The British in Kenya (1952-1960): Analysis of a Successful Counterinsurgency Campaign
Abstract
Following World War II, the British Government reduced its colonies due to rebuilding costs and a waning interest in expensive overseas colonies. During this time there were approximately 30,000 white settlers living in Kenya with nearly 5 million Kikuyu and Maasai. Unrest had been building in this area long before the 1950s due to Britain's perceived lack of interest in the well-being of the native populations. Given the recently implemented apartheid movement in South Africa, many natives felt this was the path down which Kenya was headed. By 1952, it was obvious to the British Government that there was great unrest among Kenya's Kikuyu population. As with the Malayan Emergency, the British were caught off guard and had failed to recognize earlier the scale of the threat the Mau Mau posed. To try to preempt an insurgency, a state of emergency was declared in Kenya on October 20, 1952. Throughout the following 8 years several programs were implemented by the British to return the colony to a state of normalcy, including widespread detention, compulsory registration of Kikuyu, livestock seizure, taxes for the additional cost of the insurgency, re-education measures, the use of reformed Mau Mau and local troops to combat the insurgency, and eventually the capture and execution of Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi in 1956. The emergency would remain in effect, however, until 1960. A chronology of the Kenyan emergency and road to independence is appended.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA435532
Entities
People
- John A. Mcconnell
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School