Description
Book SynopsisSenior Chief Waruhiu wa Kung'u is one of colonial Kenya's most controversial chiefs. His name has gone down in history as a traitor who was assassinated because he sold his country to the British colonizers. This book is the untold story of the controversial life of Senior Chief Waruhiu who served the colonial government for thirty years. He believed his white superiors' authority was God-given and to disobey them was tantamount to disobeying God himself. That was why he was considered loyal, obedient, dependable, responsible, efficient, and a tower of strength.Chief Waruhiu's violent death dealt his reputation a devastating blow, as it provided his critics with a basis to portray him as a traitor who sold out to the colonizers. Although Waruhiu believed that the Africans were not yet ready for self-governmentand that they could not attain it through violencethat did not make him a traitor. Other chiefs also believed that and yet were not labeled as traitors. However, this did lead to
Trade ReviewThe role of chiefs in colonial Kenya is a contested terrain. Dr. Wamagatta contributes to this debate by examining the career of Chief Waruhiu Kungu of Kiambu. He traces his rise from a humble background to a wealthy, most loyal and distinguished pillar of Kenya’s colonial administration. He points out that to his subjects, he was a sellout due to his overzealousness in executing unpopular government policies, such as keeping law and order or collecting taxes. Nevertheless, Wamagatta refutes the ‘stooge’ tag by marshalling substantial evidence to show Waruhiu’s efforts in championing the welfare of his people in diverse fields. Finally, he contributes to Waruhiu’s saga by postulating that his unresolved murder was probably not carried out by the Mau Mau but very likely by ‘some leaders of the white settlers, working with some government officials’ in order to force the government to declare a state of emergency and forestall demands for independence. That is controversial and will spur further research and debate. Hence, the book is a worthy addition to the historiography of Kenya. -- Godfrey Muriuki, University of Nairobi
Evanston Wamagatta has written an important and richly researched biography of Waruhiu wa Kung'u, Kenya's most powerful colonial chief whose assassination in 1952 ushered in the Mau Mau war against the British. It is a study that offers meaningful insights into British colonial policies, third world nationalism, and decolonization and should appeal to a wide range of readers. -- Robert L. Tignor, The Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Princeton University
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Early Colonial Chiefs in Kiambu District, 1902–1922 Chapter 2: Waruhiu’s Early Life, 1890–1916 Chapter 3: Quest for Power, 1917–1922 Chapter 4: Relationship with the Colonizers, 1922–1952 Chapter 5: Relationship with the Colonized, 1922–1952 Chapter 6: Councilor of Kiambu Local Native Council, 1925–1952 Chapter 7: Life Behind the Scenes, 1922–1952 Chapter 8: Prelude to Waruhiu’s Murder, 1941–1952 Chapter 9: Assassination of Senior Chief Waruhiu Chapter 10: Who Killed Waruhiu and Why? Chapter 11: Conclusion
