Makhan Singh (Kenyan politician)

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Makhan Singh is a trade union leader from Kenya.

In 1935, he formed the Labour Trade Union of Kenya, and in 1949, he and Fred Kubai formed the East African Trade Union Congress, the first central organization of trade unions in Kenya.

Makhan Singh presents a new and unique challenge in analysing the history of political detentions and human rights. His ten year detention in late 1950's in the desert prison camp near Lodwar Northern Kenya, under the "control orders" issued by the British rulers of Kenya Colony, has become highly significant since both the Guantanamo Bay (USA) and "Belmarsh Prison" (UK) detentions of 2000.

After having spoken out in clear and strong terms against British occupation and colonial rule in Kenya on 23rd April 1950 at Kaloleni Halls, Nairobi, Makhan Singh was arrested within 21 days on May 15. He had inadvertently given the British colonial masters an opportunity to silence him. At a trial in Nyeri, Chanan Singh (later Justice Chanan Singh) defended him eloquently and with rigour. He was acquitted.

Like the Belmarsh Prisoners and their detentions in the UK, the then Kenya Colony Governor, Sir Philip Mitchell, ordered that he be detained for an indefinite period. He was released after ten years of being confined without any charge or trial on 20th October, 1961

His detainment and situations surrounding them is history repeating itself. Sir Philip Mitchell could not send him back to India after his acquital as India was a new country- sovereign in its own rights. The British administrations idea of using its colonies and friendly (puppet) maharadjas(kings) in various Indian kingdoms and Kala Pani (Andaman Islands) as convenient rendition sites for people who threatened the empire was a common practice. Makhan Singh was a resident in Kenya Colony. India ( a new democracy then 1947), would not accept his "rendition".