Kenya History

The History of Kenya Starts in the Pre-Historic Era!

Kenya history is a fascinating lesson in early human civilization, colonization, rebellion, independence and continuing liberation struggles.

Early History of Kenya

Kenya is regarded by many archaeologists to be the "cradle of humankind."

This is thanks to discoveries by Louis and Mary Leakey of over 4 million year old human remains in Nariokotome near Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya and Tugen Hills in the Rift Valley.

The Ogiek, hunter-gatherer community which has occupied the Mau Forest for over 5 millennia, are considered by anthropologists to be the aboriginal inhabitants of Kenya.

Cushitic-speaking people from northern Africa migrated into Kenya about 4 millennia ago while Nilotic and Bantu peoples - who now account for three-quarters of the country's population - migrated to Kenya from West Africa and the Nile Valley.

Arab traders began arriving at the Kenyan coast around the 1st century AD and colonized the coast.

Then when the Portuguese arrived in the sixteenth century, control over the Kenyan coast see-sawed between them and the resilient Omani Arabs.

The canons used in the innumerable battles for Mombasa that spanned several centuries continue to occupy strategic locations in Fort Jesus Museum in Mombasa.

Colonial Era

Scramble for Africa

The colonial era was a dramatic phase of Kenya history.

British interest in Africa gained momentum at the end of the nineteenth century during the European "scramble for Africa." During the 1885 Berlin Conference, chunks of Africa were arbitrarily parceled out among the European powers. Britain was "handed" Kenya along with Uganda and a host of other countries.

Since the Nile River was the lifeblood of the Egyptian economy, Britain's prized colonial possession, it was necessary to secure the continued flow of its waters by controlling Uganda where the source of the Nile is located.

Kenya was colonized to ensure that Uganda was adequately fortified and had an uninterrupted route to the Indian Ocean coast. For the latter purpose, the Kenya-Uganda Railway was subsequently constructed.

Settler Scheme

British colonial rule formally began in 1895. In order to recoup the costs used to construct the Kenya-Uganda Railway and owing to the cool climate in Kenya, European farmers were encouraged to settle in Kenya's fertile central highlands. Massive chunks of land were alienated by the state leaving many Africans landless.

Resistance to Colonial Rule

Early organized resistance to colonial rule was led by Harry Thuku and Jomo Kenyatta. However, the most formidable rebellion to British rule came from the Mau Mau, a guerilla movement composed predominantly of the Kikuyu which attacked British settlers, their sympathizers and police stations.

The Mau Mau rebellion was brutally suppressed and Dedan Kimathi, its commander-in-chief hanged.

However, when other African countries led by Ghana attained independence, the writing was on the wall for the British colonialists. At the 1960 Lancaster House Conference called to discuss Kenya's future, measures that would ensure an African majority in both the Legislative Council (parliament) and Council of Ministers were agreed.

Formation of Political Parties

To fast track attainment of independence, political parties were formed. These were the Kenya African National Union (KANU) dominated by the Kikuyu and Luo tribes and the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) formed by the minority tribes such as the Kalenjin to counter KANU's dominance.

Self-Rule and Independence

KANU won the elections called in 1961 and 1963. On June 1, 1963, Jomo Kenyatta, from the Kikuyu tribe, became Kenya's first Prime Minister.

On December 12, 1963 - when responsibility for the country's foreign affairs was handed over to the Kenyatta government - Kenya formally attained independence bringing the colonial phase of the history of Kenya to an end.

Both June 1 and December 12 are celebrated as national holidays; the former as Madaraka (self-rule) day and the latter as Jamhuri (independence) day.

On December 12, 1964, Kenya became a republic and Kenyatta its first president. As such, he oversaw the first phase of post-independence Kenya history.

Kenyatta Era of Kenya History

Economic Growth, Regional Integration and Land Reform

Kenyatta superintended a period of rapid economic growth on the back of increased export earnings from tea, coffee and pyrethrum.

Kenyatta, along with Presidents Obote of Uganda and Nyerere of Tanzania spearheaded the establishment of the East African Community, the hallmark of which were common aviation, railway and postal and telecommunications services.

The Kenyatta era was largely characterized by the spirit of Harambee (self-help and cooperation) which was harnessed to build schools, hospitals and churches.

Under Kenyatta's leadership, a land reform program was initiated and huge tracts of land were purchased from white settlers for resettlement of Africans particularly the former Mau Mau fighters. However, this was not entirely successful as the land question remains a thorny one to this day.

Stifled Dissent and Assassinations

Kenyatta faced opposition within his own party. His Vice President Oginga Odinga resigned and formed his own party Kenya People's Union. He was subsequently detained without trial and his party outlawed.

Several high profile assassinations, many of which remain unresolved, took place during the Kenyatta reign. These include those of Pio Gama Pinto in 1965, Tom Mboya in 1969 and JM Kariuki in 1975.

Kenyatta died peacefully in his sleep on August 28, 1978 and was succeeded by his long-serving Vice President Daniel arap Moi.

Moi Era of Kenya History

Daniel arap Moi took over the reigns of power upon Kenyatta's death in 1978. In 1982, Kenya became a one-party state following amendment of the constitution. A military coup attempted by air force staff in the same year was crushed by the army.

Oppression, Corruption and Assassinations

During the Moi regime, student protests were clamped down, political opponents were detained without trial and tortured and press freedoms stifled.

The economy also stagnated and corruption (epitomized by the Goldenberg Scandal where the government gave tax rebates for fictitious gold and diamond exports) flourished.

The Moi era also witnessed the murders of Robert Ouko, Kenya's eloquent Foreign Affairs Minister and Bishop Alexander Muge, an outspoken government critic.

John Troon, an ex-Scotland Yard Sleuth hired by the government to investigate Ouko's murder pointed the finger of blame to one of Moi's confidants. Although these were sacked and arrested, they were later released for "lack of evidence."

Restoration of Multiparty Democracy

Clamors for restoration of democracy forced Moi to repeal the Constitution's one-party clause, paving the way for the 1992 multiparty elections. Moi retained power by beating an ethnically-divided opposition consisting of Oginga Odinga of the Forum for Restoration of Democracy, Kenneth Matiba of Ford-Asili and Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic Party.

Moi also won the 1997 elections, beating Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic Party, Raila Odinga of the National Development Party and Charity Ngilu of the Social Democratic Party.

Barred from standing for office by the 2-term constitutional limit, a coalition of opposition parties headed by Mwai Kibaki handed Moi's protégée Uhuru Kenyatta a humiliating defeat in the 2002 general elections.

Moi's exit from power ended a long phase of Kenya history.

Contemporary Kenya History

The Kibaki government was credited with rejuvenating the economy and introducing the free primary education program that led to a dramatic increase in school enrollment rates.

The results of the December 2007 general elections - which pollsters had dubbed "too close to call" - were disputed, sparking off violence in parts of the country.

A peace accord between the protagonists, Mawi Kibaki and Raila Odinga, was successfully brokered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and led to formation of the "Grand Coalition" government. This helped the country turn the page on this brief but sad chapter of Kenya history.

Kibaki remains President and Odinga holds the recreated position of Prime Minister. Normalcy has returned and the economy is projected to grow by 3 percent this year.

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