The British government has lost a bid to throw out a lawsuit over the repression of the Kenyan struggle for independence against colonial rule. On Thursday, a British court ruled a group of veterans of Kenya’s resistance movement can proceed with a lawsuit seeking compensation for human rights abuses during the Mau Mau rebellion of 1952 to 1960. More than 100,000 Kenyans are believed to have been killed in the British crackdown. Mau Mau veteran Gitu wa Kahengeri celebrated the ruling.

Gitu wa Kahengeri: “We are very, very happy with the ruling of the court in London today on our case. For a very long time now, we have remained steadfast in our pursuit for justice, for torture that we suffered under the British government. With today’s ruling, we are very happy that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”