The Politics of the Independence of Kenya [Paperback]

As with his critically acclaimed book on Suez, Keith Kyle revisits as a scholar ground that he first covered as a print and television journalist. After three introductory chapters covering the years 1895-1957, the core of the book examines in lively detail how Kenya moved from Mau Mau trauma to national freedom. The immediacy of the eye-witness, which older readers will remember from television reports, is now combined with the fruits of reflection and meticulous archival research to create a unique authoritative study of this vital period for Kenya, for Africa and for the British Empire.PART ONE: AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION 1895-1957 The Foundation of Kenya Colony The Ise of African Nationalism The Politics of Mau Mau PART TWO: THE INDEPENDENCE OF KENYA 1957-1963 Tearing Down Lyttelton The Bridge-Player Kenyatta Released Majimbo Kanu Triumphant Uhuru na Harambee Epilogue Notes Bibliography

'This is the first account of Kenya's independence to be written with access to the official documents; but the author was also there at the time, as an unusually perspicacious journalist. The combination of research and personal observation...brings a unique blend of authority and immediacy to the book. The personalities come alive even as the political complexities unroll.' - Dr John Lonsdale, Trinity College, Cambridge

'...a highly accessible and much needed synthesis of the secondary literature and recently released government papers relating to Kenyan decolonization.' - Dr Philip Murphy, University of Reading

'The book reads very well and will make a real contribution to the study of the end of Empire.' - Professor T.G. Fraser, University of Ulster