The Kenya Emergency

The Kenya Emergency (1952–1960) was a conflict between the British colonial government and the Kenya Land and Freedom Army, also known as the Mau Mau uprising. The movement sought land reform and independence from British rule, mainly involving Kikuyu people. The British responded with military force, mass arrests, and detention, citing the threat of guerrilla warfare. This period was marked by violence, human rights abuses, and political struggle, ultimately leading to Kenya’s independence in 1963. The emergency highlighted the fight against colonialism and the push for African self-rule.