1961, 21 August
Jomo Kenyatta at the age of 69 is released from detention by Kenya's colonial master Britain. Kenyatta, who had been arrested in 1953 and sentenced to hard labour for running the Mau Mau, considered by the British to be a secret Kenyan terrorist organisation. Two years ago the slow process leading to today's release began when he was moved from prison to a house specially built for him in Gatundu, 20 kilometres out of Nairobi.
1964, 21 August
The grizzly discovery of 300 bodies is made when government troops force rebels out of Bukavi, Congo.
1977, 21 August
Guerrillas massacre sixteen people at Umtali, Rhodesia.
1989, 21 August
George Adamson, conservationist, dies in Kenya.
1993, 21 August
Colonel Kasdi Merbah, Algerian Prime Minister from 5 November 1988 to 9 September 1989, is assassinated by members of the Islamic Salvation Front.
