Psychological Effects of Colonial War: Mau Mau Veterans Cannot Afford Treatment

When we talk of damages caused by colonization, people mostly think of physical harms endured by slaves and freedom fighters, and economic challenges which came as a result of resource exploitation in colonial countries. But rarely do people think of psychological effects caused by colonization. From my research, I believe the few freedom fighters who are still alive continue to suffer psychologically due to the horror they witnessed. These warriors saw their friends and family members die and some of them shared their detention camps with dead bodies. Other veterans were handicapped and some developed wounds that affect their health up to date. In the video below, Samuel Gichuhi and his wife, Mau Mau survivors, narrate their experience during the colonial war. Gichuhi's wife tells how people,( mostly women), had bottles put (in their private parts) when they rebelled. Gichuhi states that he still lives with a bullet in his leg and this deteriorates his health. Like many Mau Mau survivors, Gichuhi and his wife continue to live in poverty and probably he still has the bullet in his leg because he cannot afford treatment. Some Mau Mau warriors have stated that they rely on their children for treatment, and I think the descendants of these warriors might also be psychologically disturbed due to their parents' sufferings. Such issues should not be ignored and it’s a high time that the colonizers examine the damages caused by their actions and compensate their victims so that they can afford treatment.