Britain to pay almost £20 million compensation to more than 5,000 Mau Mau victims.
Britain is to pay out £19.9 million in costs and compensation to more than 5,000 Kenyans, who were severely mistreated under British colonial rule during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising, Britainâ„¢s Foreign Secretary William Hague has said.
Hague told the House of Commons that the payment was being made in “full and final settlement” of a high court action brought by five of the victims who suffered from torture and other ill-treatment, including castration, rape and beatings.
According to reports, more than 5,000 victims are each expected to be given £2,600 as part of the multi-million pound compensation deal.
Å“The British government sincerely regrets that these abuses took place and that they marred Kenya’s progress to independence. Torture and ill-treatment are abhorrent violations of human dignity which we unreservedly condemn,” Hague told the MPs.
At least 10,000 people died during the 1952-1960 Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule, with some sources giving far higher estimates.
MOS/HE
This article originally appeared on: Press TV