| Kenya Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Regimental badge, showing a chargingcape buffalo | |
| Active | 1937–1939 1950–1963 |
| Country |  Kenya Colony Uganda Protectorate |
| Allegiance |  British Empire |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Colours | Brown, red and green |
| Engagements | Mau Mau Uprising |
TheKenya Regiment was a unit of theBritish Army recruited primarily amongwhite settlers inKenya and to a lesser extentUganda. Formed in 1937, it was disbanded at the oubreak ofWorld War II in 1939.[citation needed] It was reformed in 1950 and participated in the suppression of theMau Mau uprising (1952–56). It was finally disbanded on Kenyan independence in May 1963.
The British colonial administrations in East Africa relied throughout their existence predominantly on military units recruited among Africans and commanded by Europeans. The various units were consolidated into theKing's African Rifles in 1902. In 1907 the idea of a white settler defence force was discussed. The "Kenya Defence Force" was eventually established under the Defence Force Ordinance 1928. The Ordinance "made provision for the compulsory registration of all European males of British nationality in the Colony up to the age of fifty years and for their division into three classes according to age. However, those over fifty could also enrol in a fourth class."[1] After questions were raised about control of weapons and potential settler threats to the Kenya Government in 1936, the Force was disbanded and replaced by the Kenya Regiment, formed 1 June 1937. Its creation was partly intended as a means to control settlers' political aspirations.[2]
The Kenya Regiment was formed in the aftermath of theAbyssinia Crisis (1935). Fearing an Italian threat to the British colonies inEast Africa, theColonial Office ordered the reform of the military units inKenya Colony. A section of theTerritorial Army was established forwhite settlers to complement the long-establishedKing's African Rifles (KAR) which comprised black soldiers under white officers. It was originally designatedKenya Regiment (Territorial Force) and subsequently expanded, also recruiting white settlers inUganda Protectorate.[3] At the outbreak ofWorld War II in 1939, the unit's personnel were re-allocated to the KAR andNorthern Rhodesia Regiment. Kenya Regiment soldiers also formed the basis for the creation of theKenya Armoured Car Regiment.
The regiment was recalled in 1950 and participated in the suppression of theMau Mau Uprising (1952–56). 1,800 men served with the Kenya Regiment of whom about 300 served in the KAR.[2] According to the historian Huw Bennett, "the army high command only partially managed to impose discipline on the Kenya Regiment, and relied upon them for local knowledge".[2] 31 of its members were killed during the conflict.[4] The regiment was disbanded with the independence ofKenya in 1963.
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