British Suppression of the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and Its Aftermath: A Critical Look at what Transpired in Detention Camps

The early 19th century witnessed a huge influx of Europeans to Africa for evangelization and trading activities which eventually culminated into colonization of Africa by the end of the century. Kenya was colonized by the British and got independence close to 70 years later. The Mau Mau uprising in Kenya was one out of many that broke out in Africa as an expression of resistance to colonial rule and exploitation. This Study sought to shed more light on the brutal suppression of the Mau Mau Rebellion by the British government that involved mass relocation of the Kikuyu population into crowded and guarded villages, arrest and detention of Mau Mau Warriors and supporters, sexual abuse on both men and women and extra-judicial killings. The historical research design was utilized. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. Interview schedules were organized for fifteen key informants identified through purposive and snowballing sampling. Data was analyzed qualitatively. The Study concluded that to suppress the Mau Mau uprising, the British focused beyond the guerilla warriors and dealt wholesomely with the entire Kikuyu community which was part and parcel of the struggle through subscribing to the Mau Mau ideology cemented by oath taking. Moreover, there were other communities beside the Kikuyu who supported the rebellion both militarily and materially. Proper compensation for the war atrocities committed by the British government can only be done when the entire community and other communities affected are all considered. Piece meal compensation done in the past is not commensurate with the extreme suffering occasioned by the war atrocities whose negative effects have continued to be felt to date. Finally, former detention camps which became prisons after independence should be changed to other less intimidating institutions like schools and museums so as to erase the bad memories of the suffering of the African people during the independence struggle in Kenya.