AIR POWER IN THE MAU MAU CONFLICT

2011/02/01 by Stephen Chappell · 8 citations
Social Sciences · #Military History and Strategy #Kenya #Power (physics) #Political science #Insurgency #Population #Armed conflict #History #Sociology #Law #Demography #Politics

paper · doi:10.1080/03071847.2011.559986

published in The RUSI Journal 156(1), 64-70 (Routledge)

openalex publication_date 2011/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Air power has not featured prominently in most histories of the British counter-insurgency during the 1952–60 Kenyan Emergency. But as a fresh reading of the evidence shows, air assets were invaluable in the fight against the Mau Mau. By carefully avoiding civilian casualties, the RAF was able to target the Mau Mau insurgents in their remote strongholds without alienating the local population. The use of air power in the Kenyan campaign may well provide lessons for today.

Cited by

• Mau Mau rebellion [wikipedia]

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