A declassified Top Secret memo from the British Ministry of Defence, dated 1947, has shed light on one of the lesser-known intersections of Kenya’s colonial past and the founding of the State of Israel. The document, addressed to the British Prime Minister, discusses the controversial presence of over 260 Jewish detainees in Gilgil, Kenya, and outlines the strategic plan to transfer them out of the colony.
The detainees were members of Zionist paramilitary groups fighting for Jewish independence in Palestine, years before the formal creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
Jewish Fighters in Kenya: From Gilgil to Global Influence
Many of these detainees were affiliated with groups such as Irgun and Lehi, which the British considered extremist Zionist militias. They had been arrested in Palestine under the British Mandate and were shipped thousands of miles away to British East Africa, where they were held at Gilgil Detention Camp in central Kenya.
Notably, among the detainees were:
- Meir Shamgar – Later became Chief Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court (1983–1995)
- Shmuel Tamir – Later served as Israeli Minister for Justice (1977–1980)
These individuals, once labeled “hardened criminals and thugs” by British authorities, went on to play central roles in shaping Israeli legal and political institutions.
British Concerns: Colonial Pressure and Political Headaches
The Ministry of Defence memo reveals the tension between military strategy and colonial administration. The colonial government in Kenya was frustrated by the detainees’ continued presence and pressured London to find a permanent solution.
“We cannot under any circumstances continue to be responsible for these Jews,” the memo bluntly states, while admitting that their removal was politically and militarily complicated.
The detainees had been held without trial, and their continued presence was deemed a security risk and an embarrassment to the colonial administration, especially as Zionist activism gained global sympathy.
Proposed Transfer Plan: From Kenya to Cyrenaica to Palestine
The British Chiefs of Staff suggested a multi-stage removal:
- Air transfer from Kenya to Cyrenaica (modern-day Libya)
- Sea transfer to Palestine
The aim was to minimize disruption in Palestine by staging the return offshore while distancing Kenya from further involvement in Zionist detention.
The memo, signed by A.V. Alexander, sought the Prime Minister’s urgent approval before Whitsun (Pentecost), emphasizing that the Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Colonies had been looped in to provide feedback.
Historical Irony and Legacy
What’s most remarkable is the transformation of those once branded as “thugs”:
- Meir Shamgar, imprisoned in Gilgil, would later interpret and uphold the Israeli constitution.
- Shmuel Tamir, once detained for rebellion, would later safeguard justice and rule of law as Minister.
Their detention in Kenya adds an extraordinary layer to the global story of the Jewish struggle for statehood and Kenya’s often-overlooked role in that narrative.
Conclusion: A Colonial Chapter with Global Ripples
This 1947 memo encapsulates the complexities of the British Empire’s collapsing hold on its territories. It also illustrates how Kenya briefly became a geopolitical holding cell for a future generation of Israeli leadership.
As history unfolded, these detainees didn’t just survive Gilgil—they helped build a nation.
