HOW COLONIAL RULE WAS ADMINISTERED IN KENYA
The British first became interested in Kenya in the late 19th century, when explorers and
missionaries began to venture into the interior of East Africa. In 1885, the German Chancellor Otto
von Bismarck convened a conference in Berlin to divide Africa among European powers, and Britain
was granted control over a vast territory that included present-day Kenya.
The Imperial British East Africa Company was established in 1888 to administer the region through a
charter that was signed and since it used this as a pathway into Uganda, Buganda ,Bunyoro which
were highly rich in minerals, but its efforts to establish a profitable trade in ivory and other goods
were largely unsuccessful. The company also faced resistance from local African leaders, who
resented the encroachment of European settlers on their lands.
In 1895, the British government declared a protectorate over Kenya, effectively taking control of the
region from the East Africa Company. The British largely used direct rule which was characterized
with military force to suppress resistance from local communities, including the Nandi and Kikuyu
peoples, who launched several rebellions against British rule.
One of the most significant rebellions was the Kikuyu uprising of 1906-1908, which was sparked by
British efforts to force Africans to work on European-owned plantations. The Kikuyu, led by a
prophet named Waiyaki, launched a guerrilla campaign against British forces, but were eventually
defeated and Waiyaki was executed.
The British established chiefs’ councils, native tribunals and local native councils which were just a
mockery of democracy. These were chaired by colonial district officers and these acted as legal and
administrative devices that were intended to keep Africans in their subordinate place.
The British also introduced policies such as forced labor and land confiscation, which further
alienated local communities. Many Africans were forced to work on European-owned plantations or
in mining and construction projects, often under brutal conditions.Legislations were even passed by
the British to ensure that natives became subjects of the British settlers.
Despite these challenges, however, British rule in Kenya continued to expand throughout the early
20th century. European settlers began to arrive in larger numbers, attracted by the fertile land and
opportunities for farming and ranching. By the 1930s, there were over 30,000 European settlers in
Kenya, compared to an African population of several million.
The growing presence of European settlers sparked a nationalist movement among Africans, who
resented their exclusion from political power and economic opportunity. In 1921, a group of
educated Africans formed the Kikuyu Central Association, which later became the Kenya African
Union (KAU). The KAU demanded greater political representation and an end to discriminatory
policies such as forced labour and land confiscation.
In response to these demands, the British government introduced limited reforms in the 1940s and
1950s, including the establishment of an African Legislative Council. However, these reforms did not
go far enough for many Africans, who continued to agitate for greater political rights.
The Mau Mau rebellion of 1952-1960 was the most significant challenge to British rule in Kenya. The
Mau Mau were a secret society of Kikuyu nationalists who launched a campaign of guerrilla warfare
against British forces and European settlers. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by the British,
who used tactics such as detention without trial and torture to crush the Mau Mau.
Despite the violence and repression of British rule in Kenya, it also brought about significant changes
in the country's economy and society. The construction of railways and roads opened up new areas
for settlement and trade, while European settlers introduced new crops such as coffee and tea. The
growth of urban centers such as Nairobi brought together people from diverse ethnic and cultural
backgrounds, creating new opportunities for social and economic exchange.
Today, Kenya is an independent country with a complex history shaped by its experience of British
colonialism. While many aspects of colonial rule were deeply unjust and oppressive, they also had
lasting impacts on Kenya's political, economic, and social development.
