A homecoming for Mr Rittenhouse

September 1918, in the East Africa Protectorate (the white-ruled settler-colony that would become Kenya), a white settler was tried for causing “simple hurt” after killing an African “native” said to have tried to loot a flour mill. The settler sent for the “thief” and his tapered whip. He flogged the African, mutilated his genitals, strangled him and ordered his “houseboy” to burn and dispose of the body.

At trial, the settler judge said it was in fact the settler’s native employee who was the main culprit and suggested the all-white settler jury charge the African employee with murder and the settler with “simple hurt”. The jury charged both men and ordered them to pay 1,000 East African Rupees for the killing. The settler left the colony for a brief stint and upon his return was appointed to the District Committee in an administrative position charged with policing and enforcing the law against natives.

November 2021, in the United States, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges after shooting and killing Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, while they were protesting against impunity in the killing of Black people. At trial, the judge allowed the protesters to be called looters and rioters and banned the term “victims”. Unlike the East Africa Protectorate settler, however, the American has not been appointed to a local position of enforcing laws against Black people, although the most prominent, white supremacist lawmakers are jostling to have him work for them.