Kenya, Mau Mau and bioterrorism

The Mau Mau uprising in Kenya was to some extent directed against the European settlement of the traditional African livestock and farming areas in what became known as the 'White Highlands'. The original population groups were displaced and the seasonal grazing ranges for their cattle greatly restricted. When these herders grazed their cattle alongside roads in settled areas, there was a strong response by the administration and many of the animals were impounded and sold. Reprisals for such seizures included the 'hamstringing' of settler cattle, which involved cutting the Achilles tendon of a hind limb. This effectively resulted in the animals being slaughtered on humane grounds.