The records the British Empire didn't want you to see - Audra A. Diptée

Translator: Meera Bhanse Reviewer: Chirantan Saigaonkar

In 2009, five Kenyan people took a petition

[In 2009, five Kenyan people took a petition]

[to the British Prime Minister’s office.]

to the British Prime Minister’s office.

[They claimed they endured human rights abuses in the 1950s,]

They claimed they endured human rights abuses in the 1950s,

while Kenya was under British colonial rule and demanded reparations.

[while Kenya was under British colonial rule and demanded reparations.]

They had vivid accounts and physical scars from their experiences—

[They had vivid accounts and physical scars from their experiences,]

but their testimonies were undermined.

[but their testimonies were undermined.]

They had no documentary evidence that Britain sanctioned systems of torture

[They had no documentary evidence that Britain sanctioned systems of torture]

against Kenyans— at least, not yet.

[against Kenyans—at least, not yet.]

Thousands of secret files were waiting to be discovered.

[Thousands of secret files were waiting to be discovered.]

In 2010, a historian joined the trial as an expert witness

[In 2010, a historian joined the trial as an expert witness]

and attested to having seen references to missing documents.

[and attested to having seen references to missing documents.]

They noted that Kenya had repeatedly requested the return of stolen papers,

[They noted that Kenya had repeatedly requested the return of stolen papers,]

which the British government had refused.

[which the British government had refused.]

In fact, many historians suspected there were gaps in the archives.

[In fact, many historians suspected there were gaps in the archives.]

As a result, the court ordered the release of any relevant documents.

[As a result, the court ordered the release of any relevant documents.]

And, days later, British officials acknowledged that 1,500 pertinent files

[And, days later, British officials acknowledged that 1,500 pertinent files]

were being held in a high-security archive.

[were being held in a high-security archive.]

It soon became clear that these were just a small sample

[It soon became clear that these were just a small sample]

of documents Britain hid between the 1950s and 70s,

[of documents Britain hid between the 1950s and 70s,]

while former colonies declared independence,

[while former colonies declared independence,]

as part of a widespread colonial British policy called Operation Legacy.

[as part of a widespread colonial British policy called Operation Legacy.]

The policy was for British colonial officers to destroy or remove

[The policy was for British colonial officers to destroy or remove]

documentation that might incriminate Britain

[documentation that might incriminate Britain]

and be of strategic value to the new governments.

[and be of strategic value to the new governments.]

They were instructed to destroy, alter,

[They were instructed to destroy, alter,]

or secretly transport these papers to the UK.

[or secretly transport these papers to the UK.]

Documents slated for destruction were to be burnt to ashes

[Documents slated for destruction were to be burnt to ashes]

or sunk in weighted crates far from shore.

[or sunk in weighted crates far from shore.]

During the trial, between 2010 and 2013,

[During the trial, between 2010 and 2013,]

an independent historian revealed they had located

[an independent historian revealed they had located]

more than 20,000 previously hidden Operation Legacy files

[more than 20,000 previously hidden Operation Legacy files]

from 37 former colonies.

[from 37 former colonies.]

Finally, an estimated 1.2 million colonial files,

[Finally, an estimated 1.2 million colonial files,]

sprawling kilometers in the archive’s so-called “Special Collections,”

[sprawling kilometers in the archive’s so-called “Special Collections,”]

were also exposed.

[were also exposed.]

And these were only the documents that British forces kept.

[And these were only the documents that British forces kept.]

How many were destroyed— and what information they contained—

[How many were destroyed— and what information they contained—]

remains unknown.

[remains unknown.]

About 3.5 tons of colonial documents were slated for incineration in Kenya.

[About 3.5 tons of colonial documents were slated for incineration in Kenya.]

Ultimately, Operation Legacy’s objective was to obscure critical aspects

[Ultimately, Operation Legacy’s objective was to obscure critical aspects]

of the truth.

[of the truth.]

In the words of Britain’s attorney-general in Kenya,

[In the words of Britain’s attorney-general in Kenya,]

“If we are going to sin, we must sin quietly.”

[“If we are going to sin, we must sin quietly.”]

So, what really happened in Kenya?

[So, what really happened in Kenya?]

Beginning in 1895, the British administration forcibly removed people

[Beginning in 1895, the British administration forcibly removed people]

from their traditional lands,

[from their traditional lands,]

giving the most fertile areas to European settlers to establish large-scale farms.

[giving the most fertile areas to European settlers to establish large-scale farms.]

They mandated forced labor systems,

[They mandated forced labor systems,]

implemented reservations for Indigenous African peoples,

[implemented reservations for Indigenous African peoples,]

and restricted their movement.

[and restricted their movement.]

Kenyan people resisted these incursions from the start

[Kenyan people resisted these incursions from the start]

and grew increasingly organized over time.

[and grew increasingly organized over time.]

One movement, the Kenya Land and Freedom Army,

[One movement, the Kenya Land and Freedom Army,]

aimed to forcibly remove white settlers and overthrow the colonial government.

[aimed to forcibly remove white settlers and overthrow the colonial government.]

When the British declared a state of emergency in 1952,

[When the British declared a state of emergency in 1952, they were]

they were giving themselves permission to take otherwise illegal special measures

[giving themselves permission to take otherwise illegal special measures]

to regain control.

[to regain control.]

The newly revealed Operation Legacy documents

[The newly revealed Operation Legacy documents]

confirmed that people suspected of participating in the resistance

[confirmed that people suspected of participating in the resistance]

were subjected to horrible abuses.

[were subjected to horrible abuses.]

Between 1952 and 1959,

[Between 1952 and 1959,]

the British imprisoned over 80,000 people without trial,

[the British imprisoned over 80,000 people without trial,]

sentenced over 1,000 people convicted as terrorists to death,

[sentenced over 1,000 people convicted as terrorists to death,]

and imposed extreme surveillance and interrogation tactics.

[and imposed extreme surveillance and interrogation tactics.]

Some people were beaten to death.

[Some people were beaten to death.]

Others were raped or castrated.

[Others were raped or castrated.]

Many were shackled at the wrist for years.

[Many were shackled at the wrist for years.]

Children were killed.

[Children were killed.]

One person was burnt alive.

[One person was burnt alive.]

Ndiku Mutwiwa Mutua testified to being castrated while handcuffed

[Ndiku Mutwiwa Mutua testified to being castrated while handcuffed]

and blindfolded.

[and blindfolded.]

Wambugu Wa Nyingi said he was suspended upside-down, beaten,

[Wambugu Wa Nyingi said he was suspended upside-down, beaten,]

and had water thrown on his face until he could barely breathe.

[and had water thrown on his face until he could barely breathe.]

Jane Muthoni Mara said she was sexually violated with a hot bottle,

[Jane Muthoni Mara said she was sexually violated with a hot bottle,]

and imprisoned for years without cause.

[and imprisoned for years without cause.]

In response to the new evidence,

[In response to the new evidence,]

the British government issued a formal apology,

[the British government issued a formal apology,]

and made an out-of-court financial settlement

[and made an out-of-court financial settlement]

with the 5,228 Kenyan claimants ultimately involved in the case.

[with the 5,228 Kenyan claimants ultimately involved in the case.]

The original five claimants had made history—

[The original five claimants had made history—]

and paved the way for it to be rightfully rewritten.

[and paved the way for it to be rightfully rewritten.]

The uncovered files challenge fundamental myths about British colonialism

[The uncovered files challenge fundamental myths about British colonialism]

as a benevolent institution that brought freedom and democracy to its subjects,

[as a benevolent institution that brought freedom and democracy to its subjects,]

then graciously gave them independence.

[then graciously gave them independence. Instead,]

Instead, the newly exposed evidence confirms what many people knew to be true,

[the newly exposed evidence confirms what many people knew to be true,]

because they lived it—

[because they lived it—]

and survived to rescue history from the ashes.

[and survived to rescue history from the ashes.]