The British government has handed over a substantial volume of digitized archives documenting Kenya’s colonial past, including records on the Mau Mau insurgency and key figures such as the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. These archives, encompassing 2,658 files and over 300,000 images, span the period from 1907 to 1968.
British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan OBE, officially presented the archives to President William Ruto on Friday. The handover took place during an event celebrating the inscription of the Gedi National Monument as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Among the 2,658 files and over 300,000 images contained in the archives, there are papers concerning the Mau Mau insurgency, records of collective punishment and detainees, the Kenya constitutional discussions of 1961, files dealing with external affairs, and intelligence dossiers of prominent personalities such as Jomo Kenyatta, Paul Ngei, Oginga Odinga, Bernard Mate, Daniel Arap Moi, Masinde Muliro, Joseph Murumbi, Tom Mboya, Joseph Nyagah, among others,” stated the British High Commission in a press release.
The archives, according to Wigan, offer Kenyans a unique opportunity to delve into their shared history with Britain and reflect on their rich heritage.
“These archives, spanning 1907 to 1968, are a window into our shared history, meaning Kenyans can better tell their own story and offer an opportunity for reflection and understanding,” he remarked.
To support the cataloging and preservation of this vast collection, the British High Commission will provide funding for advanced technology. This includes new computers and a modern digital database for Kenya’s National Archives, ensuring the country’s historical records are safeguarded for future generations.
The release of these archives comes after years of advocacy by Mau Mau freedom fighters and historians, who have sought access to documents detailing the violence, torture, and collective punishment inflicted during the insurgency. The archives include crucial information about the atrocities committed under British colonial rule and the resilience of those who fought for Kenya’s independence.
