Musa Mwariama: Mau Mau leader who stood against colonialists

Musa Mwariama. (Courtesy)

Musa Mwariama whose real name was M’Kirigua M’Muchiri was among the highest-ranking Mau Mau leader. He was the only Field Marshal who outwitted the colonialists with their traps during the Mau Mau uprising. He was never captured or killed by the British settlers despite their sophisticated war tools.  

Alongside Dedan Kimathi, Mwariama comprised the integral aspect of the Mau Mau leadership representing the Meru region.  

During the last years of the British governance in Kenya, the activities and war waged by the Mau Mau happened to be the biggest challenge for the white settlers. On their part, the British were not easy on letting Kenya go out of their hands. The reason why the British were so firm in Kenya was because they considered it to be the epicenter of their empire in Africa. As such, they launched a merciless reprisal against anybody or organization that appeared to oppose their governance system in the country.

Among the fighters within the Mau Mau fraternity was Musa Mwariama who was the highest-ranking field marshal in the Mau Mau group. Unlike many other field marshals and leaders, he managed to survive the British onslaught without being killed or captured. He was actually the only Mau Mau leader from the Meru side to have successfully outwitted the Britons with their traps.

Mwariama was born in 1928 in Muthara Ward, Tigania East Constituency, Meru county. He died in 1989 and was buried in Buuri, Mery county.

Interestingly, despite him having outsmarted death during the Mau Mau war, he died from a snake bite. The then 61-year-old fighter had left his home base in Meru to Ukambani where he had gone to visit a friend who was reeling in pain from a snake bite.  He opted to help his friend by sucking the venon but ended up dying from the venom. He was not aware that this act will lead to his death.