British government accepts Mau Mau abuse

The British government has accepted that the colonial administration in Kenya tortured and abused detainees during the Mau Mau rebellion between 1952 and 1956.

The UK High Court told three elderly Kenyans who are suing the British government for compensation that it does not dispute that “terrible things” were meted on them during their revolt.

Lawyers for the three Kenyans say this is the first time ever there was an official acknowledgement of the atrocities by the United Kingdom that left thousands of freedom fighters dead.

In its opposition of the suit, the British government had argued that a lot of time had passed and this might hinder the court from conducting a fair hearing on the historic case.

AUTHOR: MAC OTANI