Stanley Mathenge

Stanley Mathenge wa Mirugi (born c. 1919 in Mahiga, Nyeri District) was a Mau Mau military leader.

Stanley Mathenge
Born
Stanley Mathenge wa Mirugi

1919
Disappeared1955
Africa
Spouse(s)Muthoni Mathenge

Background

Before the Mau Mau rebellion, he had fought in Burma. Later he became the leader of the Forty Group, an organisation supporting the Kenya African Union (KAU). He also founded the Kenya Riigi, a group of illiterate fighters. Mathenge believed in traditional Kikuyu religion.[1] In May 1953 he became the leader of the newly formed Mau Mau military unit Nyeri District Council and Army.[2] His rivalry with field marshal Dedan Kimathi harmed integrity of the Mau Mau movement.[3]

Disappearance

He disappeared in 1955 and was later reported to be allegedly living in Ethiopia.[4] Mathenge left with his battalion to Ethiopia where he is said to have died in 2016. His wife Muthoni is still alive and resides in mweiga Nyeri. One prevailing conspiracy theory is that he was killed in his power rivalry with Kimathi, who then made up the story that Mathenge had gone to Ethiopia to seek assistance from Haile Selassie.[5]

Later events

On May 30, 2003 a man believed to be Stanley Mathenge, living in Ethiopia, was invited to Kenya by president Mwai Kibaki and was given a hero's welcome by the state. It was soon revealed that the man was Ato Lemma Ayanu, who himself denied being Mathenge.[6] A DNA test published four years later proved he was not Mathenge.[7]

See also

References
  1. Marshall S. Clough: Mau Mau memoirs: history, memory, and politics Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998. ISBN 1-55587-537-8
  2. Abiodun Alao & Christa Hook: Mau-Mau warrior Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1-84603-024-2
  3. Robert M. Press: Peaceful resistance: advancing human rights and democratic freedoms.Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006. ISBN 0-7546-4713-7
  4. Carole Cooper, J. R. A. Bailey & Garth Bundeh: Kenya: The National Epic. Kenway Publications, 1993
  5. Standard, The. "How I helped Mathenge escape from Kimathi". The Standard. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  6. BBC News, May 31, 2003: Doubt cast on Mau Mau hero
  7. Daily Nation, October 18, 2007: Ayanu Fake, DNA Shows
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