Mau Mau: Britain 'sincerely regrets' colonial-era abuses

Britain announced compensation for thousands of Mau Mau veterans, saying that it “sincerely regretted” years of “suffering and injustice” carried out under its imperial rule of Kenya, but stopped short of a full apology.

Captured suspected Mau Mau fighters are marched towards Githunguri court in Kenya in April 1953

By Mike Pflanz, Nairobi

4:44PM BST 06 Jun 2013

The brutal suppression of an independence rebellion led to torture, internment without trial and excessive numbers of executions, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, said in a statement to Parliament.

He confirmed that more than 5,200 claimants would share compensation from the Government of £13.9 million, but said that the out-of-court settlement did not mean Britain was legally liable for the abuses, although he said the settlement was about a “process of reconciliation.”

“I would like to make clear now and for the first time … that we understand the pain and grievance felt by those who were involved,” Mr Hague said.

“The British Government recognises that Kenyans were subject to torture and other forms of ill treatment at the hands of the colonial administration. [We] sincerely regret that these abuses took place.”

Each of the 5,228 individuals will receive roughly £2,600 in compensation, the equivalent of educating one child for seven years, or of buying a second-hand car. Britain will also help to pay for a new memorial in Nairobi to what Mr Hague called “victims of torture and ill-treatment during the colonial era”.

“The money is not the point, it was the apology that we have been asking for all this time,” said Paul Kimotho, 75, who was imprisoned and lost all but five of his teeth during beatings under interrogation by British officers.
“Now we Mau Mau and the British people can be brothers again and move forward in a spirit of development and friendship.”
More than 200 of the claimants gathered in an upmarket hotel in Nairobi to hear Christian Turner, Britain’s High Commissioner to Kenya, read sections of Mr Hague’s speech.

Women ululated and elderly men clapped and struggled to their feet for short shuffling dances as the deal was announced.

^{Lawrence Mathenge is a representative of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association (AP)}

“Today’s celebration is a true testimony to the fact that all those who commit serious human rights abuses violations, regardless of their standing … in society, or their might as nations, must be held to account,” said Atsango Chesoni, director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
A British personal injury law firm, Leigh Day, brought a test case to the High Court in London.
Judges rejected the Foreign Office’s argument that the alleged crimes took place so long ago that a fair trial would be impossible.
“I take my hat off to Mr Hague for having the courage to make today’s statement … albeit he was looking down the barrel of the gun in terms of a court process which he had a strong chance of losing,” Martyn Day, the firm’s founder, said.
The Government will pay his firm £6 million in costs.
“This was a case that took four years, involved teams of up to 30 lawyers, and required the help of experts across the world,” said Dan Leader, Leigh Day’s representative in Nairobi.