A new documentary, 'Kikuyu Land', co-directed by Andrew Harrison Brown and Bea Wangondu, explores the historical and current impact of agricultural development in Kenya's central highlands. The film focuses on the Kikuyu community, whose ancestral lands were reportedly taken during the colonial period, leading to the exploitation of their labour.
The documentary features a televised speech by Evelyn Baring, the colonial governor of Kenya in the 1950s, to illustrate the imperialist motives behind Britain's agricultural development in the country. It suggests that a system of inequality established under colonial control continues today, with multinational corporations adopting similar practices.
Investigative journalist Bea Wangondu, who also appears in the film, weaves together various narratives, including the decades-long struggle for justice by pastor and activist Mr Mungai to reclaim family land. The film also includes accounts from plantation workers detailing experiences of physical and sexual violence, and insights from a national intelligence service officer regarding state methods used against critics.
A significant turn in the documentary occurs when Wangondu discovers that her grandfather, a respected landowner, was involved in colonial abuse. The film prompts viewers to consider the origins of their tea products.