In 1924 Norman Leys shocked liberals by revealing the truth aboutsettler colonialism in a best-selling book called, simply, Kenya. Heshowed that settler colonialism had nothing to do with a ‘civilising mission’but meant the ruthless exploitation of African forced labour. In 1910 he had exposed the duplicity of theGovernor of Kenya in moving the Maasai out of their traditional land to makeway for settlers. The Governor was forced to resign. Leys was demoted andexiled. Leys campaigned tirelessly totry to change public opinion in Britain. He exposed the racism behind popularsupport for the settlers and was prepared to accept the unpopularity thiscaused. The book tells the story of what made a medical doctor a champion ofAfrican liberation decades before it was fashionable, and why he had the impacthe had. With a Foreword by Paul Gilroy, two maps and one photos. Annexespresent selected original texts.
