A Brief History on Kenya | Republic of Kenya | The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya A Brief History on Kenya Pre-colonial history Around 2000 BC, Cushitic-speaking people from northern Africa settled in the part of East Africa that is now Kenya. By the 1st Century AD, the Kenyan coast was frequented by Arab traders, who due to Kenya's proximity to the Arabian Peninsula, established Arab and Persian colonies there. The Nilotic and Bantu people also moved into the region during the first millennium AD. and settled inland. The Europeans Evolving from a mixture of Bantu and Arabic, the Swahili language then developed as a lingua franca for trade between the different peoples. When the Portuguese arrived in 1498, the Arab dominance on the coast was clipped, as the Port of Mombasa became an important resupply stop for ships bound for the Far East. The Portuguese gave way in turn to Islamic control under the Imam of Oman in the 1600s until another European influence came along, this time from the United Kingdom during the 19th century.

Colonial History The roots of the colonial history of Kenya go back to the Berlin Conference in 1885, when East Africa was first divided into territories of influence by the European powers. The British Government founded the East African Protectorate in 1895 and soon after, opened the fertile highlands to white settlers. Even before it was officially declared a British colony in 1920, these settlers were allowed a voice in government, while the Africans and the Asians were banned from direct political participation until 1944. During this period thousands of Indians were brought into Kenya to work on building the Kenya Uganda Railway Line and subsequently settled there, whilst inviting many of their kith and kin who were mainly traders from India to join them. Resistance to Colonialism -- the Mau Mau In 1942, members of the Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba tribes took an oath of unity and secrecy to fight for freedom from British rule. The Mau Mau Movement began with that oath and Kenya embarked on its long hard road to National Sovereignty. In 1953, Jomo Kenyatta was charged with directing the Mau Mau and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

Another freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi was arrested in 1956 for his role in the Mau Mau uprising as one of the leaders of the struggle for independence and was subsequently hanged by the colonialists. Kenya was put under a state of emergency from October 1952 to December 1959, due to the Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule and thousands of Kenyans were incarcerated in detention camps. During this period, African participation in the political process increased rapidly and in 1954 all three races (European, Asian and African) were admitted into the Kenya Legislative Council on a representative basis. Kenya achieves independence In 1957, the first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council took place and those elected increased the people's agitation for Jomo Kenyatta's release from detention. In 1962 Kenyatta was released to become Kenya's first Prime Minister, when Kenya finally gained independence on December 12, 1963. The following year, Kenya became a Republic with Kenyatta as its first President. In the same year Kenya joined the British Commonwealth.

The Road to Kenyatta's one party state In 1966, a small but significant leftist opposition party, the Kenya People's Union (KPU), was formed by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a former Vice President and Luo elder. KPU was banned shortly thereafter and its leader arrested in 1969 and Kenya became a "de facto" single party state. Following Kenyatta's death in August 1978, Vice President Daniel Arap Moi succeeded him as Kenya's second President. The Moi era In June 1982, Kenya was officially declared a one party state by the National Assembly and the constitution was amended accordingly. Parliamentary elections were held in September 1983 under a single party for the first time and the 1988 elections reinforced the one party system. However, in December 1991, Parliament annulled the one party section of the constitution. A diversity of new parties were formed in early 1992 and in December of that year, multiparty democracy was restored and elections were held with several parties participating.

Because of divisions in the opposition, Moi was reelected for another 5-year term, and his KANU party retained a majority in the legislature. Due to parliamentary reforms in November 1997, political rights were expanded, which led to an explosion in the number of political parties. Again, Moi won re-election as President in the December 1997 elections, because of a divided opposition. KANU won 113 out of 222 parliamentary seats, but, because of defections, had to depend on the support of minor parties to forge a working majority. President Mwai Kibaki In October 2002, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) was formed, emerging from a unification of opposition parties together with a faction, which broke away from KANU. Mwai Kibaki, the NARC candidate, was elected as the country's third President in December 2002. President Kibaki received 62 percent of the vote, and NARC garnered 130 out of 222 parliamentary seats (59 percent of seats).

During Kibaki's first time in office, democratic space was opened up even more and coalition politics took root. The Grand Coalition Kenya held its Tenth General Election on the 27th of December 2007. A dispute that followed the announcement of the result by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) unfortunately degenerated into an unprecedented seven-week long spate of violence in some parts of the country, leading to loss of lives, dislocation of some citizens, destruction of property and general disruption of social and economic life. The former Secretary General of the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Koffi Annan with the assistance of eminent persons from across the African continent including H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete, Chairman of the African Union and President of Tanzania, H.E. Mrs. Graca Machel, His Excellency Mr. Benjamin Mkapa and His Excellency Mr. Joachim Chisano, helped broker a reconciliation between H.E. President Mwai Kibaki and his main contender Hon.

Raila Odinga leading to the signing of the National Accord and Reconciliation Agreement, thus paving the way for the restoration of peace and security in the country and a return to normalcy in the affected regions. The Agreement, included a fundamental change in the Government structure to introduce the post of Prime Minister, with two Deputy Premiers and the formation of a Grand Coalition between the President's party of National Unity and Hon.Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement Party. Following the agreement, H.E. the President and the Prime Minister Designate appointed a National Accord Implementation Committee to prepare a program of action for the Grand Coalition Government (GCG), synchronize the manifestos of the coalition parties and identify short, medium and long term policies for implementation by the GCG. The Committee established a reconciliation and building program covering the entire country with activities cascaded down to all districts and constituencies and involved the Private Sector, Civil Society, Media, Community Based Organizations, Sports Personalities and Faith Based Organizations in the National Emergency Recovery Strategy. In parallel to this, three important Bodies were established: The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission, The Commission of Enquiry on Post Election Violence and Independent Review Committee on the 2007 Elections.

Through these Bodies truth, reconciliation and healing will be brought to Kenya and its people. The parties also agreed on a process and roadmap for comprehensive constitutional reform, which will strengthen the institutions of Governance and address the long term differences that contributed to the violence. Life in Kenya has settled down quickly with the country coming out stronger and more united than before as President Mwai Kibaki begins his second and final term in office. When was the state of emergency declared in Kenya...........? View the step-by-step solution to: When was the state of emergency declared in Kenya...........? This question was answered on May 03, 2016. View the Answer When was the state of emergency declared in Kenya...........? siomejacob posted a question · May 03, 2016 at 4:37am Top Answer Gwogii answered the question · May 03, 2016 at 4:38am Other Answers Attached is a detailed explanation...

View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29295355) ]} Kenya was put under a state of emergency from October 1952 to December 1959, due to the Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule and thousands of Kenyans were incarcerated in detention camps. isa.pro May 03, 2016 at 4:42am {[ getNetScore(29295385) ]} 6 Management experts found online! Average reply time is 83 mins Get Homework Help Why Join Course Hero? Course Hero has all the homework and study help you need to succeed! We’ve got course-specific notes, study guides, and practice tests along with expert tutors and customizable flashcards—available anywhere, anytime. - - Study Documents Find the best study resources around, tagged to your specific courses. Share your own to gain free Course Hero access or to earn money with our Marketplace. - Question & Answers Get one-on-one homework help from our expert tutors—available online 24/7. Ask your own questions or browse existing Q&A threads. Satisfaction guaranteed! - Flashcards Browse existing sets or create your own using our digital flashcard system.

A simple yet effective studying tool to help you earn the grade that you want! The Story of Africa| BBC World Service INDEX Case Study: Kenya Kenya, during the 1950's, was dominated by the Mau Mau uprising against the British. A central feature of this revolt was a desire on the part of the Kikuyu, along with some Embu and Meru people, for land taken by the Europeans. The Mau Mau uprising also marked a turning point in the struggle for independence. Kikuyu resistance to European colonisation was well established before the Second World War. The Kikuyu Central Association was active in the 1930's under Jomo Kenyatta who campaigned energetically for the Kikuyu in Europe. In 1951, Kenyatta was arrested and imprisoned by the British for being a leading light in the Mau Mau movement. With his detention Mau Mau expanded. In October 1952, the British declared a state of emergency, which continued until 1960.

The State of Emergency was in response to an increase in attacks on the property and persons of white settlers, as well as African chiefs who were seen as collaborators. There was also an increase in oath taking. This was a ceremony, affirming loyalty to the Mau Mau cause and war against the Europeans. About 2,000 Kikuyu were killed by Mau Mau fighters for refusing to take the oath. Private secretary J.M. Kariuki was one of the few people in post-independent Kenya prepared to speak in favour of oath taking. Listen to J.M. Kariuki defending Mau Mau oath-taking A far larger amount, about 13,000, were killed fighting the British, and a further 80,000 were kept in detention camps. The number of Europeans who died in the course of the emergency totalled just 32. The number of original Mau Mau fighters was hugely increased by Kikuyu squatters who were expelled from European land after 1952. The main military leaders were Dedan Kimathi and Warihu Itote, also known as General China. Dedan Kimathi was captured and executed in 1956.

General China was eventually released. Kenyatta was not released until 1961. The Kenyan African National Union (KANU) had voted him their President while he was still in prison. The other main party to emerge in the run up to independence was the Kenyan African Democratic Union KADU. In the event, KANU gained a majority in the Legislative Assembly and Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya to independence in December 1963. Mau Mau uprising: Bloody history of Kenya conflict - BBC News BBC News Mau Mau uprising: Bloody history of Kenya conflict 7 April 2011 Close share panel Image caption Thousands of Mau Mau suspects were detained in prison camps Legal action taken against the British government to secure compensation for four Kenyans allegedly tortured during the Mau Mau uprising will cast the spotlight on one of the Empire's bloodiest conflicts. The uprising is now regarded in Kenya as one of the most significant steps towards a Kenya free from British rule. The Mau Mau fighters were mainly drawn from Kenya's major ethnic grouping, the Kikuyu.

More than a million strong, by the start of the 1950s the Kikuyu had been increasingly economically marginalised as years of white settler expansion ate away at their land holdings. Since 1945, nationalists like Jomo Kenyatta of the Kenya African Union (KAU) had been pressing the British government in vain for political rights and land reforms, with valuable holdings in the cooler Highlands to be redistributed to African owners. But radical activists within the KAU set up a splinter group and organised a more militant kind of nationalism. By 1952 Kikuyu fighters, along with some Embu and Meru recruits, were attacking political opponents and raiding white settler farms and destroying livestock. Mau Mau supporters took oaths, binding them to their cause. In October 1952 the British declared a state of emergency and began moving army reinforcements into Kenya. So began an aggressively fought counter-insurgency, which lasted until 1960 when the state of emergency was ended. Basically you could get away with murder - it was systematic Professor David Anderson, Oxford University The number killed in the uprising is a subject of much controversy.

Officially the number of Mau Mau and other rebels killed was 11,000, including 1,090 convicts hanged by the British administration. Just 32 white settlers were killed in the eight years of emergency. However, unofficial figures suggest a much larger number were killed in the counter-insurgency campaign. The Kenya Human Rights Commission has said 90,000 Kenyans were executed, tortured or maimed during the crackdown, and 160,000 were detained in appalling conditions. David Anderson, professor of African Politics at Oxford University, says he estimates the death toll in the conflict to have been as high as 25,000. He said: "Everything that could happen did happen. Allegations about beatings and violence were widespread. Basically you could get away with murder. It was systematic." 'Oppressive violence' The African Home Guard, recruited by the British, used oppressive violence as a means of controlling the population, Prof Anderson suggests. Image caption A claim for compensation was first lodged in 2009 He said: "The British armed the militia, rewarded them, incentivised them, allowing them to pillage property of the nationalists.

"Mau Mau families were subject to pillage by their neighbours. People would simply walk up to the farm and walk away with things." In addition to search-and-destroy missions against Mau Mau fighter bands operating in the forests, the British also strategically resettled Kikuyu in villages. They also detained some 100,000 Kikuyu without trial, often for periods of between three and seven years. London law firm Leigh Day & Co lodged a claim in mid-2009 on behalf of five elderly Kenyans. One has died since the case was lodged. They [the Mau Mau] were put in camps where they were subject to severe torture, malnutrition, beatings Martyn Day, Solicitor The firm says its clients suffered terribly in detention camps or at the hands of British-led soldiers. Solicitor Martyn Day told the BBC: "They were put in camps where they were subject to severe torture, malnutrition, beatings. The women were sexually assaulted. Two of the men were castrated. The most severe gruesome torture you could imagine. "A lot of the officers involved were white, they were controlling the violence against these Mau Mau.

It wasn't just isolated individual officers. It was systematic. The whole purpose was to break the Mau Mau." The UK says the claim is not valid because of the amount of time since the abuses were alleged to have happened, and that any liability rested with the Kenyan authorities after independence in 1963. But Leigh Day & Co says the case is an "opportunity for the British government to come to terms with the past and apologise to the victims and the Kenyan people for this grave historic wrong". South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has backed their case. Image caption The state of emergency lasted for eight years "In my view, the British government's attempt to pin liability on Kenya for British colonial torture represents an intolerable abdication of responsibility," he said. "Britain's insistence that international human rights standards should be respected by governments around the world will sound increasingly hollow if the door is shut in the face of these known victims of British torture." But it is clear that brutal violence was exacted on both sides. Prof Anderson explains: "There was lots of suffering on the other side too. This was a dirty war.

It became a civil war - though that idea remains extremely unpopular in Kenya today." One example was the Mau Mau raid on the "loyalist" village of Lari, where the majority of the men were away fighting with the British Home Guard. The rebels killed more than 70, mostly women and children. Tim Simmonds, who joined the Kenyan police reserve as a tracker shortly after settling in Kenya in 1954, says the Mau Mau fighters "went on the rampage", slaughtering thousands of people, leaving him so frightened he slept under his bed for a year. While deploring the treatment of detainees in the camps, he says he has no regrets about fighting the insurgents in the bush. "They really got what they deserved. I'm really quite tough on this. If I had the chance again in the same situation, them killing people, would I go out and kill them again as I did? Yes sir I would." It has long been suggested that the suppression of the Mau Mau was more brutal in nature than the action taken against other colonial uprisings across the British Empire.

Some historians have posited that white settler pressure on the British government and the characterisation of the Mau Mau fighters as the epitome of savagery may have been behind this. The Kikuyu themselves were split, with "haves" often siding with the British against Mau Mau "have-nots" and many happy to take the confiscated land of their fellow villagers. Empire 'not deserved' Prof Anderson notes that one of the things marking the battle against the Mau Mau was the number of hangings, with capital offences extended during the emergency to include "consorting" with Mau Mau. Some attention was paid to allegations of atrocities at the time, with questions asked in parliament about 11 Africans beaten to death in a British camp at Hola. Among those who spoke out were the Labour MP Barbara Castle and the Conservative Enoch Powell, now best known for his "rivers of blood" speech. He suggested at the time that if such killings were to go unpunished Britain did not deserve an empire.

"I would say it is a fearful doctrine, which must recoil upon the heads of those who pronounce it, to stand in judgment on a fellow human being and say, 'Because he was such-and-such, therefore the consequences which would otherwise flow from his death shall not flow.'" Even though the Mau Mau were thoroughly defeated by 1960, the exact reforms that nationalists had been pressing for before the uprising had started and, by 1963, Kenya was independent. Kenya: Changing Kanu's Name Will Be a Betrayal - allAfrica.com Kenya: Changing Kanu's Name Will Be a Betrayal opinion By Julius Gathogo Like retired President Moi, I am vehemently opposed to plans to change the name of the country's party of independence, the Kenya African National Union, to the Kenya Alliance of National Unity. The party's top decision-makers recently proposed the change of name. Perhaps, one may wonder: why are we interested in this 'archaic' party of 50 years? Who are we, and where are we, in this drama? As a matter of fact, the original party is part of our history.

To an extent, it is our mother and father, particularly with regard to our social history and the future. The original Kanu attempted, in the 1960s and 1970s, to nurture the young nation. It stewarded the country that Kariuki further likened to "a tree growing very tall, very quickly", but which may fall "because it does not have deep roots, is not firmly rooted in the people and in society." In a country that produced such early critics under Kanu's watch, history cannot be rewritten by changing names. After all, is the reference to it as the Kenya Alliance of National Unity, not tautological? Aren't the terms "alliance" and "unity" not synonymous? KAU was merged in 1960, during the meeting in Kiambu, with Kenya Independent Movement and the People's Congress Party to form Kenya African National Union. It was formed after the State of Emergency was lifted on January 12, 1960. Kenya was under the State of Emergency from October 1952 to December 1959. This arose from the Mau Mau rebellion against colonial rule.

During this period, African participation in the political process increased rapidly, with the first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council taking place in 1957. Kanu reminds us about the fathers of this nation such as James Gichuru, Oginga Odinga, Paul Ngei, Ronald Ngala among others. So let Kanu remain Kanu whether as a minority or majority party, for its history is voluminous! Like Kanu, the history of the African National Congress goes back to the days when Africans fought spear in hand against the British and Boer colonisers. It has kept this spirit alive. For about 100 years, the ANC has brought together millions in the struggle for a just society for all. Collectively, they have fought for land, against low wages, high rents and against general disproportions in society. They also fought against the inferior Bantu education, and for the right to vote for a government of their own choice. Such histories remain unique. ANC, like Kanu, was born during the dark days of African history. It came into existence at a time when diamonds had been discovered in 1867 and gold in 1886.

Mine bosses wanted large numbers of African "slaves' to work for them. To effect this, laws and taxes were designed to force Africans to leave their land. The most severe was the 1913 Land Act, which prevented Africans buying, renting or using land, except in the reserves. To this end, the African Congress does not deserve to be called African National Alliance or any other name. Let history continue to say that Kanu lost power in 2002 for the first time and regained it at a certain period in history. Anything short of this will be a betrayal. In this era of globalisation, colour does not determine where you live or what party to join. All people living in Africa can join black dominated societies. After all, Kanu does not mean Kenya Black African National Union. Dr Gathogo is a lecturer, Philosophy and Religious Studies, at Kenyatta University. Copyright © 2012 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media ( allAfrica.com ). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 800 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . Kenya Kenya Kikuyu, Maasai, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, Kamba Religion: Protestant 38%, African religion 28%, Catholic 28%, Muslim 6% Climate: Tea, Coffee Pre-Colonial History Fossils found in east Africa suggest that proto-humans roamed the area more than 20 million years ago. Recent finds near Kenya's Lake Turkana indicate that the "Homo" genus of humans lived there 2.6 million years ago. Cushitic-speaking people, who occupied the area from about 1000 B.C., traded with Arab merchants by the first century A.D.

Kenya's proximity to the Arabian Peninsula invited colonization, and Arab and Persian settlements were established along the coast by the 8th century A.D. By then, Bantu and Nilotic peoples had moved into the area. Arab dominance was eclipsed by the arrival in 1498 of the Portuguese, who gave way in turn to Islamic control under the Imam of Oman in the 1600s. Britain established its influence in the 19th century. The colonial history of Kenya dates from the Berlin Conference of 1885, when the European powers first partitioned east Africa into spheres of influence. In 1895, the British Government established the East African Protectorate and, soon after, opened the fertile highlands to white settlers. In 1920, Kenya officially became a British colony. From October 1952 to December 1959, Kenya was under a state of emergency arising from the Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule. Post-Colonial History Kenya became independent on December 12, 1963, and the next year joined the Commonwealth.

Jomo Kenyatta, a member of the predominant Kikuyu tribe and head of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), became Kenya's first president. The minority party, Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), representing a coalition of small tribes that had feared dominance by larger ones, dissolved itself voluntarily in 1964 and joined KANU. After the 1969 assassination of a leading governmental official, Tom Mboya, and subsequent political tension, the opposition party, Kenya People's Union (KPU) was banned and its leader detained. No new opposition parties were formed after 1969. On October 14, Daniel Arap Moi became President after he was elected head of KANU and designated its sole nominee. By early 1992, several new parties had been formed, and multiparty elections were held in December 1992. President Moi was reelected for another five-year term.

Kenya: Why Kanu Should Not Change Name - allAfrica.com Kenya: Why Kanu Should Not Change Name opinion By Dr Julius Gathogo Like the Retired President Daniel arap Moi, I stand to be counted as one of those who vehemently opposed plans to change the name of the country's party of independence, Kenya African National Union, into Kenya Alliance of National Unity. A couple of weeks ago, while sitting at Naivasha, the party's top decision makers proposed the change of name for the party. The question many may be asking is why is anyone interested in this 'archaic' party of fifty years? What many people forget is that the original party is part of our history particularly with regard to our social history and the future. It is part of our socio-religious contentment is we scan through our past; and as we focus on the future. If a historian happens to write about Africa and Kenya in particular, it can never be complete without KANU. The original KANU attempted, in 1960s and 70s, to nurture the young nation; which J.M.

Kariuki once described as a country of "ten millionaires and ten million beggars," to 'adulthood.' KANU stewarded the country that Kariuki further likened to "a tree growing very tall, very quickly," but may fall down "because it does not have deep roots, is not firmly rooted in the people and in society." In a country that produced such early critics under KANU's watch, history cannot be rewritten by changing the names. After all, is the reference to it as, Kenya Alliance of National Unity, not repetitive? Aren't the phrase Alliance and Unity not synonymous? KAU was merged in 1960, during the meeting in Kiambu, with Kenya Independent Movement and the People's Congress Party to form Kenya African National Union (KANU). It was formed after the State of Emergency was lifted on 12th January 1960. Kenya was under the State of Emergency from October 1952 to December 1959. In turn, the State of Emergency arose from the 'Mau Mau' rebellion against British colonial rule.

During this period, African participation in the political process increased rapidly, with the first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council taking place in 1957. The birth of KANU was in 28th February 1960 when at a public meeting, in Nairobi attended by about 25,000 people who demanded Jomo Kenyatta's release sending shockwaves across the British commonwealth and beyond. On April 15, 1960, over a million people signed a petition for the release of Kenyatta which was presented to the colonial Governor. On 14 May 1960, Kenyatta was elected KANU President in absentia. In general, KANU as Kenya African National Union reminds us about the fathers of this nation such as James Gichuru, Oginga Odinga, Paul Ngei, Ronald Ngara among others. It reminds us about JM Kariuki's caution about the rise or fall of Kenya; and calls the national psyche into attention.

On its part, the African National Congress which celebrated 100 years recently reminds us of the founding fathers of the South African nation such as John Dube, Sefako Makgatho, Zacharias Mahabane, Josiah Gumede, Pixley Seme, Alfred Xuma, James Moroka, Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, ZK Mathews, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, and recently Thabo Mbeki. In particular, the first African Nobel Peace Laureate, Albert Luthuli, used to argue that the freedom of the black majority will come through the cross of Christ, an obvious contrast to current leader, Jacob Zuma, who is strongly beholden to African traditional religion. Its origins were on January 8th 1912 when chiefs, representatives of people's and church organisations, and other prominent individuals gathered in Bloemfontein and formed the African National Congress whose aim was to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms. Like KANU, the history of the ANC goes back to the days when the African people fought spear in hand against the British and Boer colonisers. The ANC has kept this spirit alive.

It has brought together millions in the struggle for a justice society for all. ANC like KANU was born during the dark days of African history. It came into existence at a time when diamonds had been discovered in 1867 and gold in 1886. Consequently, mine bosses wanted large numbers of African 'slaves' to work for them in the mines. To do this, laws and taxes were designed to force Africans to leave their land. The most severe law was the 1913 land Act, which prevented Africans from buying, renting or using land, except in the reserves. To this end, the African Congress does not deserve to called African National Alliance or any other name for that matter. KANU likewise ought to be left intact. Let history continue to say that KANU lost power in 2002 for the first time. In and/or out of power, should KANU commemorate her first centenary celebrations in 2060, as Kenya African National Union? To say that the party should be called an Alliance 'as Kenyan Indians and Europeans are now welcome' is a fraud. After all, KANU does not mean Kenya Black African National Union.

Like ANC let nobody change KANU's names. Dr Julius Gathogo is a lecturer on philosophy and religious studies at the Kenyatta University. Copyright © 2012 The Star. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media ( allAfrica.com ). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. AllAfrica publishes around 800 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . Snapshot, Africa: Kenya Kenya Map Courtesy CIA World Factbook Kenya (pronounced as KEN-ya) is a country of East Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and the Indian Ocean. Nairobi is its capital and largest city.

Fossils found in East Africa suggest that protohumans roamed the area more than 20 million years ago. Recent finds near Kenya's Lake Turkana indicate that hominids like Homo habilis and Homo erectus lived in Kenya from 2.6 million years ago. The colonial history of Kenya dates from the establishment of a German protectorate over the Sultan of Zanzibar's coastal possessions in 1885, followed by the arrival of the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1888. Incipient imperial rivalry was forestalled when Germany handed its coastal holdings to Britain in 1890. During the early part of the 20th century the interior central highlands were settled by British and other European farmers, who became wealthy farming coffee. By the 1930s approximately 30,000 settlers lived in the area and were offered undue political powers due to their effects on the economy. The area was already home to over a million members of the Kikuyu tribe, most of whom had no land claims and lived as itinerant farmers.

To protect their interests, the settlers banned the growing of coffee, introduced a Hut tax, and the landless were granted less and less land in exchange for their labour. A massive exodus to the cities ensued as their ability to provide a living from the land dwindled. From October 1952 to December 1959, Kenya was under a state of emergency arising from the Mau Mau rebellion against British rule. The governor requested and obtained British and African troops, including the King's African Rifles. In January 1953, Major General Hinde was appointed as director of counter-insurgency operations. The situation did not improve due to lack of intelligence, so General Sir George Erskine was appointed commander-in-chief of the colony's armed forces in May 1953, with the personal backing of Winston Churchill. The capture of Waruhiu Itote (General China) on 15 January 1954 and the subsequent interrogation led to a better understanding of the Mau Mau command structure. Operation Anvil opened on 24 April 1954 after weeks of planning by the army with the approval of the War Council.

The operation effectively placed Nairobi under military siege and the occupants were screened and the Mau Mau supporters moved to detention camps. May 1953 also saw the Home Guard officially recognized as a branch of the Security Forces. The Home Guard formed the core of the Government's anti-Mau Mau strategy as it was composed of loyalist Africans, not foreign forces like the British Army and King's African Rifles. By the end of the Emergency the Home Guard had killed no less than 4,686 Mau Mau, which amounted to 42% of the total insurgents. The capture of Dedan Kimathi on 21 October 1956 in Nyeri signified the ultimate defeat of the Mau Mau and essentially ended the military offensive. The first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council took place in 1957. Despite British hopes of handing power to "moderate" African rivals, it was the Kenya African National Union (KANU) of Jomo Kenyatta, which formed a government shortly before Kenya became independent on December 12, 1963. A year later, Kenyatta became Kenya's first president.

At Kenyatta's death in 1978, Daniel arap Moi became President, and in democratic multiparty elections in 1992 and 1997 won re-election. In 2002, Moi was constitutionally barred from running and Mwai Kibaki was elected President. NSNL 120 - Intelligence profile : Kenya Intelligence profile : Kenya Background From October 1952 to December 1959, Kenya was under a state of emergency arising from the Mau Mau rebellion against British rule. The governor requested and obtained British and African troops, including the King's African Rifles. In May 1953 the Home Guard was officially recognized as a branch of the Security Forces. The Home Guard formed the core of the government's anti-Mau Mau strategy as it was composed of loyalist Africans, not foreign forces like the British Army and King's African Rifles. By the end of the emergency the Home Guard had killed no fewer than 4,686 Mau Mau. The Mau Mau were defeated in October 1956. Kenya became independent on 12 December 1963.

Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when President Moi took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. President Moi stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai Kibaki assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anti-corruption platform. General Criminal Investigation Department (CID) intelligence division Special Branch The Special Branch of the Kenya Police Force was mainly responsible for internal security threats following the independence of Kenya in 1963. The branch was dissolved in 1970 and its tasks were passed on to the newly formed DSI. Directorate of Security Intelligence (DSI) The DSI was formed in April 1970 and was responsible for internal security and counterintelligence. The DSI was part of the President's office and reported directly to the President. The agency was disbanded in 1998.

Kenyan National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) Formed in 1998 to replace the Directorate of Security Intelligence, better known as the Special Branch of the Kenya Police Department. NSIS's tasks include internal, external and strategic intelligence. The agency has seven divisions: Internal intelligence

Question: What was the cause of a state of emergency in Kenya from October 1952 to December 1959?
Answer: Mau Mau rebellion