Kenya Given Colonial Files From United Kingdom, Mau Mau Documents Included
The British government has handed over to Kenya a huge collection of digitized archives relating to British colonial history in the country.
The government, through the State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage has prioritized the repatriation of Kenya’s cultural artifacts to safeguard and preserve our national identity.
— State Department for Culture and Heritage (@PsHeritage) December 14, 2024
Yesterday, His excellency President @WilliamsRuto officially received more than 2600… pic.twitter.com/2sBharxUBU
They included documentation about the Mau Mau insurgency and notable figures such as the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, among others.
Neil Wigan OBE, the British High Commissioner to Kenya, handed over the historical records to President William Ruto on Friday during an event commemorating the Gedi National Monument’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
Shared history, shared future 🇬🇧 🤝 🇰🇪
— UK in Kenya 🇬🇧🇰🇪 (@UKinKenya) December 13, 2024
🇬🇧 High Commissioner @FCDONeilWigan today handed over more than 2600 archive files and 300K images covering British rule in Kenya to HE @WilliamsRuto for the Kenya National Archives to better tell Kenya’s story 📖 pic.twitter.com/AStvCmdbzf
“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,” the British High Commission said in a statement to newsrooms.
“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.”
According to Wigan, making these materials available gives Kenya a better opportunity to recount its rich history.
Today, 🇬🇧 UK High Commissioner @FCDONeilWigan joined @WilliamsRuto to launch the @NPSOfficial_KE Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
— UK in Kenya 🇬🇧🇰🇪 (@UKinKenya) December 13, 2024
Supported by 🇬🇧 programme @ReinventKenya it aims to improve
👉 professionalism
👉 accountability
👉 public confidence pic.twitter.com/B0AVj3Jbcj
“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 said.
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The British High Commission will also offer cash for new technology, such as PCs and a contemporary digital database.
The UK will also assist the National Archives in classifying the large quantity of information included inside these archives, thereby preserving Kenya’s rich past.
Kenya Given Colonial Files From United Kingdom, Mau Mau Documents Included
