Histories of the Hanged, written in 2005. Both books address the entanglements
of imperialism, detention, and atrocities of Mau Mau. The books intervene in the
overall Mau Mau conversation by revealing the British role in the war which was
often overlooked by scholars. In terms of the Mau Mau oath, both Elkins and
Anderson begin their limited treatment of oathing as it pertains to the resistance
in Olenguruone. For example, Elkins bases her statements on Kanogo1S
interpretation of the oath origins and states that “at Olenguruone the oath was
transformed by the changing political circumstances of British colonialism...This
oath united the Kikuyu at Olenguruone in a collective effort to fight the injustices
of British rule.”57 Similarly, Anderson mentions a new militant oath created during
the mid 1940 uprising at Olenguruone.58
Although the Mau Mau oath is not their emphases, Anderson and Elkins
offer insight into the topic by shifting the analysis to British atrocities during the
war. Anderson uniquely contributes to Mau Mau oathing by providing useful
statistical data on the criminalization of oathing by showing how colonial laws
against Mau Mau oathing impacted the number of cases taken to court. For
example, he states that “at the time these legislative changes were approved, a
total of 412 people had already been convicted of offences related to oath
administration and membership of Mau Mau, but hundreds more awaited trial."59
Also, his work charts Mau Mau offenses and convictions, which are useful in
understanding the colonial policing strategies against Mau Mau.
57 Elkins, Imperial Reckoning, 25.
58 Anderson, History of the Hanged, 30.
59 Anderson, History of the Hanged, 53.
51