The British Kenya Emergency, also known as the Mau Mau rebellion or revolt, was an uprising in Kenya against British colonial rule. On 3 October 1952, the Mau Mau murdered the first European victim, stabbing a woman to death near her home in Thika and then on 9 October, shot dead Senior Chief Waruhiu, a supporter of the colonial government. Following these murders, the Colonial Office authorised a State of Emergency which the Governor, Evelyn Baring, signed on 20 October 1952. Following a bloody campaign, the Mau Mau was eventually rendered ineffective following the capture and arrest on 21 October 1956 of Dedan Kimathi wa Waciuri* in the Nyeri forest. As he had directed what was known as the ‘Forest War’ his capture marked the end of such Mau Mau operations. However, it was not until the first of the three Lancaster House Conferences, in January 1960, that the process of transition to independence began.

Following further Lancaster House conferences in 1962 and 1963, Kenya became an independent dominion on 12 December 1963 and then declared itself the Republic of Kenya on 12 December 1964.

*
The presiding judge at his trial was Sir Kenneth Kennedy O’Connor KBE MC QC (1896 – 1985), the Attorney General Kenya, who had been educated at Saint Columba’s College, Dublin.