The Mau Mau Uprising from 1952 to 1960 was an attempt by the Kenyans to free themselves from British rule. In 1960, Kenya had been part of the British Empire for around 70 years.
The core of the resistance was formed by members of the Kikuyu ethnic group, along with smaller numbers of Embu and Meru.
By 1955, the British had imprisoned almost 1,100,000 Mau Mau in concentration camps, where they were given small rations of food and flogged often.
The British were eventually victorious against the Mau Mau, who had almost 11,000 members killed. But Kenya gained its independence from Britain in 1963.
One of those imprisoned and tortured by the British was Obama's grandfather...
Barack Obama inauguration: Alliance with UK not so special
By Bob Roberts
21/01/2009
The Daily Mirror
Mau Mau being sent to a concentration camp by the British, 1954
Ministers have accepted Britain's special relationship with the US is likely to fade a little under Barack Obama.
Senior figures said no one should expect the same close bond shared by George Bush and Tony Blair.
And Foreign Secretary David Miliband played down hopes Gordon Brown may be one of the first leaders to visit the White House.
The predictions came as the world reacted with joy to Obama's historic inauguration yesterday. A senior source said: "This is not going to be shoulder-to-shoulder.
"This is a relationship of shared values and shared priorities."
Obama has spoken of his Kenyan family's bitterness to Britain after British soldiers brutally put down an uprising in the African country in the 1950s in which his grandfather was imprisoned and tortured.
A top British diplomat in Washington also described President Obama as inexperienced in a memo which was leaked last year. But Mr Miliband dismissed the idea relationships would be soured, saying: "The British Government of today is not defending the role of Britain in Kenya 40 years ago."
Meanwhile, the world united to back Obama yesterday with the Queen leading messages of support.
Mr Brown added: "He is a man of great vision, he is a man of great determination and energy, and he is a man of great moral purpose."
Nelson Mandela, the former South African leader who also inspired millions, wrote: "You have brought a new voice of hope."
In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI gave his backing while European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso described yesterday as a "turning point" for the world.
Across the Middle East, the inauguration was also welcomed despite concern over US foreign policy.
Arab League chief Amr Moussa congratulated Obama and urged him to put the Middle East "as a key issue on his agenda".
mirror.co.uk
The core of the resistance was formed by members of the Kikuyu ethnic group, along with smaller numbers of Embu and Meru.
By 1955, the British had imprisoned almost 1,100,000 Mau Mau in concentration camps, where they were given small rations of food and flogged often.
The British were eventually victorious against the Mau Mau, who had almost 11,000 members killed. But Kenya gained its independence from Britain in 1963.
One of those imprisoned and tortured by the British was Obama's grandfather...
Barack Obama inauguration: Alliance with UK not so special
By Bob Roberts
21/01/2009
The Daily Mirror
Mau Mau being sent to a concentration camp by the British, 1954
Ministers have accepted Britain's special relationship with the US is likely to fade a little under Barack Obama.
Senior figures said no one should expect the same close bond shared by George Bush and Tony Blair.
And Foreign Secretary David Miliband played down hopes Gordon Brown may be one of the first leaders to visit the White House.
The predictions came as the world reacted with joy to Obama's historic inauguration yesterday. A senior source said: "This is not going to be shoulder-to-shoulder.
"This is a relationship of shared values and shared priorities."
Obama has spoken of his Kenyan family's bitterness to Britain after British soldiers brutally put down an uprising in the African country in the 1950s in which his grandfather was imprisoned and tortured.
A top British diplomat in Washington also described President Obama as inexperienced in a memo which was leaked last year. But Mr Miliband dismissed the idea relationships would be soured, saying: "The British Government of today is not defending the role of Britain in Kenya 40 years ago."
Meanwhile, the world united to back Obama yesterday with the Queen leading messages of support.
Mr Brown added: "He is a man of great vision, he is a man of great determination and energy, and he is a man of great moral purpose."
Nelson Mandela, the former South African leader who also inspired millions, wrote: "You have brought a new voice of hope."
In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI gave his backing while European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso described yesterday as a "turning point" for the world.
Across the Middle East, the inauguration was also welcomed despite concern over US foreign policy.
Arab League chief Amr Moussa congratulated Obama and urged him to put the Middle East "as a key issue on his agenda".
mirror.co.uk
