Britain to compensate Kenyans for colonial-era torture
- 11 years ago
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It was a dark moment in British history.
Soldiers brutally put down an independence movement in Kenya during the tail-end of colonial rule in the early 1950s.
Tens of thousands of Kenyans were killed or maimed in the so-called Mau Mau uprising - and scores of others were arrested, raped and tortured.
Decades later, Britain is finally making amends.
The government announced Thursday it would pay out a total of 20 million pounds in compensation to of thousands of elderly Kenyans caught up in the crackdown.
Foreign Secretary William Hague also offered an official apology.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:
"The British government recognises that Kenyans were subjected to torture and other forms of ill treatment at the hands of the colonial administration. The British government sincerely regrets that these abuses took place."
The admission was a stark
It was a dark moment in British history.
Soldiers brutally put down an independence movement in Kenya during the tail-end of colonial rule in the early 1950s.
Tens of thousands of Kenyans were killed or maimed in the so-called Mau Mau uprising - and scores of others were arrested, raped and tortured.
Decades later, Britain is finally making amends.
The government announced Thursday it would pay out a total of 20 million pounds in compensation to of thousands of elderly Kenyans caught up in the crackdown.
Foreign Secretary William Hague also offered an official apology.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:
"The British government recognises that Kenyans were subjected to torture and other forms of ill treatment at the hands of the colonial administration. The British government sincerely regrets that these abuses took place."
The admission was a stark