The Other Side of the Coin

‘Minimum Force’: a reply to Huw Bennett

“…20 Bennett seems to be concerned about this lack of an army presence in this early stage, particularly in regard to the forced evictions of Kikuyu: 'Apart from a contemporary reference to the "thousands of unwanted people" carried away in "army lorries", there is scant mention of the army'. 21 Maybe this was because the army (the battalion of Fusiliers) was not actually involved. To make his point, Bennett uses Elkins 22 as a reference for backing up his claims that the army was involved in 'beatings and torture' during these evictions.…”

“…There had been, he said, instances of 'indiscriminate shootings' (but not, as Bennett twice says, 'widespread indiscriminate shooting'). 37 But certainly such acts of ill-discipline were not on par with those practiced by other security forces. 38 Still, though, 'The Army .…”

“…17 However, countering this, Bennett has it that there was 'close army collaboration with the police and administration'. 18 It was with these local security forces that 'the army cooperated with so closely' in what Bennett calls the 'beatings, torture and murder' of Kikuyu tribespeople during a series of forced evictions that dominated the early stages of the campaign against the Mau Mau. 19 Certainly, in this early period of the Mau Mau insurgency (what Bennett refers to as the 'first phase' -October 1952 to June 1953), the military could not be accused of directing the campaign.…”

“…Elkins, however, describes the security forces as "a splintered group" who each acted according to their own desires'. 10 Bennett assumes the terms 'army' and 'security forces' are actually co-terminous. They are not.…”

Soldiers in the Court Room: The British Army's Part in the Kenya Emergency under the Legal Spotlight

“…Forces involved included the Devons, the Lancashires, The Buffs, various KAR battalions and the Kenya Regiment. 41 Army intelligence personnel also went to work in static screening camps dotted throughout the Emergency areas. In August 1954, two Army Field Intelligence Assistants were sent temporarily to serve on the interrogation teams at Manyani screening camp.…”