The Compensation Journey
From the lifting of the colonial ban in 2003 to the ongoing campaign for reparations for the freedom fighters themselves.
A Crucial Distinction
The 2013 British settlement of £19.9 million compensated 5,228 Kenyans who were detained and tortured during the Emergency. It was not compensation for the Mau Mau freedom fighters. That claim remains open, and it is the central mission of the Secretariat.
Settled in 2013
Compensation and a formal apology for 5,228 victims of colonial-era torture and ill-treatment, together with a memorial in Nairobi unveiled in 2015.
Still Outstanding
Reparations for the freedom fighters and their descendants for land alienation, loss of life and the cost of the liberation war itself — the claim the Secretariat continues to pursue.
Milestones on the Road to Justice
Lifting of the Ban - Official Recognition
After 41 years of being outlawed as terrorists, the Kenyan government under President Mwai Kibaki finally lifted the ban on the Mau Mau organization in August 2003. This historic decision officially recognized Mau Mau fighters as freedom fighters and heroes of Kenya’s independence struggle. This marked the beginning of efforts to secure compensation and preserve the Mau Mau legacy.
UK Legal Case Filed
Five elderly Kenyan Mau Mau veterans—Paulo Nzili, Wambugu Wa Nyingi, Jane Muthoni Mara, Ndiku Mutua, and Susan Ciong’i Ngondi—filed a landmark legal case against the British government in the High Court of Justice in London. Supported by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and represented by the law firm Leigh Day, they sought compensation for torture and abuse suffered in British detention camps during the Emergency Period (1952-1960). This case would eventually lead to the 2013 settlement.
Discovery of Colonial Documents
During the legal proceedings, it was revealed that the British government had hidden thousands of colonial-era documents detailing systematic torture and abuse in Kenyan detention camps. These ‘migrated archives’ provided crucial evidence of state-sanctioned violence against detainees. The discovery of these documents strengthened the legal case and exposed the extent of colonial atrocities that Britain had long denied.
Historic UK Settlement
On June 6, 2013, the British government reached a historic settlement with 5,228 Kenyan victims of colonial-era torture. The settlement included £19.9 million in compensation and a formal apology from Foreign Secretary William Hague. Importantly, this settlement was for individuals who were detained and tortured during the Emergency Period, many of whom had little or no connection to the Mau Mau insurgency. This was NOT compensation for actual Mau Mau freedom fighters, a distinction that remains crucial in ongoing advocacy efforts.
Memorial Unveiling in Nairobi
As part of the 2013 settlement agreement, a memorial was unveiled in Nairobi to honor victims of torture and ill-treatment during Kenya’s colonial era. The memorial serves as a permanent reminder of the suffering endured by thousands of Kenyans and stands as a testament to their resilience. However, Mau Mau veterans continued to emphasize that the memorial honored torture victims, not the freedom fighters themselves who still awaited proper recognition and compensation.
Demands for Fighter Compensation
Following the 2013 settlement for torture victims, Mau Mau veterans and their representatives intensified demands for separate compensation specifically for freedom fighters and their descendants. Veterans claimed that substantial funds (estimated at Sh21 trillion) were owed for land alienation, loss of life, and the struggle for independence. These demands highlighted the crucial distinction between compensation for colonial torture victims and reparations for those who actively fought in the liberation war.
Cap 108 Removal Campaign
Advocacy groups, including the Mau Mau Secretariat, launched intensive campaigns to remove Cap 108—the colonial-era legislation that had designated the Mau Mau organization as a terrorist group. Despite the 2003 lifting of the ban, Cap 108 remained on the statute books, symbolically maintaining the colonial narrative. Efforts to formally repeal this law became a key focus of recognition advocacy, representing the need to completely erase the colonial stigma.
Establishment of Office of Mau Mau Secretariat
The Government of Kenya officially established the Office of the Mau Mau Secretariat, providing institutional recognition and governmental support for veteran advocacy efforts. Under the leadership of Hon. Anastasia Wanjiku Njuguna, the Secretariat achieved unprecedented success in lobbying all 47 County Commissioners to work directly with Mau Mau leaders in their respective counties. This marked a new era of government collaboration in advancing compensation, documentation, and legacy preservation.
Ongoing Advocacy and Documentation
The Mau Mau Secretariat continues its multi-faceted campaign for full recognition and compensation. Current efforts include: county-level veteran registration and documentation, oral history collection from aging survivors, advocacy for comprehensive compensation legislation, preservation of Mau Mau historical sites, educational programs in schools, and international advocacy for reparations. The fight for justice continues, with the Secretariat working tirelessly to ensure that Mau Mau freedom fighters receive the recognition and compensation they deserve before it’s too late.
“The British government sincerely regrets that these abuses took place and that they marred Kenya’s progress towards independence.”
William Hague, Foreign Secretary
Statement to the House of Commons, 6 June 2013
The Fight for Justice Continues
Veterans are aging. Documentation, advocacy and compensation must advance now. Support the Secretariat’s work.