Mau Mau was a relationship studied carefully by churches like the Africa Inland
Mission in order to help the Christian Church determine how it should positioned
itself during the war and in the detention camps.91 The Christian Church seized
the emergency to offer salvation for Kenyans who were the primary target of their
conversion efforts. The book outlines personal accounts of Mau Mau oathers and
those that eventually turned to Christianity. The book, From Mau Mau to Christ,
views the oath as being as Reverend Phillips describes, as “the very heart and
centre of the Mau Mau itself, giving its members barbarous strength to carry out
their evil designs.”92 In the chapter called, “The Vessels of the Marred,”93 one
Mau Mau participant decribes his oath:
“I have become one of the company of killers. If I fail to do so, may this oath
kill me.
I must steal European firearms. If I fail to do so, may this oath kill me.
I must cut the telephone wires when we fight with the Europeans. If I fail to do
so, may this oath kill me.
I must break up the railway. If I fail to do so, may this oath kill me.
I must help drive out the Europeans from Kenya. If I fail to do so, may this
oath kill me.
I must always carry a piece of rope with me for hanging people. If I fail to do
so, may this oath kill me.
I must burn the wheat and damage the property of Europeans. If I fail to do
so, may this oath kill me.”94
The church had a responsibility for delivering those that were spiritually lost
during Mau Mau. This oath account is consistent with other statements
documented. However, what is particularly interesting is the first statement in
which the oather states that he or she is now in the “company” of killers. The
91 Phillips, From Маи Май to Christ, 3.
92 Phillips, From Маи Май to Christ, 14.
93 Phillips, From Маи Май to Christ, 14.
94 Phillips, From Маи Май to Christ, 14.
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