Independence for Kenya was not won easily. Both sides did not want to give in. For Britain it was another jewel in the crown which was shaking lose. If Kenya got away then others would follow as actually happened. Rhodesia followed on in 1963 when Ian Smith declared UDI. Other European countries were worried too. Belgium had the Congo. Portugal had Angola.
The Mau Mau fighters in Kenya did some terrible things to villagers. teats were cut off cattle on a regular basis. Without cattle the existence of a community was finished. The British were fighting a losing battle as they had not fought a bush war in recent history and tried to win by sitting in their clubs quaffing large quantities of gin.!!
Expeditions were sent out and were as ruthless as the Mau Mau in some cases.
Vietnam was fought in the same way, on the same model, by the Americans, later on.
No comments:
Post a Comment