Colonization In Africa: Case Study Of Kenya

Africa has had a tough past. The race for Europeans to colonize Africa began in the 1400’s. This time may be hard to look back at for many native Africans. Their ancestors were kicked out of their own kingdom by new coming egocentric Europeans. One country that went through such a brutal time was East African’s Kenya. Kenya was dominated and overpowered quickly by the domineering Europeans. The Europeans had no intentions to treat the natives fairly; they had little power and money compared to what the wealthy Europeans had (Ochieng). Kenya was once a powerful thriving country in Africa with many opportunities (Ochieng). But once the Europeans came, they destroyed that existing power and made Kenya into much less than it was (Middleton, 157).

Kenya had many resources to offer. Its fertile highlands attracted many European farmers (Middleton, 158). The, the Europeans who wanted Kenya, wanted it mainly because it gave way to Uganda, which was a strategic source of the Nile River (Middleton, 158). Uganda was important for the control of the Suez Canal and Egypt, so having authority over Kenya made it all the easier to control the state of Uganda, which led to much more possibilities for (Middleton, 157). And that is why Britain felt the urge to take over and control the land of Kenya (Middleton, 157). established control in Kenya through the Imperial East Africa Company; the administrator of all of East Africa. Furthermore, Kenya was established a protectorate in 1895 giving Britain complete control and protection over the state of Kenya. The colonizing of this state began with completely reconstructing the indigenous ways of life. The appointed new chiefs and got rid of the old traditional leaders (Ochieng). These new chiefs had complete control over Kenya and possessed administrative, executive, and judicial powers.

When comparing Britain’s size and power to Kenya’s, one might understand how Kenya quickly became to be in the hands of Britain. Although Kenya resisted the settlement of, Britain easily won control over all of Kenya in 1885 (Ochieng). settlers fenced off much of the land on which natives had lived off of. This conduct forced many natives to move into the dry areas around the Rift Valley. To establish a clear difference of rights between and the Natives, the new authorities of Kenya divided this country up into independent districts separating from the Natives. The took land from the Kenyan’s and created large white plantations for themselves. In some cases, also forced the Africans to live and work on their plantations (Middleton, 159). Eventually, the ill treatment of towards the Africans got to the point where may Africans could not take it anymore. An organized peasant uprising called the MAU MAU occurred in Kenya from 1952 to 1960. Followers of different revolt groups formed this rebellion. The Kenyans finally achieved their Independence in 1963.

Every individual who lived in Kenya was affected by the act of colonialism (Ochieng). Whether it may have been that they were positively affected, or negatively, everyone had their own story to tell. One such individual was Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, a native Kenyan who felt the need to express his feelings on the issue of European Colonialism. Thiong’o wrote eight short stories, two novels, and many plays all concerning the issue of colonialism. Thiong’o had very strong feelings on this matter and he expressed them publicly. However, one of his plays didn’t turn out for the best. This play, called “I Will Marry When I Want” was about all of the inequalities and injustices in the society of Kenya. These included the limited freedom Africans were given such as not having the right to free speech or free action (Thiong’o). Accused of standing up for and fighting for those ordinary Kenyans, Thiong’o was arrested and imprisoned in December 31, 1977. When Thiong’o was released a year later, his record of imprisonment in jail followed him throughout life. He was declined by a number of colleges and jobs just because he stood up for what many ordinary people of Kenya and he believed in (Thinog’o).

Kenya has gone through many tough and brutal times and has achieved its right to be its own country (Middleton, 158). However, it is not what it was hundreds of years ago; a thriving African country with many opportunities. Although it may have gained its independence from, Kenya’s past is something many will never be able to forget. It is unknown where Kenya may be today if had not interfered and ruined all of Kenya’s resources, and more importantly, many Kenyan faiths and beliefs. European colonization delayed Kenya’s independent growth as a country (Ochieng). Although Kenya has developed a significant amount since it was granted its freedom in 1963, there will always be that feeling of loss to what Kenya could have been. Britain had not only damaged Kenya’s past, but also its present and future.