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(More customer reviews)This is a remarkable story and a fascinating read. Peter Hewitt's account of his memoirs as a Kenya policeman reads like a novel. His colorful and cleverly written observations captivate the reader with a unique and factually-engrossing glimpse into the darkest period of Kenya's history. An interesting story for the curious reader, this is also an important writing for anyone examining the current controversy of Mau Mau detention camps which resulted from the terror raged against both Africans and colonists during the 1950s.
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Originally published in 1999, Kenya Cowboy has been updated and re-released with a new postscript. This is a stylish, first-hand account of Britain's futile and often tragic struggle to retain its rich stake in East Africa in the face of the relentless Mau Mau uprising.Previous to the social unrest that began in December 2007, which has blighted its apparent democracy, Kenya was hailed as a mature and stable post-colonial independent state. However, after 40 years of rigged elections, underlying problems have finally manifested themselves with thousands of aggravated citizens taking to the streets.Unlike many of its neighbors during the period of transition from colony to independent state, Kenya did not collapse into a state of anarchy. But the Mau Mau uprising hangs like a dark cloud over this evolution. Their savage and brutal brand of terrorism was unknown to many - with the insurgents themselves hailed as heroes and celebrated with pride on Kenyatta Day every year since.Here, Peter Hewitt, a former police officer at the time of the uprising, offers another side to the story. He gives a balanced assessment of the implications of Mau Mau as well as vivid and shocking reconstruction of events that took place. He seeks both to give a human perspective and to shed light on the darker areas of the time. It is a book that is filled with revelations, many damning.
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