how did the british influence settlement in kenya

In 1895, after the financial collapse of the BEAC, Great Britain took Kenya over as the East Africa Protectorate and established control over Kenya's economy and opened the highlands for white settlement. To do so, the British built the Uganda Railroad linking Mombasa with their territory in Uganda.

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What was the impact of British colonization in Kenya?

History Russell McGillivray Kenya The British colonization of Kenya destroyed the culture and economy of the native people, but it established a democratic government and left Kenya a more modernized country. [1] During the 1880’s through 1914, the start of WWI, was an age of imperialism. One place that felt victim to this imperialism was Africa.

What was the British colony in Kenya called?

The Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, commonly known as British Kenya or British East Africa, was part of the British Empire in Africa. It was established when the former East Africa Protectorate was transformed into a British Crown colony in 1920.

What did the British East Africa Company do in Kenya?

In 1888, the British East Africa Company (BEAC) received a charter to develop trade in Kenya from the Sultan of Zanzibar. In 1895, after the financial collapse of the BEAC, Great Britain took Kenya over as the East Africa Protectorate and established control over Kenya's economy and opened the highlands for white settlement.

What happened to Kenya after the British left?

Many British moved to Kenya during the colonial period and over 32,000 are still in Kenya. They tend to exert significant influence over Kenya's political elite. Some of the land policies and the politics of divide and conquer had the effect of causing political instability in Kenya after the British left.

How did the British affect Kenya?

The British authorities suspended civil liberties in Kenya. Many Kikuyu were forced to move. Between 320,000 and 450,000 of them were interned.. Most of the rest – more than a million – were held in “enclosed villages” also known as concentration camps.

Why did the British choose to settle in Kenya?

British settlers, who came to Kenya because of its resources and comfortable climate, forced indigenous farmers and herders onto infertile land or made them work on European-owned farms and plantations.

When did the British settle in Kenya?

Kenya ColonyColony and Protectorate of KenyaLegislatureLegislative councilHistory• Colony established23 July 1920• Protectorate established29 November 192037 more rows

How did the British Empire gain control of Kenya?

After the First World War, during which British East Africa was used as a base for operations against German East Africa, Britain annexed the inland areas of the British East Africa Protectorate and declared it a crown colony, establishing The Colony of Kenya in 1920. The coastal region remained a protectorate.

What effects did colonialism have on Kenya?

Positive effects Colonial rule brought an end to slave trade. Modern health facilities, formal education and other social services were introcuced into the country. New breeds of animals and crops that could do well under the African climate were introduced.

How colonial government Favoured settlers in Kenya?

They allienated land for them,, that is land was allienated for them to establish cash crops. They were ensured with Agricultural materials such as fertile . They have been ensured with agricultural tools to make the productions higher.

Who were the first settlers in Kenya?

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 Vasco da Gama in 1498.

WHO declared Kenya a British colony?

British Kenya (1920-1963) Pre-Crisis Phase (July 23, 1920-September 25, 1952): Kenya, which was part of the British East Africa Protectorate, was declared a British colony on July 23, 1920. Major-General Sir Edward Northey was appointed as the first Governor of the British colony of Kenya.

How did colonialism affect Kenya economically?

Colonial enterprises destroyed local industries. Generally the colonial economic policies in Kenya were instrumental in incorporating the pre-capitalist communities into the colonial and international economic systems. This persisted into the post-colonial period.

What happened after Kenya gained independence from Britain?

Kenya gained its independence from Britain with Jomo Kenyatta as the country's first Prime Minister. The Union Jack was replaced by the black, red and green flag of the new nation. This followed the first all inclusive elections on 27 May 1963. A year later Kenya was declared a Republic.

Why were the white settlers interested in Kenya?

In pursuit of this economic logic, and given the suitability of the climate for European settlement, the colonial government embarked upon luring European visitors and settlers to Kenya by offering land cheaply to any- one interested in settling to farm there.

Why were the white settlers interested in Kenya?

In pursuit of this economic logic, and given the suitability of the climate for European settlement, the colonial government embarked upon luring European visitors and settlers to Kenya by offering land cheaply to any- one interested in settling to farm there.

Why were the British interested in East Africa?

During the 1870s, therefore British power engaged in many parts of East-Africa. It was also the time of industrial revolution in the European countries; the British had needed a wide market for trade. Thus, the British had chosen the East-African coasts.

Why did the British become interested in establishing their control over Kenya during the second half of the 19th century?

To protect European missionaries and other British nationals who were already settled in Kenya and Uganda. To stop slave trade and introduce legitimate trade.

What was the impact of the British colonization of Kenya?

The British colonization of Kenya destroyed the culture and economy of the native people, but it established a democratic government and left Kenya a more modernized country. During the 1880’s through 1914, the start of WWI, was an age of imperialism. One place that felt victim to this imperialism was Africa.

What were the benefits of colonizing Kenya?

There are some obvious ones, such as improved transportation via streets and railroads, and established trade routes with other countries.

What were the problems the Massai people faced?

When the British came in, they figured that the land that the Massai weren’t living in, wasn’t being used and took it for themselves.

How many cultures are there in Kenya?

Kenya is a country founded on over 70 different cultural groups, and each one has their own language and cultural traditions. When the British came into Kenya, they knew very little to none of the culture of the Native Kenyan people. This of course led to numerous problems between the two peoples. One of the biggest problems created was how much ...

What was the economy like before the British came?

Before the British came the economy was mostly agricultural, with a few tribes taking jobs as merchants allowing trade between the tribes. With these Boundaries in place, no Kenyan was allowed to cross any border without accompaniment of a white man.

How did the Macleod Constitution help Kenya?

6 years later the Macleod Constitution was established. This created an African majority in the council that gave the Kenyan’s more power over the Settlers. It also gave each tribe a share of the power in the council, much like the state representatives we have in our congress; each tribe had a different share of the power based on size. The tribes with more people had more representatives in the council, and therefore more power. With these two constitutions, the Kenyan people were well on their way to becoming an independent nation. Even after all the work the Europeans had done to try to establish an orderly government in Kenya, only 4 years after it was established a Tyrant took over and dominated the country up until we know it today. After Kenyatta died, Daniel Arap Moi took his place as president. At this time the constitution was weak and at its most basic level. Moi took advantage of this as established himself as ruler for life of Kenya. There were multiple attempts both at his life, and his positions as president, but none were ever successful.

How many African countries were left independent?

After this period there were only 4 African countries left independent, compared to a modern day 50 countries. Britain was one of the most powerful countries at this time and took tons of land all over the world for trading and exports.

What was the Protectorate of Kenya?

The Protectorate of Kenya was governed as part of the Colony of Kenya by virtue of an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Sultan dated 14 December 1895. In the 1920s natives objected to the reservation of the White Highlands for Europeans, especially British war veterans. Bitterness grew between the natives and the Europeans.

What is the colony of Kenya?

Kenya Colony. The Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, commonly known as British Kenya, was part of the British Empire in Africa. It was established when the former East Africa Protectorate was transformed into a British Crown colony in 1920. Technically, the 'Colony of Kenya' referred to the interior lands, while a 16 km (10 mi) ...

What would happen if the Indian problem in South Africa were allowed to fester much longer?

A conservative Indian leader speaking in England after this decision said that if the Indian problem in South Africa were allowed to fester much longer it would pass beyond the bounds of domestic issue and would become a question of foreign policy upon which the unity of the Empire might founder irretrievably.

How many members were in the Kenyan government in 1948?

In 1948, the Kenyan government consisted of the Governor, the Executive Council advising him, and the Legislative Council. The Executive Council consisted of seven ex-officio members, two appointed Europeans, one appointed European representing African interests, and one appointed Asian (Indian). The Legislative Council consisted of 16 appointed officials and 22 elected unofficial members.

What rights did the Indians claim?

These Indians claimed the rights of free subjects of the empire— a right to buy land, a right to exploit labor, a right to a voice in the government now confined to the handful of whites. Suddenly a great race conflict swept East Africa—orient and occident, white, brown and black, landlord, trader and landless serf.

When was Kenya established?

The Kenya Protectorate was established on 13 August 1920 when the territories ...

Who was the first prime minister of Kenya?

Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was the first prime minister. On 26 May 1963, Kenya had its first elections and a new red, green, black and white flag was introduced. Exactly 12 months after the establishment of the Dominion, on 12 December 1964, Kenya became a republic under the name " Republic of Kenya ".

Why did the British colonize Kenya?

British colonisation came with motives of making Kenya a means of transport in order to develop the country's communication as well shorten the distances. During colonial Kenya, a Kenya-Uganda railway was established. The railway was built in order to metre a measure the distance in the country and according to Victoria it was also 'a source of locomotive and rolling stock'. Moreover it was a key construction that was supposed develop Kenya's interior by linking Kenya and Ugandan protectorates. It was at this era where 32,000 workers were imported from India to do the manual work. Consequently Victoria states that the railway encouraged labour, whereby whether skilled or unskilled, workers were imported in from India, many of whom remained after their contracts ended to become the nucleus of the Asian community in Kenya. This shows an emergence of a new alien culture migration to Kenya which would have increased ethnic diversity post colonisation. Moreover, rapid economic development was essential and seen as necessary to make the railway pay because African population was accustomed to subsistence rather than exported agriculture and was argued by colonialists to be uncouth for economical development. The colonial government therefore encouraged the European settlement in the fertile Highlands, which had been understood to have small

What was the most important development in Kenya?

One of the most significant colonial developments that took place in Kenya is the construction of the Kenya Uganda railway which started in 1895, running from the East Coast to Kisumu the West. It was completed by 1901. The British government had decided, primarily for strategic reasons, to build a railway linking Mombasa with the British protectorate of Uganda. A major feat of engineering, the "Uganda railway" (that is the railway inside Kenya leading to Uganda) was completed in 1903 and was a decisive event in modernizing the area. As governor of Kenya, Sir Percy Girourd was instrumental in initiating railway extension policy that led to construction of the Nairobi-Thika and Konza-Magadi railways.

What was the impact of colonization on Kenya?

Kenya The British colonization of Kenya destroyed the culture and economy of the native people, but it established a democratic government and left Kenya a more modernized country. [1] During the 1880’s through 1914, the start of WWI, was an age of imperialism. One place that felt victim to this imperialism was Africa. At this time Africa was a wholly unmodernized continent. The reason the Europeans went after Africa was the introduction of the idea of social Darwinism and the “white man’s burden”. Social Darwinism is the belief that only the strongest and the most cunning can make it to the top of the social ladder, and it was the White Man’s Burden to step in for these undeveloped countries…show more content…

What was the Pipeline of Kenya?

The Pipeline In the years leading up to Kenya’s independence from the British Empire, a violent uprising later known as Mau Mau plagued the colony. From1952 to 1960, African forest fighters waged a war against the British who had little experience fighting against guerilla warfare. In an effort to bring the crime wave, as the British called it, to an end, colonial officials housed those who they believed to be working for or in collaboration with the Mau Mau fighters in detention camps. The Kikuyu

What is a good example of a colony?

good example is Kenya which was called Kipande system this system was introduced by the British (Gan) . The Scramble for Africa took place between 1886 and 1914 [ (The Colonization of Modern Africa) ]. During this time, European countries colonized all of Africa, with the exception of Ethiopia and Liberia. As is shown the following map, Britain, France, and Portugal were the main colonial powers in Africa, but Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain also had colonies [ (The Colonization of Modern Africa)

What were the Kikuyu culture?

Aspects of current Kikuyu culture were molded by modern demands impressed upon them by British colonization. British colonists brought western ideas about living standards and health care, as well as projecting British ideals of family life upon the Kikuyu people. In the 1950’s, as a reaction to this imposition of western beliefs and practices upon the people of Kenya, the Mau Mau began to fight the existing British infrastructure. This uprising was a final divide in the Kikuyu tribe based on the members’

What is colonization in Africa?

Colonization is when a country moves from its shores to set up settlements in areas already inhabited by a certain group of people and where resistance is of least concern in terms of war. This paper will first discus the colonization of Africa as well as how and why the Europeans came to Africa. It will then look at common problems that occurred due to the colonization and will specifically look into the colonization of Kenya under British rule and its outcomes that made the country worse. Even

Why did European traders come to India?

The European and British traders initially came to India for trading purposes. The Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the increase in demand for raw materials for the factories there and at the same time they also required a market to sell their finished products. India provided such a platform to Britain to fulfill its needs. There was great political unrest within the country during the 18th century and with the declining power of the Mughals, the British officials gained an opportunity to

Who was the first president of Kenya?

Jomo Kenyatta was the first president of the Republic of Kenya. Born in 1889 in Gatundu Kiambu Kenya, Kenyatta he grew to become one of the African prominent independent leaders. However, his rise into power in the wake of colonization was not a royal road. He was involved in major struggles for independence both in Kenya and other African countries. He managed to acquire education during the times when few Africans were going to school. Kenyatta completed his mission school education in 1912 and

How did Africans become politically involved in colonial politics?

As more Africans worked on European farms and in urban areas such as Nairobi, they began to imitate political techniques used by European settlers as they attempted to gain more direct representation in colonial politics. At the outset, political pressure groups developed along ethnic lines, the first one being the Young Kikuyu Association (later the East African Association), established in 1921, with Harry Thuku as its first president. The group, which received most of its support from young men and was not supported by most of the older chiefs, demanded African representation in the legislature and won support among the Kikuyu when it complained about low wages, the prohibition of coffee growing by Africans, and the condemnation by Christian missionaries of such traditional practices as female genital cutting. At a protest in March 1922 Thuku was arrested, and eventually he was exiled for more than eight years. Although its attempts to win the support of other ethnic groups failed because of their unwillingness to accept Kikuyu leadership, the association was an important beginning in the African search for greater participation in the political process.

Who was the first president of the East African Association?

At the outset, political pressure groups developed along ethnic lines, the first one being the Young Kikuyu Association (later the East African Association), established in 1921, with Harry Thuku as its first president.

What was the name of the colony in 1920?

In 1920 the East Africa Protectorate was turned into a colony and renamed Kenya, for its highest mountain. The colonial government began to concern itself with the plight of African peoples; in 1923 the colonial secretary issued a White Paper in which he indicated that African interests in the colony had to be paramount, ...

Did Africans get Western education?

Those Africans who did manage to receive a Western education, though, found no place in Kenya’s legislature, their interests being represented officially by the members of the appointed council and by a European unofficial member, usually a missionary.

How did colonialism affect Kenya?

Colonialism affected Kenya politically, socially and economically. Kenya underwent changes after being colonized by Europeans. The British would force their beliefs and ideas of a more “civilized” lifestyle on the native people of Africa. Imperialism also had many negative effects on the people of Kenya, because they were forced to follow ...

What was the British rule in Kenya?

A policy of indirect rule was used in Africa by the British. The British ruled Kenya through a native authority. Imperialism forced the natives to change their way of government, as they took their land without granting them any say or choice. European influence affected Kenya even after they achieved their independence as Kenyatta became the first president of independent Kenya.

How did the Europeans influence African society?

The racist views of the Europeans influenced African society as it stripped them of many rights, such as unequal educational opportunities. Education was not compulsory for Africans and Arabs, and their school systems were lacking compared to those of Europeans and Asians.

Why was colonialism a good thing?

From the perspective of westernized Africans, colonialism was a good thing because it eliminated slavery, human sacrifice and other traditions that they considered uncivilized. African traditions and practices, such as witchcraft, differed from that of Christianity.

What was the role of the white settler in Kenya?

AT the dawn of the twentieth century, a railway, widely regarded as a project either of crazy quasi-idealism or rash imperialism, was telescoping its way from Mombasa on the Indian Ocean to Lake Victoria, leaving a pile of problems in its wake. The decision to undertake this great and arduous enterprise had been ...

How did the First World War affect Kenya?

The First World War came to Kenya just when the economic barometer was moving towards "set fair," just when farms and coffee and sisal plantations, fashioned from a slice of raw Africa, were beginning to pay; it imposed a check to all progress and for four years men fought and died and many farms reverted to scrub and bush. In 1914 the European population consisted of about 3,000 in all--officials of the Government and settlers, men, women and children. Of that number, 1,700 served in the armed forces. There remained in Kenya only a bare minimum to maintain some form of government and to preserve all they could of the farms, many of which were run by gallant women.

How much rainfall does Kenya get?

The study of available data reveals the following facts. Of the land in Kenya which has a rainfall of over 30 inches per annum, 8,500 square miles lies in European areas and 32,306 square miles elsewhere in the Colony, chiefly in African land units though some is Crown land.

What were the effects of the Great Depression on Kenya?

An agricultural colony like Kenya was very susceptible to an economic blizzard which followed a drought and which joined forces with a severe scourge of locusts to wreck human endeavor. Between 1928 and 1933 the price of Kenya's export crops fell to a third or a half of their previous value. The Depression was a grievous setback followed by years of slow recovery until the outbreak of the Second World War, when thousands of settlers again joined the forces. Not until the later years of the Second World War was a reasonable margin of profit again restored to farmers.

How could the Protectorate and Railway be set on a sound economic basis?

The only way whereby both Protectorate and railway could be set on a sound economic basis was by the development of the raw and almost empty lands on either side of the railway. If that task had been left to the Africans there would have been little chance of the railway paying its way within 20 years.

What were the difficulties of the early settlements?

In the years before the First World War settlement made fair progress. The difficulties were formidable, for everything related to agriculture in the country had to be learned by the slow and expensive process of trial and error. Many an early settler lost all his own capital and all that he could borrow in the learning of lessons which proved of inestimable value to those who followed. Little or nothing was known about the climate, the rainfall, the qualities of the soil, about the endemic and epidemic stock diseases, about the multitude of pests and diseases which attacked the crops and reduced the prospect of a fair harvest to the certainty of another depressing interview with the Bank.

Where was the African population concentrated?

Moreover, the African population was mainly concentrated around the shores of Lake Victoria, in the Kavirondo country, and in the Kikuyu country from the skirts of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare range to Masailand. In Ukamba and in the Nandi country there was also a relatively high density of population. But the greater part of southern Kenya was the ...

Why did the British use Kenya as a military base?

Kenya became a military base for the British in the First World War (1914–1918), as efforts to subdue the German colony to the south were frustrated. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, the governors of British East Africa (as the Protectorate was generally known) and German East Africa agreed a truce in an attempt to keep the young colonies out of direct hostilities. However Lt Col Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck took command of the German military forces, determined to tie down as many British resources as possible. Completely cut off from Germany, von Lettow conducted an effective guerilla warfare campaign, living off the land, capturing British supplies, and remaining undefeated. He eventually surrendered in Zambia eleven days after the Armistice was signed in 1918. To chase von Lettow the British deployed Indian Army troops from India and then needed large numbers of porters to overcome the formidable logistics of transporting supplies far into the interior by foot. The Carrier Corps was formed and ultimately mobilised over 400,000 Africans, contributing to their long-term politicisation.

What is the history of Kenya?

History of Kenya. A part of Eastern Africa, the territory of what is now Kenya has seen human habitation since the beginning of the Lower Paleolithic. The Bantu expansion from a West African centre of dispersal reached the area by the 1st millennium AD. With the borders of the modern state at the crossroads of the Bantu, ...

What did the Portuguese do to the Indian Ocean?

The Portuguese did not intend to found settlements, but to establish naval bases that would give Portugal control over the Indian Ocean. After decades of small-scale conflict, Arabs from Oman defeated the Portuguese in Kenya.

What was the first tribe in Kenya?

Neolithic. The first inhabitants of present-day Kenya were hunter-gatherer groups, akin to the modern Khoisan speakers. The Kansyore culture, dating from the mid 5th millennium BCE to the 1st millennium BCE was one of East Africa's earliest ceramic producing group of hunter-gatherers.

Where did pastoralism spread?

By 1000 BCE and even earlier, pastoralism had spread into central Kenya and northern Tanzania. Eburran hunter gatherers, who had lived in the Ol Doinyo Eburru volcano complex near Lake Nakuru for thousands of years, start adopting livestock around this period.

When was Kenya established?

The British Empire established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895, from 1920 known as the Kenya Colony. The independent Republic of Kenya was formed in 1963. It was ruled as a de facto one-party state by the Kenya African National Union (KANU), led by Jomo Kenyatta during 1963 to 1978.

Who was the first political assassin in Kenya?

On the 25th of February 1965, Pio Gama Pinto , a Kenyan of Goan descent and freedom fighter who was detained during the colonial period was assassinated in what is recognised as Kenya's first political assassination. He was also Oginga Odinga’s chief tactician and link to the eastern bloc.

Colonial History of Kenya

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Christian Mission in Kenya

The Mau Mau Rebellion

Agrarian Reforms in Kenya

Political Parties in Historic Kenya

What The British Did to Kenya

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History

Administration

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