A BRIEF HISTORY OF KENYA THE GREAT EAST AFRICAN COUNTRY

 

Kenya is an East African nation whose name originated from the traditional name of the Mt Kenya or Kirinyaga which is the county’s tallest mountain. The earliest inhabitants of Kenya were hunter-gatherers but from about 2,000 BC herders came to the region. Then from about 800 AD Arabs sailed to Kenya. Some settled and intermarried and they created the Swahili culture along the coast.

The first European to reach Kenya was Vasca da Gama in 1498. Subsequently the Portuguese dominated the coast of Kenya for 2 centuries. However they did not penetrate inland. Still the Portuguese brought new crops to Kenya, maize and cassava.

Then in the late 19th century Kenya came under British control. In 1883 Joseph Thomson was sent to map Kenya. Then in 1885 the European powers divided up Africa between themselves at the Berlin Conference and Britain was allocated Kenya.

At first Kenya was administered by the Imperial British East Africa Company, which was formed in 1887. However in 1895 the British government took responsibility for Kenya. Then in the years 1895-1901 the British built a railway across the region. In the early 20th century while settlers flocked into Kenya taking the best land and the natives were forced onto reservations. Indians also came to Kenya and formed a middle class or traders.

Naturally the Africans resented their treatment and in 1921 they formed the East African Association to fight for their rights. In 1924 it changed its name to the Kikuyu Central Association. In 1927 Jomo Kenyatta became its Secretary. Meanwhile schools were founded in Kenya and the Africans became better educated. Many of them fought in the Second World War but afterwards they were treated as second-class citizens again. Their resentment eventually boiled over into the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya.

The Mau Mau formed in 1952. They took secret oaths to kill Europeans and African collaborators. In 1952 a state of emergency was declared in Kenya. British troops were sent to deal with the insurgency. Then in 1953 the British began detaining Kikuyu in concentration camps. Slowly the British hunted down the insurgents and by the end of 1956 the uprising was over.

Nevertheless the movement towards African independence was unstoppable. In 1961 an African political party Kenya African National Union was formed and in May 1963 KANU won a majority of seats in the Kenyan assembly. Finally Kenya became independent on 12 December 1963. In 1964 Jomo Kenyatta became president of Kenya and Kenya joined the Commonwealth.

Karibu Kenya! (Welcome to Kenya) Tour / Visit Kenya and experience its hospitality & rich cultural heritage!