Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Mau Mau Uprising 1952 - 1960 Mau Uprising 1952 - 1960
The Mau Mau  uprising also called Kenya emergency, it was a resistance against the British colonial  in Kenya which is believes to have started in 1952 to 1960. White colonialist maltreatment of the blacks by expulsion of Kikuyu tenants from their farmlands, hardship, corruption, poverty, improper and unequal representation of Kenyans interest gave the people a reason to revolt.
The uprising involved the prominent ethnic group in Kenya, the Kikuyu tribe among other are very vibrant in fighting against the colonialist, they joined the KAU (Kenya African Union) and quickly dominated the politics of the KAU, they replaced the moderate constitutional agenda with a militant one. The nationalist KAU which was also called Muhimu began giving Kikuyu oathing, most through intimidation and forceful threats.
Also read: Soweto Uprising 1976 - Black School Children Protest Mau Uprising 1952 - 1960

To the British, the traditional oathing ceremonies were believe to bind the people to a cause against them,  they felt the ceremonies was used to forcefully recruit fighter for their rebellion so the British government in Kenya retaliated by organising de-oathing ceremonies. The Muhimu started attacking Kenyans who are loyal to the British and white settle. 
The actual date the rebellion started is still disputed by historian but it is recognized by some on October 1952 when the British government declared emergency in Kenya and troops were sent in to curb the rebellion. The troops carried out massive killings of the rebels and those believed to be habouring or sympathizing with the Mau Mau rebels were sent to detention camp. (fig. 150,000). Mau Uprising 1952 - 1960

Most Mau Mau rebels based in the forest of Mt. Kenya and Aberdares, but some Mau Mau supporters in the city placed a significant role in the rebellion in Nairobi and other major cities in British Kenya. The largest single massacre by the Mau Mau rebel was on March 26, 1953 in Lari where loyalist of the Home Guard families were murdered and set ablaze by the rebel. The Home Guard and British troops retaliated and killed close to 400 people or more. The Lari massacre was a turning point in the rebellion because of it disastrous effect on the people. Mau Uprising 1952 - 1960
By 1957, the uprising has almost been subdued with Mau Mau forest army largely broken and in 1960 the emergency was declared over. The British government made some reform and in 1963, Kenya was declared an independent sovereign country from the British Empire and Jomo Kenyatta became the nation's first President. 

Though the uprising may have been subdued by the British government but it played a major role in Kenya's struggle for independence and made the British government enact some laws that was favorable to the Kenyan people before independence. 

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