Kenya Army Infantry

Apr 19, 2026 - 14:26
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Kenya Army Infantry

History

← Previous revision Revision as of 08:54, 19 April 2026
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Timothy Parsons writes:
Timothy Parsons writes:
'..Kenyan political elites viewed the army as a potential source of political leverage. No party or ethnic group was willing to let its rivals gain a dominant position in the armed forces. As a result, veteran askaris worried that politically connected soldiers would replace them. Most of the "martial races" that comprised the old colonial forces were not part of the [[Kenya African National Union]] [KANU], and many Kikuyu openly referred to the KAR as the "KADU army." In 1959, the Kalenjin, Kamba, Samburu, and Northern Frontier pastoral communities supplied approximately 77 percent of the total strength of the Kenyan KAR battalions.'Report on the EALF and the Kenya Regiment in 1959, by GOC EAC, KNA, LF/1/210; and Central Province Recruiting Safari, by Captain N.R. Pavitt, 1963, PRO/WO/305/1651, in Parsons 2007, 60.
'..Kenyan political elites viewed the army as a potential source of political leverage. No party or ethnic group was willing to let its rivals gain a dominant position in the armed forces. As a result, veteran [[askari]]s worried that politically connected soldiers would replace them. Most of the "martial races" that comprised the old colonial forces were not part of the [[Kenya African National Union]] [KANU], and many Kikuyu openly referred to the KAR as the "[[Kenya African Democratic Union|KADU]] army." In 1959, the Kalenjin, Kamba, Samburu, and Northern Frontier pastoral communities supplied approximately 77 percent of the total strength of the Kenyan KAR battalions.'Report on the EALF and the Kenya Regiment in 1959, by GOC EAC, KNA, LF/1/210; and Central Province Recruiting Safari, by Captain N.R. Pavitt, 1963, PRO/WO/305/1651, in Parsons 2007, 60.


During the [[Mau Mau rebellion]], "B" Company of the KAR's 5th Battalion perpetrated the [[Chuka massacre]] in June 1953, killing a number of Kenyan civilians. The massacre was ordered by the company's [[commanding officer]], [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] Gerald Selby Lewis Griffiths. After news of the massacre became public, Griffiths was cashiered and sentenced to five years' imprisonment by the British authorities.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
During the [[Mau Mau rebellion]], "B" Company of the KAR's 5th Battalion perpetrated the [[Chuka massacre]] in June 1953, killing a number of Kenyan civilians. The massacre was ordered by the company's [[commanding officer]], [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] Gerald Selby Lewis Griffiths. On 11 March 1954, Griffiths was found guilty on five counts; he was sentenced to five years in prison and was [[cashiered]] from the Army.{{Cite news |date=1954-03-12 |title=Griffiths |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-griffiths/143798091/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |pages=1}}


Three KAR battalions were transferred to Kenya upon independence (at midnight on 12 December 1963).{{sfn|Snyder|1982|pages=401, 403}} Thus 3 KAR, 5 KAR, and 11 KAR became 3 Kenya Rifles, 5 Kenya Rifles, and 11 Kenya Rifles. Their middle and senior ranks were filled almost entirely by regular British officers.
Three KAR battalions were transferred to Kenya upon independence (at midnight on 12 December 1963).{{sfn|Snyder|1982|pages=401, 403}} Thus 3 KAR, 5 KAR, and 11 KAR became 3 Kenya Rifles, 5 Kenya Rifles, and 11 Kenya Rifles. Their middle and senior ranks were filled almost entirely by regular British officers.
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