The gap between recognition and the 'compensation business' : the claim against Britain for compensation by Kenya's former Mau Mau fighters

During the first Kibaki administration (2002-2007), a movement by the former Mau Mau fighters demanded recognition for the role that they had played in the achievement of independence. They began to demand, also, monetary compensation for past injustices. Why had it taken over 40 years (from independence in 1963) for the former Mau Mau fighters to initiate this movement? What can be observed as the outcome of their movement? To answer these questions, three different historical currents need to be taken into account. These were, respectively, changing trends in the government of Kenya, progress in historical research into the actual circumstances of colonial control, and a realization, based on mounting experience, that launching a legal action against Britain could turn out to be a lucrative initiative. This paper concludes that, regardless of the actual purpose of the legal case, neither of their objectives was certain to be achieved. Two inescapable realities remain: the doubts cast on the reputation of the government by its decision to lift the Mau Mau‟s outlaw status – a decision that was widely seen as a latter-day example of the „Kikuyu favouritism‟ policy followed by the first Kibaki administration – and the popular interpretation of the involvement of Leigh Day, well known in Kenya ever since the unexploded bombs case for its success in obtaining substantial compensation payments, as a vehicle for squeezing large amounts of money from the British government for the benefit of the Kikuyu people.

The Commerce between Nova Scotia and the United States, undated

Undated essay regarding the state of commerce between the United States and Nova Scotia, including specific mentions of foodstuffs traded. Docketed by a letter, likely to a publisher, explaining Tudor’s belief that trade with the United States is beneficial to Nova Scotia and should be encouraged by Great Britain.

England on the sea; or, The story of the British navy: its decisive battles and great commanders,

Mode of access: Internet.

Rainfall tables of the British Isles for 1866-1890.

Mode of access: Internet.

The Law reports of the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting.

Editors: 1891-1894, A.P. Stone; 1895-1900, Frederick Pollock.

A treatise on the law of rights of common, with a supplement, containing the cases and statutes, and the Act of 4 & 5 W. 4, c. 30, to facilitate the exchange of lands, with explanatory notes.

The supplement and the Act of 4 & 5 W. 4, c. 30, have individual title pages.

Reports from Her Majesty's consuls on the manufactures, commerce, &c. of their consular districts.

"Presented to both houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty."

Academy notes.

Henry Blackburn, editor, 1875-96.

Manwood's Treatise of the forest laws : shewing not only the laws now in force, but the original of forests, what they are, and how they differ from chases, parks, and warrens; with all such things as are incident to either: together with the proper terms of art, collected out of the common and statute laws of this realm; as also from the assises and iters of Pickering and Lancaster, and several other ancient and learned authors. Treating also of the office of agistors, beadles, foresters, keepers, rangers, verderors and woodwards, and of the Courts of attachment, & c. With all the variety of cases relating to forests, chases, parks, and warrens; and all the laws concerning the game made, adjudged or repealed, since the year 1665. The whole digested under proper titles in an alphabetical order.

"Appendix. Charta de foresta, of Canvtvs, a Dane, and king of this realm; granted at a Parliament holden at Winchester, anno Dom. 1016 [and other statutes relating to forests]": p. 393-435.

The broad gauge, the bane of the Great Western Railway Company : with an account of the present & prospective liabilities saddled on the proprietors by the promoters of that peculiar crotchet /

Mode of access: Internet.

A bibliographical, antiquarian and picturesque tour in France and Germany /

The index is bound in the first volume.

The Principles of pleading, practice and procedure in civil actions in the High Court of Justice /

Includes bibliographical references.

Report of the commissioners on secondary education.

Presented to Parliament by command of Her Majesty.

Calendar of the patent rolls : preserved in the Public Record Office /

Some volumes are published by Kraus Reprint, Nendeln/Liechtenstein.

The golden Americas.

Mode of access: Internet.