Conflicts & Resolutions · Revolt

Mau Mau rebellion

1952–1960 · 20th century · Also known as Mau Mau uprising, Kenya Emergency

The Mau Mau rebellion was an armed uprising in colonial Kenya, mainly among the Kikuyu, against British rule and European settlement on African land. The British declared a state of emergency in 1952, detained tens of thousands in camps and killed many thousands of suspected rebels. The emergency ended in 1960, and Kenya became independent in 1963.

Mau Mau rebellion
Image: Ministry of Defence POST-1945 OFFICIAL COLLECTION · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 state histories

East Africa ProtectorateKenya ColonyKenya

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Mau Mau rebellion. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mau-mau-rebellion
MLA
“Mau Mau rebellion.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mau-mau-rebellion. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Mau Mau rebellion.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mau-mau-rebellion.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Mau Mau rebellion’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/mau-mau-rebellion (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻