Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1955-12-03
See Loyalty.
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two a week, or as militarized po-
licemen, or as members Of the
various home guard and auxiliary
forces giving their services for
it is they who have pro-
vided the manpower which neither
the British Government nor the
Kenya settlers could themselves
have modified.
More than 1000 African loyal
lists have been killed fighting the
Mau Mau as against less than a
hundred whites.
And African loyalists bore the
brunt of Mau Mau savagery as the
Terrorists tried to dominate first
their own Kikuyu tribe before I'M
leashing them in the anti-white
campaign.
Not Blind Loyalty
1t is this loyalty in which many
observers see hope. For in a people
simmering with Impotence at their
rate of advancement, it represents
a stabilizing unit which has shun-
ned violence and which is open to
negotiation by peaceful process.
This loyalty needs some analysis.
1t is not, for instance, unthinking
loyalty to the white man. Govern
ment officials doubt whether many
loyalists are any less anxious for
the white mans removal than the
terroriStS.
1t is not wholly the influence of
Christianity. For although many
Christian Africans endured untold
suffering for their faith, many of
them remained passive in their
opposition to the Mau, and the bulk
of the active loyalist force is by
no means Christian.
With some loyalists, their Oppo-
sition stemmed simply from the
fact that they had more to lose
than gain by joining the Mau
Mau. The hard jungle life of
terrorist held no lure and they had
no wish to sacrifice property and
possessions.
Then in some cases the tie was
loyalty to the regiment-the Kings
African Rifles. The smart and
proud African riflemen recruited
for up to y years at dollar a
week often did far better in their
own conditions than unacclimatized
British troops And SO loyal are
they that after walking sometime
week home and a week back on
annual leave, they are rarely late
returning. With 28 days leave
they line % stones up outsid,
their huts and remove one day
till the last is gone and it is time
to goa touching calendar.
Moral Decision
But on the whole, and in view
of most experts, the reason for
African loyalty was simple sep
aration in native thought of right
from wrong and a devotion TO the
former.
The sheer bestiality and filth OF
Mau Mau oaths turned many Afri-
cansaway in disgust because their
tribunal traditions were offended.
Chief Njiri, for example, is
Christian with soil at the UNI
versity of California. But, still he
leads tribal life, is unschooled,
and reputedly has so wives. His
was a simple belief that the bar
barism and methods of the Mau
Mau were wrong-so ne rallied his
people in opposition.
Impact of such loyalty is evident
by the fact that he is an especial
target of the Mau. Mau. The police
removed him to a heavily guarded
forest for which has suffered con-
tinual attack. And as personal
bodyguard he has a white officer
and four Africans.
So basically, African loyalty In
Kenya appears to be not so much
loyalty to the white man, Britain,
or even a system of law and order
which the African often does not
understand. 1t is more likely a
simple revulsion with the Mau Mau
and it's methods and a belief that
no betterment lies in association
with it.
Task For White Man
Now that the Mau Mau has been
virtually contained militarily, 1t
seems in the hands of the white
men currently ruling Kenya whe-
Their this loyalty to right as dis
tinct from wrong remains stead
fast or is discouraged.
The loyalists believe the cause
of African advancement will pro-
coed quicker through cooperation
with the whites than through vio-
lence against them. Now they are
awaiting their reward. Also watch
ing the course of events are the A.
OOO, 900 Kenya Africans whom it IS
often forgotten were completely
uninvolved with the 500, 900 kiku-
yu, Embu, and Meru tribesmen who
manned the Mau Mau.
Many politicians in kenya th'nk'
this loyalty in time of war now Is
the basis upon which to build
loyalty in peace through political
economic and social reforms for
the African. And the governmenf
of this British colony has indeed
embarked upon such a program.
But if it is not far-reaching EN-
ough, and fast enough, these mod
crates believe that the base o.
loyalty will crumble in frustrated
resentment