Postal History of Kenya

Thanks to Jamie Smith for providing the information and images from the exhibit for this page.

Although this collection depicts the Mau Mau period from the 1950-1959 it has its roots in events which occurred during World War II and immediately afterwards.

During the war the K.A.R. together with other British troops fought the Japanese in Burma. It was here that the indigenous people of Kenya, while serving in the K.A.R gained their military knowledge which they used during the Mau Mau conflict. Murmurs of the rebellion started to surface in 1947, in 1950 the Mau Mau became a banned organisation and in 1952 the emergency was declared.

It was to last until 1959 but by that time the grounds had been set for the independence not only of Kenya in 12/12/1963 but also for Tanganyika in 12/12/1961 and in Uganda in 12/12/1962.

At the end of the Second World War Winston Churchill sent his C.I.G.S. on an around the world tour to establish what he thought would happen to the then empire post war. One of the findings was that Egypt would be lost. With this in mind British military forces which before the war were stationed in Egypt were slowly re-established in Kenya with the result that when the Kenya emergency began some troops were already in place. Although it was the Kenya Police, King's African Rifles (K.A.R.) and the Kenya Regiment that were in the forefront of the battle against terrorism it was these troops that were already established in the area that fought with them. The main area covered by the emergency was from Nairobi up to and including Mount Kenya and the Aberdare range, then westwards to Nakuru, the Rift Valley and the so called White Highlands.

This collection is intended to eventually cover the whole of this fighting force involved with the addition of other covers. At the present time it is in no specific order and any help with knowledge or covers will be appreciated.

Map of Kenya showing area of Mau Mau activity.

(Nairobi).
12/12/57.

Cachet.
Royal Army
Chaplains
Department
East Africa
12/12/57

Cachet.
Post Room.
12/12/57.
H.Q.E.A.C.
(Buller Camp
Nairobi).

25c. 'Forces' concession rate to the United Kingdom from Nairobi.
The rate would indicate K.A.R. and it may be that the canon was attached to that force.

Scan of reverse Canon and Nairobi (Buller Camp)P.O. Box address.

156 (E.A.) Independent H.A.A. Battery East African Artillery Stationed at 'Airfield Camp' Nanyuki.

Nanyuki. S.O.
7/5/75.

Cachet.
156 (E.A.)
H.A.A.
Battery.
5/7/52.

Scan of reserve.
Capt. Bennett.Nanyuki.

Nanyuki. S.O.
16/12/52.

Cachet.
156 (E.A.)
H.A.A.E.A.
Artillery.
14/12/52.

Scan of reserve.
Sender-
Major R.A. (Royal Artillery).

1^st Bn. The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment - R.H.R.))

20c. 'Forces' concession air mail rate to United Kingdom.

The Black Watch replaced the Lancashire Fusiliers in August 1953
to be replaced themselves in 1955. They spent most of their service in Kenya
searching the Aberdare Forest for members of the Mau Mau.

Confirmed positions of units to areas.