The Home Guard

Who Were the Home Guard?

• The Home Guard was a militia force created by the British colonial government.
• Their purpose was to protect villages and fight against the Mau Mau.

Leadership & Organisation

• Led by white officers and local African officials, such as:
• Chiefs
• Headmen
• Members were given uniforms and armed with shotguns.

Perception of the Home Guard

• Many Kenyans saw them as traitors because they worked for the British.
• They played a key role in suppressing the Mau Mau rebellion.

Significance in A Grain of Wheat

• The Home Guard represents the division within Kenyan society during colonial rule.
• The novel explores how loyalty and betrayal shaped relationships in the fight for independence.