Historical Context of the Mau Mau Uprising

The Mau Mau uprising in Kenya emerged as a response to the brutal conditions under British colonial rule, which included land dispossession, forced labor, and systemic racial segregation. The British settlers, through the White Highlands policy and other legislations, displaced thousands of Africans from fertile lands, while colonial laws facilitated extensive land alienation. Resistance from various local communities, particularly the Kikuyu, Nandi, and Kamba, laid the groundwork for broader collective action. This resistance evolved over decades, culminating in organized nationalist movements that sought not just reform but complete independence from colonial governance.