Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising

Relations Between Britain and Kenya, 1947-1967

The Mau Mau Uprising 1952-1960 remains one of the least-known but most-controversial events in recent British colonial history.

Relations between the Kikuyu and the British

The Kikuyu were historically oppressed by the British.
- The British had favoured the Masai and stripped the Kikuyu of the most fertile land in Kenya.
A military branch within the Kikuyu (Mau Mau) began a series of high-profile and violent attacks on white people and people who refused to join the Mau Mau, swearing an oath.
In 1952, Sir Evelyn Baring declared a state of emergency in Kenya and arrested Kenyatta, the nationalist leader. Despite little evidence, Kenyatta was convicted and sent to prison for 7 years.

Response to the Mau Mau rebellion

In 1952, all black African political rights were suspended.
17,000 Mau Mau suspects were arrested. 1,000 Kikuyu were hanged in response to the deaths of 70 Europeans. Again, British supposed 'superiority' and 'civility' looked questionable.
Kenyatta was imprisoned despite little evidence tying him to the extremist Mau Mau killings. Kenyatta's beliefs were nationalist and he wanted self-governance for Kenya.

British army response to the Mau Mau rebellion

The British Army moved thousands of soldiers to Kenya and the RAF supported the Army against the Mau Mau.
This guerrilla war lasted for 8 years.
Kikuyu villages and homes were destroyed in the search for Mau Mau sympathisers.
The Mau Mau surrendered in 1963 after Kenya became independent.

The Hola Camp Massacre, 1959

In 1959, 11 Mau Mau prisoners were beaten to death by guards, with 77 severely injured.
The British colonial government tortured and killed these individuals.
Initially, a cover-up claimed that water pollution was responsible for the 11 individuals' deaths.

The Legacy of the Mau Mau Uprising

The Mau Mau Uprising 1952-1960 remains one of the least-known but most-controversial events in recent British colonial history.

Historical memory

Official figures suggest 11,000 Mau Mau were killed in the uprising. The Kenya Human Rights Commission said 90,000 Kenyans were executed.

Suppressed information

As the Mau Mau movement was banned until 2003, information about British conduct during the fight against the Mau Mau was scarce.
However, according to The Times (2011), there are still ‘thirteen boxes’ of files missing relating to the 'Mau Mau abuse case'.

The quest for justice

In 2002, the Mau Mau Trust announced it would attempt to sue the British Government, calling on four of the victims (Ndiku Mutua, Paulo Nzili, Wambugu Wa Nyingi, and Jane Muthoni Mara) to recount their stories.
Ndiku Mutua reports being castrated by British-supported troops using a pair of pliers.
In 2005, the Kenyan government called for an apology from the British government.
In 2013, William Hague (then Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs) agreed to a settlement of almost £20 million but no apology was granted.
In September 2015, the British government funded a memorial statue for the Mau Mau in Nairobi.

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time

1.1.2Key Questions About Empires

1.1.3Expansion into Africa

1.1.4History of Egypt

1.1.5Control of Egypt

1.1.6Control of Sudan

1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India

1.2.2The British Raj

1.2.3International Relations with other Powers

1.2.4Scramble for Africa

1.2.5The Informal Empire

1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire

1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce

1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce

1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers

1.4.2Missionaries

1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators

1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism

1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India

1.5.2Relations with South Africa

1.5.3British-Boer Relations

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa

2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa

2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa

2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India

2.2.2Policy in Egypt

2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies

2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers

2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade

2.3.2Costs of the Empire

2.3.3Debates Over Trade

2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes

2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner

2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon

2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire

2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War

2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism

2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India

2.5.2Challenges in Africa

2.5.3Challenges in South Africa

2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War

2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW1

3.1.2Palestine

3.1.3Ireland & WW1

3.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire

3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine

3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions

3.2.3Imperial Defence

3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW1

3.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce

3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2

3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators

3.4.2Trusteeship

3.4.3Gandhi

3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow

3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins

3.4.6Imperialist Ideals

3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-1947

3.5.2The Middle East and Africa

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation

4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa

4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa

4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia

4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW2

4.2.2The 'Winds of Change'

4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956

4.2.4International Relations 1947-1967

4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2

4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement

4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism

4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration

4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act

4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire

4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947

4.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising

4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

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