Jomo Kenyatta Sentenced to Hard Labor – 8 April 1953

Jomo Kenyatta (who was known to his followers as Burning Spear) and five other co-accused were sentenced to seven years hard labor for their alleged part in the Mau Mau rebellion. As well as seven years hard labor for his part in organizing the Mau Mau, Kenyatta was given three years (to run concurrently) for being a member of the movement.

In passing sentence Judge Ransley Thacker commented "[Kenyatta] you have successfully plunged many Africans back to a state which shows little humanity. You have persuaded them in secret to murder, burn and commit atrocities which will take many years to forget." Kenyatta, and the other five, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming that they "stood for the rights of the African people and peace in Kenya."