Books Histories of the Hanged: The Dirty War in Kenya and the End of Empire Author: David Anderson

Histories of the Hanged by David Anderson is a powerful and meticulously researched exploration of one of the most violent and controversial chapters in Kenya’s colonial history—the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s. Drawing from extensive archival records, court transcripts, and personal testimonies, Anderson reconstructs the events that led to the uprising and the British response that followed.

The book reveals:

The roots of Kenyan resistance against colonial exploitation and land dispossession

The organization and ideology of the Mau Mau movement

The British counterinsurgency campaign, including mass detentions, torture, and executions

The legal and political mechanisms used to suppress dissent

The stories of those who were tried, hanged, or silenced during the conflict

Anderson challenges sanitized narratives of empire by exposing the systemic violence and moral contradictions of British rule. His work honors the memory of those who resisted and suffered, offering a nuanced understanding of Kenya’s path to independence.

The title refers to the many Mau Mau fighters who were executed during the colonial crackdown—often after questionable trials. The book’s cover and tone evoke the gravity of this history, making it essential reading for scholars, students, and anyone interested in justice, memory, and decolonization.

For Kenyan readers, Histories of the Hanged is more than a historical account—it’s a reclaiming of truth and a tribute to the resilience of those who fought for liberation.