Kenya observed her 57th anniversary of self-rule three weeks ago in June 1, 2020. But the little unknown fact about how Kenya became an independent state has to do with what happened in 1920.
Today in history, we are going to explore the major events that occurred 100 years ago today, back in June 1920 as the British declared the modern day Kenya, the Kenya colony. Prior to that year, Kenya name was the British East Africa Protectorate. Below, we are going to discuss how the British changed Kenya’s names multiple times before the country acquired independence in 1963.
British East Africa Protectorate
The British East Africa Protectorate came into existence in 1895. The headquarters of this “state” was in Mombasa for 10 years between 1895-1905. After that, the British moved the capital to Nairobi, a city that modern day Kenya inherited as the capital to date.
The British East Africa Protectorate encompassed regions from coastal Kenya all the way to the border between Uganda and Zaire (modern day Congo). It is important to note that the British had leased the coastal region from the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1895 for 100 years. The colonizers dissolved the British East Africa Protectorate in 1920 in order to pave way for the creation of the Kenya Colony.
Today in History: Kenya Colony
The queen of England established the Kenya Colony in 1920 which was a break away from the much larger British East Africa Protectorate. The British established the Kenya Colony two years after the end of the First World War. This is because they had already defeated the Germans in Tanzania and consequently annexed Tanzania from Germany as reparations for the cost of the war. They demarcated their East African territories into smaller administrative blocks for easier rule.
Kenya colony recognized English as the official language with Swahili, Kikuyu, Kisii, Kamba, Luo, Luhya, Meru and Nandi-Marakwet as the other major languages. Note that at this time, the “Kalenjin” as a language did not exist back then!
The Mau Mau Uprising
Due to the bitter animosity between the indigenous people and the white settlers over land, the indigenous people formed several political associations of which the Mau Mau was the most prominent one. The Mau Mau Uprising occurred in 1952 and at its apex, current president Uhuru Kenyatta’s father Mr Jomo Kenyatta was arrested. The colonialists detained him in Kapenguria Maximum Prison.
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was released from prison in 1961 and immediately rose the ranks of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) to become the leader of the party. He led his political supporters under this party to a victory in the 1963 general election hence becoming the first black Prime Minister of Kenya.
Dissolution of Kenya Colony
Economically wounded by the ravages of the World War II, it was becoming increasingly difficult for the British to exert control over their overseas colonies. Then it follows that a majority of these said British territories gained their independence after 1945. Kenya gained independence in 1963 when the British dissolved the Kenyan Colony to pave way for the black indigenous people’s self-rule. The union jack emblazoned flag was lowered down and up went the black, red, white and green flag that will come to represent the independent Kenyan state up to this date.
