Jomo Kenyatta, Mau Mau and
Kenyan Independence
Depiction of Kenyan flag
| The first pan-Kenyan nationalist movement was led by Harry Thuku to protest against white-settler dominance. His party, the East African Association, traced its roots to the early Kikuyu political groups. Thuku was arrested by the colonial authorities in 1922 and was exiled for seven years. He was released only after agreeing to cooperate with the colonials, a decision that would undermeine his leadership of the Kikuyus. This incident united Kenya's diverse African communities firmly together in their demands for freedom from British colonial rule. |
| Jomo Kenyatta would become the next great Kenyan leader following Thuku. He quickly became the first propaganda secretary of the East African Association, and later the secretary-general of the Kikuyu Central Association. In 1929, Kenyatta sailed to England to present the Association's case for freedom directly to the Colonial office, the British parliament and the British people. The Carter Land Commission was convened in 1931 to adjudicate land interests and Kenyatta once again presented evidence supporting the Association's cause. The findings of the Commission proved detrimental for the Africans however, for it marked out permanent barriers between the white-owned farms and the African Land Units or "reserves." These boundries were made into law five years later. As a result, the number of groups demanding greater African political power increased dramatically. The colonial government quickly reacted by banning all African political associations in 1940. |
| World War II only increased African discontent as many Africans fought side by side with their colonial overlords. Much like their American counterparts, during the five year conflict Africans were exposed to many new influences and developed an awareness that the white man was far from invincible. Empowered by this new outlook, African veterans
returned home to their respective countries only to face discrimination. Many rebelled against such unfair treatment. As discontent grew, the anti-colonial fervor swept across Africa. |
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As the fight for freedom grew the Kikuyu formed secret societies united in desire to break British rule. These
societies encouraged oath taking ceremonies which bound the participants to wage war against Europeans and any Africans who were thought to be collaborators. From this movement the Kikuyu dominated Mau Mau organization had been formed. On October 20, 1952 the Mau Mau protested the midnight arrest of Jomo Kenyatta and five colleagues. 97 Africans considered to be collaborators were killed in what is today known as
the "Lari Massacre." Some Mau Mau however denied involvement in the affair, calling it a government plot. The British accused Kenyatta of organizing the Mau Mau and subjected him to a rigged trial. The accused were all found guilty and sentenced to seven years of hard labor at a remote camp near Lake Turkana. The Mau Mau rebellion continued until 1956. During the three years of civil war, over 30,000 African men, women, and children were imprisoned in British concentration camps, many losing their homes and their land as a result. Though only 100 Europeans were killed, the British massacred over 13,000 Africans during the course of the war.
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But the war was costly to the British and the colonial government finally conceded some political power to the Africans with limited representation in the Legislative Council. Angry white settlers, not satisfied with anything short of complete partition of the country, began to leave. Kenyatta was sentenced to two more years of prison, but was elected president "in absentia" of the Kenya African National Union, or KANU. While KANU advocated a strong central government, the newly formed Kenya African Democratic Union, or KADU, favored a decentralized federal form of government. Leaders of both parties attended talks at Lancaster House in England to attend the talks due to his continuing imprisonment. General elections were held for the first time in February 1961. KANU received more votes, but refused to participate in government until Kenyatta was released. The Asian Kenya Freedom Party and numerous independent candidates joined the protest and,
as political pressure built up, Kenyatta was finally released in August 1961. |
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KANU and KADU continued to debate the eventual form of government most suited to a free Kenya. In the meantime, Kenyatta agreed to a coalition government until independence. The first universal elections in the country took place in May 1963, with an overwhelming victory for Kenyatta and the KANU party. On June 1, 1963, Jomo Kenyatta became the first Prime Minister of Kenya. In his inaugural address he promoted a
concept that would eventually become an official motto now incorporated in the county's coat of arms: Harambee, or let us work together, in building a free nation. Independence became a reality for Kenya on December 12, 1963. (Photo and Information courtesy of Kwazulu Natal website and Zulu Cultural Anthropology website
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