
against Mau Mau efforts; and maintain the secrets and details of the movement
or suffer the consequences.73 According to Otieno, the third oath was called
“Nyina wa Andu” translated into English as the oath of “Mother of the People;” it
was designed to reinforce and recommit members to the movement.74 The
remaining oaths were done to strengthen her commitment to scouting activities
that entailed collecting valuable movement intelligence, firearms, and money.
Otieno states that the typical scout was a woman because she was often
invisible, was not viewed as a threat, and had access to spaces closed to African
men. Her involvement as a leader in scouting activities required precision, tact,
and careful planning. Otieno reflected on her particular approaches to utilizing
women in the scouting activities based on the perceived weaknesses of the
British soldiers:
“I decided to use a little psychology in my endeavors. I had seen the British
soldiers and knew they were like small boys who could not be kept in the
barracks for any length of time. They were easy prey for attractive girls. I
stationed these girls at strategic points, mainly nightclubs, which the soldiers
frequented.”75
These female scouts walked a fine line and were in very dangerous situations
being secluded with the British soldiers and vulnerable to many forms of abuse in
the absence and protection of others. Many women like Otieno were raped while
scouting, fighting, and serving time in detention camps. Therefore, her torture
and abuse in Mau Mau took on a different form, usually involving some sort of
sexual exploitation.
73 Otieno, Mau Mau ,s Daughter, 34.
74 Otieno, Mau Mau ,s Daughter, 35.
75 Otieno, Mau Mau ,s Daughter, 39.
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