Jomo Kenyatta

**Jomo Kenyatta**  (- 22 August 1978) na he be a Kenyan anti-colonial activist den politician wey govern Kenya as ein Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 den then as ein first Presido from 1964 to ein death insyd 1978. Na he play a significant role insyd de transformation of Kenya from a colony of de British Empire into an independent republic. Ideologically an African nationalist den a conservative, na he lead de Kenya African National Union (KANU) party from 1961 til ein death.

Na Kenyatta be born to Kikuyu farmers insyd Kiambu, British East Africa. Na he educate for a mission school, he work insyd chaw jobs before he cam be politically engaged thru de Kikuyu Central Association. Insyd 1929, na he travell to London make he lobby give Kikuyu land affairs. During de 1930s, na he study for Moscow ein Communist University of the Toilers of the East, University College London, den de London School of Economics. Insyd 1938, na he publish an anthropological study of Kikuyu life before he work as a farm labourer insyd Sussex during de Second World War. Influenced by ein paddie friend George Padmore, na he embrace anti-colonialist den Pan-African ideas, wey he co-organise de 1945 Pan-African Congress insyd Manchester. Na he return to Kenya insyd 1946 wey he cam be a school principal. Insyd 1947, na dem elect am Presido of de Kenya African Union, thru wich na he lobby for independence from British colonial rule, wey dey attract widespread indigenous support buh animosity from white settlers. Insyd 1952, na he be among de Kapenguria Six dem arrest den charge plus dem dey mastermind de anti-colonial Mau Mau Uprising. Although na he protest ein innocence—a view dem share by later historians—na dem convict am. Na he remain imprisoned for Lokitaung til 1959 wey na dem then exile am to Lodwar til 1961.

On ein release, na Kenyatta cam be Presido of KANU wey he lead de party to victory insyd de 1963 general election. As Prime Minister, na he oversee de transition of de Kenya Colony into an independent republic, of wich na he cam be presido insyd 1964. Na he dey desire a one-party state, he transfer regional powers to ein central government, suppress political dissent, wey he prohibit KANU ein only rival—Oginga Odinga de leftist Kenya People's Union—from make he compete insyd elections. Na he promote reconciliation between de country ein indigenous ethnic groups den ein European minority, although na ein relations plus de Kenyan Indians be strained wey Kenya ein army clash plus Somali separatists insyd de North Eastern Province during de Shifta War. Na ein government pursue capitalist economic policies den de "Africanisation" of de economy, wey dey prohibit non-citizens from make dem dey control key industries. Na he expand education den healthcare, while na UK-funded land redistribution favour KANU loyalists den exacerbate ethnic tensions. Under Kenyatta, na Kenya join de Organisation of African Unity den de Commonwealth of Nations, wey dey espouse a pro-Western den anti-communist foreign policy amid de Cold War. Na Kenyatta die insyd office wey na he be succeeded by Daniel arap Moi. Na Kenyatta ein son Uhuru later sanso cam turn presido.

Na Kenyatta be a controversial figure. Prior to Kenyan independence, na chaw of ein white settlers regard am as an agitator den malcontent, although na across Africa he gain widespread respect as an anti-colonialist. During ein presidency, na dem give am de honorary title of **Mzee** wey na dem laud am as de Father of the Nation, wey he secure support from both de black majority den de white minority plus ein message of reconciliation. Conversely, na ein rule be criticised as dictatorial, authoritarian, den neocolonial, of he dey favour Kikuyu over oda ethnic groups, den of he dey facilitate de growth of widespread corruption.

## Early life

### Kiddie time
Na he be member of de Kikuyu people, na dem born Kenyatta plus de name Kamau insyd de small rural village of Ngenda. Na dem no dey keep birth records among de Kikuyu, den Kenyatta ein date of birth no be known. Na one biographer, Jules Archer, suggest na he likely born insyd 1890 anaa 1891, although na a fuller analysis by Jeremy Murray-Brown suggest a birth . Na dem name Kenyatta ein poppie Muigai, den ein mommoie Wambui. Na dem live insyd a homestead near River Thiririka, wer na dem raise crops den breed sheep den goats. Na Muigai be sufficiently wealthy wey na he fi afford make he keep chaw wives, each dey live insyd a separate *nyũmba* (hut).

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## External links

* A 1964 newsreel from British Pathe of Kenyatta's swearing in as President of Kenya
* The short film ** is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
* ''Audio recording of Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta's independence speech at Uhuru Stadium in Nairobi'', Swiss Radio, 12. December 1963 (33 sec, original, no translation)