Died: 22 August 1978, Mombasa, Kenya


Kenyatta was born to Kikuyu parents in Kiambu, then part of British East Africa. Trained as a carpenter at a Church of Scotland mission, he worked in various jobs before becoming politically engaged through the Kikuyu Central Association. In 1929, he travelled to London to lobby for Kikuyu tribal land affairs. In 1933-34, he studied at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East in Moscow before returning to London and studying at University College London and the London School of Economics. He remained in England during the Second World War, working as a farm labourer and co-organising the fifth Pan-African Congress in 1945. In 1946, he returned to East Africa and became a teacher. In 1947 he was elected President of the Kenya African Union, through which he began lobbying for independence from British colonial rule. In 1952, he was among the Kapenguria Six arrested and charged with involvement in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British. He remained imprisoned until 1961. He then led the KANU delegation at the negotiations which secured Kenya's independence.

In the 1963 general election, Kenyatta led KANU to victory. As Prime Minister, he supported the government in transforming Kenya into a republic, thus becoming President. Centralising power in his party, he prohibited KANU's only rival, Kenya People's Union, from competing in elections; Kenya thus became a de facto one-party state. His regime faced border conflicts with Somalia and an army mutiny in Nairobi. His economic policies were conservative and capitalist, and he espoused a pro-Western and anti-communist foreign policy. Following Kenyatta's death, he was succeeded by Daniel arap Moi.

Kenyatta is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation.[3] Kenyatta was a well-educated intellectual who authored several books, and is remembered as a Pan-Africanist. He was criticised as authoritarian and for overseeing a growth in corruption and systems of patronage. Many places have been named after him. He is also the father of Kenya's fourth and current President, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Cc lalasticlala , seun

Is that all ?

Early life

Childhood: c.1890–1914



Kenyatta was born at Ngenda, an area of sugar cane and cattle pasture.[4] His date of birth is not known, as birth records were not traditionally kept by the Kikuyu.[5] One biographer, Jules Archer, later suggested that it was likely in 1890,[6] although a fuller analysis performed by Jeremy Murray-Brown concluded that he was likely born circa 1897 or 1898.[7] His father was named Muigai, and his mother Wambui.[4] They were shamba folk, living in a homestead built on a spur of land near the River Thiririka; they were farmers, raising crops and breeding both sheep and goats.[4] Muigai was sufficiently wealthy that he could afford to keep several wives, each of whom lived in a separate nymoba (woman's hut).[8] Kenyatta was raised according to traditional Kikuyu custom and religious belief, and was taught the skills needed to herd the family flock.[9] When he was ten years old, his earlobes were pierced to mark his transition away from childhood.[10]

wetin concern us concern Kenya

mtcheew

Overseas

London: 1929–1931



After the KCA raised sufficient funds, in February 1929 Kenyatta set sail for Britain from Mombasa aboard a French vessel, the Bernadino de St Pierre.[54] Grigg's administration could not legally prevent Kenyatta's journey but both warned him not to go and instructed the Colonial Office in London not to meet with him.[54] Arriving in London on 8 March 1929, Kenyatta initially stayed at the West African Students' Union premises in West London, where he met Ladipo Solanke.[55] He subsequently began lodging with a prostitute; both this and Kenyatta's lavish spending brought concern from members of the Church Mission Society.[56] His landlord subsequently impounded his belongings due to unpaid debt.[57] In the city, Kenyatta met with W. McGregor Ross at the Royal Empire Society, with Ross briefing him on how best to deal with the Colonial Office.[58] Kenyatta became friends with Ross' family, and accompanied them to social events in Hampstead.[59] He also contacted anti-imperialists active in Britain, including the League Against Imperialism, Fenner Brockway, and Kingsley Martin.[60] Grigg was in London at the same time and, despite his opposition to Kenyatta's visit, agreed to meet with him at the Rhodes Trust headquarters in April. At the meeting, Kenyatta raised the land issue and the exile of Thuku, with the atmosphere between the two being friendly.[61] However, following the meeting Grigg got Special Branch to begin monitoring Kenyatta.[60]

In the summer of 1929, he left London and visited Moscow via Berlin, alleging that the entire trip had been financed by an African-American friend. He returned to London in October.[62] Kenyatta was strongly influenced by his time in the Soviet Union.[63] Back in England, he wrote three articles on the Kenyan situation for the Communist Party of Great Britain's newspaper, the Daily Worker, one published in October and the other two in January 1930. In these articles, his criticism of British imperialism was far stronger than it had been in Muĩgwithania.[64] In January, Kenyatta met with Drummond Shiels, the undersecretary-of-state, at the House of Commons. Kenyatta told Shiels that he was not affiliated with communist circles and was unaware as to the nature of the newspaper which published his articles.[65] Shiels' advice was for Kenyatta to return home, where he could promote Kikuyu involvement in the constitutional process and discourage violence and extremism.[66] After eighteen months in Europe, Kenyatta had run out of money. The Anti-Slavery Society advanced him the money needed to pay off his debts and return to Kenya.[67] Kenyatta however enjoyed life in London and feared arrest if he returned to Kenya.[68] He arrived in Mombasa in September 1930.[69] On his return, his prestige among the Kikuyu was high because of his time spent in Europe.

Return to Kenya



Kenyatta returned to Kenya in 1946, after almost 15 years abroad.

He married for the third time, to Grace Wanjiku, Senior Chief Koinange's daughter, and sister to Mbiyu Koinange (who later became a lifelong confidant and was one of the most powerful politicians during Kenyatta's presidency).

Kenyatta then went into teaching, becoming principal of Kenya Teachers College Githunguri.

In 1947, he was elected president of the Kenya African Union (KAU). He began to receive death threats from white settlers after his election.[citation needed]

From 1948 to 1951 he toured and lectured around the country condemning idleness, robbery, urging hard work while campaigning for the return of land given to white settlers and for independence within three years.

His wife, Grace Wanjiku, died in childbirth in 1950 as she gave birth to daughter Jane Wambui, who survived.[citation needed]

In 1951 Kenyatta married Ngina Muhoho, daughter of Chief Muhoho. She was popularly referred to as Mama Ngina and was independent Kenya's First Lady, when Kenyatta was elected President.

The Mau Mau Rebellion began in 1951 and KAU was banned, and a state of emergency was declared on 20 October 1952

Trial & Imprisonment


Kenyatta was arrested in October 1952 and indicted with five others on the charges of "managing and being a member" of the Mau Mau Society, a radical anti-colonial movement engaged in rebellion against Kenya's British rulers. The accused were known as the "Kapenguria Six".[citation needed]

The trial lasted five months: Rawson Macharia, the main prosecution witness, turned out to have perjured himself; the judge—who had only recently been awarded an unusually large pension, and who maintained secret contact with the then colonial Governor of Kenya Evelyn Baring[88] during the trial—was openly hostile to the defendants' cause.

The defence, led by British barrister D. N. Pritt and legal expert and barrister H. O. Davies , argued that the white settlers were trying to scapegoat Kenyatta and that there was no evidence tying him to the Mau Mau. The court sentenced Kenyatta on 8 April 1953 to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour and indefinite restriction thereafter.[89] The subsequent appeal was refused by the British Privy Council in 1954.

Kenyatta remained in prison until 1959, after which he was detained in Lodwar, a remote part of Kenya.

The state of emergency was lifted on 12 January 1960

On 28 February 1960, a public meeting of 25,000 in Nairobi demanded his release. On 15 April 1960, over a million signatures for a plea to release him were presented to the Governor. On 14 May 1960, he was elected KANU President in absentia. On 23 March 1961, Kenyan leaders, including Daniel arap Moi, later his longtime Vice President and successor as president, visited him at Lodwar. On 11 April 1961, he was moved to Maralal with daughter Margaret where he met world press for the first time in eight years. On 14 August 1961, he was released and brought to Gatundu.

While contemporary opinion linked Kenyatta with the Mau Mau, historians have questioned his alleged leadership of the radical movement.[91] Kenyatta was in truth a political moderate. His marriage of Colonial Chief's daughters, his post independence Kikuyu allies mainly being former colonial collaborators (though also from his tribe), and his short shrift treatment of former Mau Mau fighters after he came to power, all suggest a lack of strong ties to the Mau Mau.

Ok

Leadership


Kenyatta was admitted into the Legislative Council after his release in 1961, after Kariuki Njiiri (son of late Chief Njiiri) gave up his Kigumo seat for him.

In 1961 and 1963, he led the KANU delegation to first and second Lancaster House Conferences in London where Kenya's independence constitution was negotiated.

Elections were then held in May 1963, pitting Kenyatta's KANU (Kenya African National Union- which advocated for Kenya to be a unitary state) against KADU (Kenya African Democratic Union – which advocated for Kenya to be an ethnic-federal state). KANU beat KADU by winning 83 seats out of 124. On 1 June 1963, Kenyatta became prime minister of the autonomous Kenyan government. After independence, Queen Elizabeth II remained as Head of State (after Independence, styled as Queen of Kenya), represented by a Governor-General. He consistently asked white settlers not to leave Kenya and supported reconciliation.

Personality & Personal life

Murray-Brown described Kenyatta as having an "extrovert personality".[28] Referring to Kenyatta's appearance in 1920s Kenya, Murray-Brown stated the leader presented himself to Europeans as "an agreeable if somewhat seedy 'Europeanized' native" and to indigenous Africans as "a sophisticated man-about-town about whose political earnestness they had certain reservations".[51]

Murray-Brown characterised Kenyatta as an "affectionate father" to his children, but one who was frequently absent.[48] His daughter, Wambui Margaret, became his closest confidante.[48]

In London, he had taken an interest in the atheist speakers at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park.[97] Also in the city, an Irish Muslim friend had urged Kenyatta to convert to Islam, with no success.[97]

Death

President Kenyatta suffered a heart attack in 1966. In the mid-1970s, he lapsed into periodic comas lasting from a few hours to a few days from time to time. On 14 August 1978, he hosted his entire family, including his son Peter Magana who flew in from Britain with his family, at a reunion in Mombasa. On 22 August 1978, President Kenyatta died in Mombasa of natural causes attributable to old age; he was about 86 at the time of his death. He was buried on 31 August 1978 in Nairobi in a state funeral at a mausoleum on Parliament grounds.

He was succeeded as President after his death by his vice-president, Daniel arap Moi, who in turn ruled over Kenya until his retirement in 2002.[95]

Cc ichommy smithsydney , seun , lalasticlala

he looks like Olu Jacobs or Olu Jacobs looks like him...

Quite revealing. I gained a lot from this.

What I find most interesting here is that Kenyatta admired communism while he was still in bondage when reverted to capitalism the moment he had a taste of power. It's a sad disturbing trend I've noticed on communism, the worker who has lost his chains conspires with the slavers to put others into it.
Or perhaps I'm wrong, perhaps it's the outside view syndrome : Everything looking so clear cut and easy on the outside but the moment you're granted access inside, becomes muddled.

The article also said he attended an atheist conference, a pleasant surprise to me. Who knows, perhaps.....


Muafrika2, how accurate would you call this article and what are your views on Kenyatta.

Sirwere

I hadn't heard so much personal detail about his London stay.

His ties to Mau Mau are also debatable. Some think he was the ring leader

I'll call historians for confirmation;

Kikuyu1

On the issue of encouraging white settlers to stay, Kenyatta was sly. He used to make speeches in English and Kiswahili. He would talk positively about Europeans in rallies in English and thereafter speak swahili in a derogatory manner. He coined the word (wabeberu - swahili for male goat) which he used to refer to them in rallies while castigating them. Many white landowners sold their land to the government for this reason.

He was definitely a ruthless capitalist, and probably responsible for the renown kikuyu business acumen and shrewd capitalism.

I would say his government was a social-capitalist one with a mix from both sides. He also used cooperatives to benefit farmers, and helped his community especially buy former settler lands through land buying community companies. He also acquired massive swathes of land for himself.

Muafrika2:
Sirwere

I hadn't heard so much personal detail about his London stay.

His ties to Mau Mau are also debatable. Some think he was the ring leader

I'll call historians for confirmation;

Kikuyu1

On the issue of encouraging white settlers to stay, Kenyatta was sly. He used to make speeches in English and Kiswahili. He would talk positively about Europeans in rallies in English and thereafter speak swahili in a derogatory manner. He coined the word (wabeberu - swahili for male goat) which he used to refer to them in rallies while castigating them. Many white landowners sold their land to the government for this reason.

He was definitely a ruthless capitalist, and probably responsible for the renown kikuyu business acumen and shrewd capitalism.

I would say his government was a social-capitalist one with a mix from both sides. He also used cooperatives to benefit farmers, and helped his community especially buy former settler lands through land buying community companies. He also acquired massive swathes of land for himself.

No ,he wasn't the ring leader-not by a LONG SHOT! That's why in detention with the real Mau Mau his life was threatened and in fact he was almost assaulted by the latter when they called him a traitor. He was chosen to lead cause he had exposure. He became anti communist when he was nearly killed in St Petersburg in the early 30s during one of the infamous sweeps when the Zio Bolsheviks would mass arrest thousands and kill a substantial number simply to terrorise their subjects-communist is mass murder and theft-never be cheated!! I don't have the details but he escaped arrest by luck and quick thinking.
Yes,he and his extended family have huge holdings in land-is it really 500 k acres? I doubt it. The fact remains the African settlement scheme on former white lands in Trans Nzoia, Nakuru,Gilgil,Wanjohi (the original Happy Valley)Kitale,Eldoret,Narok and Timau was a success despite noise from idlers and 'experts.'
Zim never underwent this process explaining their decision to do it extra judicially after being repeatedly delayed and led down the garden path for 2 decades.

Muafrika2:
Sirwere

I hadn't heard so much personal detail about his London stay.

His ties to Mau Mau are also debatable. Some think he was the ring leader

I'll call historians for confirmation;

Kikuyu1

On the issue of encouraging white settlers to stay, Kenyatta was sly. He used to make speeches in English and Kiswahili. He would talk positively about Europeans in rallies in English and thereafter speak swahili in a derogatory manner. He coined the word (wabeberu - swahili for male goat) which he used to refer to them in rallies while castigating them. Many white landowners sold their land to the government for this reason.

He was definitely a ruthless capitalist, and probably responsible for the renown kikuyu business acumen and shrewd capitalism.

I would say his government was a social-capitalist one with a mix from both sides. He also used cooperatives to benefit farmers, and helped his community especially buy former settler lands through land buying community companies. He also acquired massive swathes of land for himself.

Interesting. On the use of his double speak, I can certainly appreciate his..... craftiness, his trying to both cool and fan the embers of war at the same time.

And you say he used cooperatives to help his community. Did you mean he was somewhat tribalistic or I'm just reading too deep into it .

Also you mention Kikuyu, his tribe I assume. How many tribes are there in Kenya. Pardon my ignorance, I know almost next to nothing about Kenya except for the Struggle for Independence

Judging from your write-up , you don't seem to fond of Kenyatta. That is surprising, most references I've heard of him tout him as a hero to the Kenyan people who is widely loved and admired. Amazing, what the books don't tell us.

The article also mentioned border conflict with Somalia. Pray tell, for what reasons??

SirWere:

Interesting. On the use of his double speak, I can certainly appreciate his..... craftiness, his trying to both cool and fan the embers of war at the same time.

And you say he used cooperatives to help his community. Did you mean he was somewhat tribalistic or I'm just reading too deep into it .

Also you mention Kikuyu, his tribe I assume. How many tribes are there in Kenya. Pardon my ignorance, I know almost next to nothing about Kenya except for the Struggle for Independence

Judging from your write-up , you don't seem to fond of Kenyatta. That is surprising, most references I've heard of him tout him as a hero to the Kenyan people who is widely loved and admired. Amazing, what the books don't tell us.

The article also mentioned border conflict with Somalia. Pray tell, for what reasons??

Coops were used at the grassroots level to mobilise resources. Members of all tribes formed group land buying companies issuing shares to their members. The coop idea branched out into all sectors of Kenya,agriculture,trade and business and now increasingly the finance world where coop credit unions are called SACCOS.

The vibrant and dynamic cooperative movement in Kenya – the strongest in Africa – is a key player in the economy, [/b]controlling about 43 per cent of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP). The Cooperative Societies in Kenya employs more than 300,000 people, besides providing opportunities for self-employment to many more. [b]Savings and credit societies (Saccos), the fastest growing sub-sector in the movement, have mobilised savings of more than Kshs 230 billio
https://softkenya.com/kenya/cooperatives-in-kenya/

Jomo pioneered the concept. Has it succeeded? HELLZ,YEAH!

He was called a tribalist. Here was his first cabinet:

Mr. Daniel arap Moi - The Vice-President, who was also Minister for Home Affairs
Mr. Mbiyu Koinange – Minister of State in President's Office. He was Member of Parliament for Kiambaa Constituency since Independence. He would be defeated by Njenga Karume in 1979 elections. The seat is currently held by Stanley Githunguri.
Mr. James Gichuru - Minister for Defence. He was the first president of KANU party before resigning so Kenyatta could take the position after he was released from prison. He was serving then as MP for Limuru.
Mr. Mwai Kibaki - Minister for Finance and Planning. He is the current President of Kenya and the longest serving Member of Parliament in Kenya history. He has served for 49 year since 1963.
Mr. Jeremiah Nyagah - Minister for Agriculture, he was first elected to Parliament in 1958.
Minister for Lands and Settlement - Mr. Jackson Angaine, he was the minister in lands and settlement since Independence in 1963.
Dr. J. G. Kiano - Minister for Commerce and Industry. He joined the cabinet in 1963 and was from Muranga.
Mr. Omolo Okero - Minister for Power and Communications.
Mr. Paul Ngei - Minister for Local Government.
Mr. Taita Toweet - Minister for Housing and Social Services.
Dr. Zachary. T. Onyonka - Minister for Education. His son Richard Onyonka is currently Assistant minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. James Osogo, Minister for Health.
Mr. Masinde Muliro, Minister for Works.
Mr. Robert Matano Minister for Co-operatives.
Mr. James Nyamweya, Minister for Labour.
Mr. Daniel Mutinda Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
Dr. Munyua Waiyaki Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Eliud Mwamunga Ministry of Water Development.
Mr. Mathew Ogutu Minister for Tourism and Wildlife.
Mr. Stanley S. ole Oroitiptip Minister for Natural Resources

http://jamhurimagazine.com/index.php/politics/3344-1974-kenyatta-government-kenya-then.html


Six are Kikuyus and their Meru and Embu first cousins. Take away both Nyagah and Angaine, 4 out of 20 or 25% are Kikuyu out of 30% share of the national population.
The Somali border thing was actually a real live shooting war! being the majority,at least 95% of neighbouring NE province they insisted on joining their cousins. Kenyatta said,"feel free to leave." They took that to mean secession fought and lost-badly!


If you know anything about Somalis IRL or from their posts here you'd know it was inevitable:colonialism told them they were superior to bantus.

Is he the father of president Uhuru kenyantta the current President?

kikuyu1:


Coops were used at the grassroots level to mobilise resources. Members of all tribes formed group land buying companies issuing shares to their members. The coop idea branched out into all sectors of Kenya,agriculture,trade and business and now increasingly the finance world where coop credit unions are called SACCOS.

The vibrant and dynamic cooperative movement in Kenya – the strongest in Africa – is a key player in the economy, [/b]controlling about 43 per cent of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP). The Cooperative Societies in Kenya employs more than 300,000 people, besides providing opportunities for self-employment to many more. [b]Savings and credit societies (Saccos), the fastest growing sub-sector in the movement, have mobilised savings of more than Kshs 230 billio
https://softkenya.com/kenya/cooperatives-in-kenya/

Jomo pioneered the concept. Has it succeeded? HELLZ,YEAH!

He was called a tribalist. Here was his first cabinet:



http://jamhurimagazine.com/index.php/politics/3344-1974-kenyatta-government-kenya-then.html

Nice. It's rare to see an African leader whose plans actually succeed.
However Muafrika2 says his actions were not entirely too altruistic and he also acquired huge swaths of lands for himself, through not so legal means I'll presume.

So Kenyatta was also accused of being tribalistic??¿ Interesting. Every claim has a hint of truth to it though. Did he favor his tribesmen more with quota system, resource control or....

The article also said Kenyatta abolished the main opposition party. Did that make the general perception of him change to a dictator or. ....

The Somali border thing was actually a real live shooting war! being the majority,at least 95% of neighbouring NE province they insisted on joining their cousins. Kenyatta said,"feel free to leave." They took that to mean secession fought and lost-badly!


If you know anything about Somalis IRL or from their posts here you'd know it was inevitable:colonialism told them they were superior to bantus.

So Kenya faced a secessionist struggle

Wow...

However you said Kenyatta said they were "free to leave". What other possible meaning was there except that he granted them the rights to secession??
Was a referendum conducted or did they just wake up and announced their annexation to Somalia?? I would like it if you provide me with links to the Kenyan-Somalian war and how Kenyatta successfully won the war. It couldn't have been easy, I assume the Somalis in Ethiopia assisted their brothers.

Is there still any lingering feeling after the war??¿ I might be derailing the thread but if it makes FP, is a chance for I and other Nigerians to learn more about Kenya, which I assure you, we know pitifully little about, except for their prowess in Athletics and the occasional twitter war.

SirWere:

Interesting. On the use of his double speak, I can certainly appreciate his..... craftiness, his trying to both cool and fan the embers of war at the same time.

And you say he used cooperatives to help his community. Did you mean he was somewhat tribalistic or I'm just reading too deep into it .

Also you mention Kikuyu, his tribe I assume. How many tribes are there in Kenya. Pardon my ignorance, I know almost next to nothing about Kenya except for the Struggle for Independence

Judging from your write-up , you don't seem to fond of Kenyatta. That is surprising, most references I've heard of him tout him as a hero to the Kenyan people who is widely loved and admired. Amazing, what the books don't tell us.

The article also mentioned border conflict with Somalia. Pray tell, for what reasons??

Her was definitely crafty. That's how he ended up as the favourite for presidency amongst many other agitators who were at the time drawn from all over the country.

You can see from his cabinet, he did not make so much effort to include the rest of the Kenyan tribes (officially 47 in number)

I love him actually, despite his shortfalls. Esp for the way he handled the white settlers and transition into African self determination. We needed someone like him just at the time he lived.

Somalia attacked Kenya in an effort to claim the former North Eastern Province which is inhabited by Somalis who saw the rest of Kenyans as different from them, preferring to . It was a war that Somalia and the cessasionists(the were called shiftas) lost. It also marked the beginning of distrust between the Kenyan Government and Somalis who for now have a bit of reprieve, I guess cessation lost attractiveness after the fall of Somalia to warlords. That Kenyan Somali inhabited area was under a state of emergency for a long time after the war.

loneatar:
Is he the father of president Uhuru kenyantta the current President?

He is. Son to Mama Ngina Kenyatta.

Muafrika2:


Her was definitely crafty. That's how he ended up as the favourite for presidency amongst many other agitators who were at the time drawn from all over the country.

You can see from his cabinet, he did not make so much effort to include the rest of the Kenyan tribes (officially 47 in number)

I am confused here. kiyuku1 is saying contrary to claims, Kenyatta picked only a "fair" number of ministers from his tribe, 25%. Yet you are saying he did not carry other tribes along.
Expantiate please

I love him actually, despite his shortfalls. Esp for the way he handled the white settlers and transition into African self determination. We needed someone like him just at the time he lived.

Somalia attacked Kenya in an effort to claim the former North Eastern Province which is inhabited by Somalis who saw the rest of Kenyans as different from them, preferring to . It was a war that Somalia and the cessasionists(the were called shiftas) lost. It also marked the beginning of distrust between the Kenyan Government and Somalis who for now have a bit of reprieve, I guess cessation lost attractiveness after the fall of Somalia to warlords. That Kenyan Somali inhabited area was under a state of emergency for a long time after the war.

I see. Much like the Nigerian Camerooun war over the bakassi peninsula. Very interesting I tell you.
Err.... Are there any particular mineral resources in the said province and did the people of the said province wanted to be annexed into Somalia at the time?? I'm interested as to the Genesis of the war at that time.



And going from your comments, you don't like white settlers much, do ya


He is. Son to Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
[/quote]

SirWere:


I am confused here. kiyuku1 is saying contrary to claims, Kenyatta picked only a "fair" number of ministers from his tribe, 25%. Yet you are saying he did not carry other tribes along.
Expantiate please

Kikuyu, Meru, Aembu are considered as one group in Kenyan politis. Two members from the same community is enough to raise accusations of tribalism. He also gavery member of his tribe land that was considered to belong to other communities like Bajunis and their land in Kilifi.

I see. Much like the Nigerian Camerooun war over the bakassi peninsula. Very interesting I tell you.
Err.... Are there any particular mineral resources in the said province and did the people of the said province wanted to be annexed into Somalia at the time?? I'm interested as to the Genesis of the war at that time.

You could start here ...

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000021893/the-somali-government-factor-in-the-secession-bid

And going from your comments, you don't like white settlers much, do ya

They forcefully took their land from locals, and took cattle too, which they used to establish their ranches. At first, before independence, they used forced African labour. Then the same people are right now singing property rights (the nerve!) and suggest they are the only people who can take care of those lands and produce food for us - never mind that our lack of food was caused by their robbing of our lands. So yes, white settlers will always be thieves to me, who continue to get away with crimes against humanity.


[/quote]

Muafrika2:

Kikuyu, Meru, Aembu are considered as one group in Kenyan politis. Two members from the same community is enough to raise accusations of tribalism. He also gavery member of his tribe land that was considered to belong to other communities like Bajunis and their land in Kilifi.

I see...
But one group but different tribes, a confederation of tribes or something of such sort.

So Kenyatta also land grabbed. No man is perfect I guess.

You could start here ...

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000021893/the-somali-government-factor-in-the-secession-bid

I read the article but it wasn't conclusive. It just outlined the Somali influence in the shifta war but didn't talk about it's cause.

I used Wikipedia and what it said was

The Shifta War (1963–1967) was a
secessionist conflict in which ethnic Somalis in the Northern Frontier District (NFD) of Kenya (a region that is and has historically been almost exclusively inhabited by ethnic Somalis[2][3][4] ) attempted to join with their fellow Somalis in a Greater Somalia . The Kenyan government named the conflict "shifta ", after the Somali word for "bandit", as part of a propaganda effort. The Kenyan counter-insurgency General Service Units forced civilians into "protected villages" (essentially
concentration camps) as well as killing a large number of livestock kept by the pastoralist Somalis.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifta_War

The article doesn't paint Kenya in a good light in the least

They forcefully took their land from locals, and took cattle too, which they used to establish their ranches. At first, before independence, they used forced African labour. Then the same people are right now singing property rights (the nerve!) and suggest they are the only people who can take care of those lands and produce food for us - never mind that our lack of food was caused by their robbing of our lands. So yes, white settlers will always be thieves to me, who continue to get away with crimes against humanity.

Wow. The Kenyan people really went through a lot under the Europeans. So awful.
I have a question ... did Ethiopia contribute in the eventual emancipation of Kenya from Euroepan hands? You are neighbours after all.
Also are there still white settlers colonialists in Kenya??¿! You sound as if there were
cc Haiti13

SirWere:

I see...
But one group but different tribes, a confederation of tribes or something of such sort.

So Kenyatta also land grabbed. No man is perfect I guess.

More like that.

Power corrupts. People say money is power. So is land.

I read the article but it wasn't conclusive. It just outlined the Somali influence in the shifta war but didn't talk about it's cause.

The cause was tribalistic. Somalis wanted to be reunited with their brothers. All border communities were split during the partition of the continent amongs Europeans at the Berlin conference.

I used Wikipedia and what it said was



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifta_War

The article doesn't paint Kenya in a good light in the least

They Somali people came out crying human rights violations after the incident. The government dealt with the rebellion with a firm hand, Which tends to happen in areas where any military is unleashed, especially in assymetrical wars where the rebels blend into the population.

They reason why Kenya is at peace, is that the government doesn't take cessasionists or covert political outfits with an unpatriotic agenda lightly. Namdi Kanu would not exist in Kenya. MRC, shiftas, Mungiki, Sabaot land defence force, just to mention a few who attempted to take control of parts of the country.

Wow. The Kenyan people really went through a lot under the Europeans. So awful.
I have a question ... did Ethiopia contribute in the eventual emancipation of Kenya from Euroepan hands? You are neighbours after all.
Also are there still white settlers colonialists in Kenya??¿! You sound as if there were
cc Haiti13

If it were not for the violent uprising and the Kenyan people making their lives difficult, they were determined to make themselves comfortable.

Ethiopia? Not that I know of. You should understand that then, ethnic communities were fighting back individually. Mau Mau was mainly Kikuyu. Kalenjins had a violent rebellion too that took around 10 years under Koitalel Arab Samoei. Many did not have the concept of Kenya as a country at the moment. They just cared about theiron lost tribal lands. The elitist movement based in Nairobi was the one thinking ofor nationhood.

There are a few in places with white settlers like Laikipia. Same with other African countries where they are now large-scale farmers, ranchers etc. Most left at independence. The government paid for most of those lands. So they still benefited fromy their thievery.

SirWere:

I see...
But one group but different tribes, a confederation of tribes or something of such sort.

So Kenyatta also land grabbed. No man is perfect I guess.





I read the article but it wasn't conclusive. It just outlined the Somali influence in the shifta war but didn't talk about it's cause.

I used Wikipedia and what it said was



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifta_War

The article doesn't paint Kenya in a good light in the least


Wow. The Kenyan people really went through a lot under the Europeans. So awful.
I have a question ... did Ethiopia contribute in the eventual emancipation of Kenya from Euroepan hands? You are neighbours after all.
Also are there still white settlers colonialists in Kenya??¿! You sound as if there were
cc Haiti13

Like I said Kenyatta acquired a lot of land-did he grab it? I haven't found any evidence of this. You don't know Somalis! basically at the time they felt superior to bantu Christians. Even now they call Africans madh madhou (hard hair) and adon (sub human). Google the plight of Somali bantus. Imagine what a nightmare it would've been for us had they succeeded in their secession! Hordes of violent,retarded,racists without regard for human life only hours away from our major population centres! Btw,Somalis have also lost wars with Ethios.
Like Zim and Algeria we had a real independence struggle since we were also settler countries,the major difference with W Africans,your countries weren't heavily settled by Oyinbos. Haile Selassie helped some Mau Mau reach Yugoslavia around 54-56 where they met Tito to get heavy weapons and continue the struggle. My info has it Kenyatta then in detention nixed the deal.

Muafrika2:

More like that.

Power corrupts. People say money is power. So is land.





The cause was tribalistic. Somalis wanted to be reunited with their brothers. All border communities were split during the partition of the continent amongs Europeans at the Berlin conference.


They Somali people came out crying human rights violations after the incident. The government dealt with the rebellion with a firm hand, Which tends to happen in areas where any military is unleashed, especially in assymetrical wars where the rebels blend into the population.

They reason why Kenya is at peace, is that the government doesn't take cessasionists or covert political outfits with an unpatriotic agenda lightly. Namdi Kanu would not exist in Kenya. MRC, shiftas, Mungiki, Sabaot land defence force, just to mention a few who attempted to take control of parts of the country.




If it were not for the violent uprising and the Kenyan people making their lives difficult, they were determined to make themselves comfortable.

Ethiopia? Not that I know of. You should understand that then, ethnic communities were fighting back individually. Mau Mau was mainly Kikuyu. Kalenjins had a violent rebellion too that took around 10 years under Koitalel Arab Samoei. Many did not have the concept of Kenya as a country at the moment. They just cared about theiron lost tribal lands. The elitist movement based in Nairobi was the one thinking ofor nationhood.

There are a few in places with white settlers like Laikipia. Same with other African countries where they are now large-scale farmers, ranchers etc. Most left at independence. The government paid for most of those lands. So they still benefited fromy their thievery.

Thank you for your responses, I learnt quite a Lot.


cc Lalasticlala Mynd44

This deserves FP, we ought to know more about Other African leaders

kikuyu2:


Like I said Kenyatta acquired a lot of land-did he grab it? I haven't found any evidence of this. You don't know Somalis! basically at the time they felt superior to bantu Christians. Even now they call Africans madh madhou (hard hair) and adon (sub human). Google the plight of Somali bantus. Imagine what a nightmare it would've been for us had they succeeded in their secession! Hordes of violent,retarded,racists without regard for human life only hours away from our major population centres! Btw,Somalis have also lost wars with Ethios.
Like Zim and Algeria we had a real independence struggle since we were also settler countries,the major difference with W Africans,your countries weren't heavily settled by Oyinbos. Haile Selassie helped some Mau Mau reach Yugoslavia around 54-56 where they met Tito to get heavy weapons and continue the struggle. My info has it Kenyatta then in detention nixed the deal.

I guess I don't know Somalian as well as I thought. The continuous image painted by the media is that of a war torn famine ravaged people who just keep suffering affliction after affliction.
With this image, I must admit, it is difficult to imagine them as violent and retarde.d.
But thank you for your input.

I know you guys had a real struggle for Independence, I read quite a lot of books and novels when I was young about Local Kenyan guerrilla and how they fought bravely against the colonialists, despite all the odds against them.

Respect to your National Heros man.

SirWere:

I guess I don't know Somalian as well as I thought. The continuous image painted by the media is that of a war torn famine ravaged people who just keep suffering affliction after affliction.
With this image, I must admit, it is difficult to imagine them as violent and retarde.d.
But thank you for your input.

I know you guys had a real struggle for Independence, I read quite a lot of books and novels when I was young about Local Kenyan guerrilla and how they fought bravely against the colonialists, despite all the odds against them.

Respect to your National Heros man.

Whenever you see Somalis ranting on the net or IRL always remember they've fought everyone at one time -and lost. Ethiopia, Kenya,UN forces and US rangers in 93 (they lost very badly,btw) and IIRC Djiboutians in the 70s who are not strictly Somalis but a Kushite group called Afars,like first cousins. Abdi , for reasons of his own regarded their land as his.

kikuyu1:


Whenever you see Somalis ranting on the net or IRL always remember they've fought everyone at one time -and lost. Ethiopia, Kenya,UN forces and US rangers in 93(they lost very badly,btw) and IIRC Djiboutians in the 70s who are not strictly Somalis but a Kushite group called Afars,like first cousins. Abdi , for reasons of his own regarded their land as his.

• USA didn't won the war against Somalia in the 1993. USA never won a war by herself in the 20th and 21th century AD.

• Djiboutians aren't Afar only. They are Somalians, Afars and few Hararis).

Hati13:

•[b] USA didn't won the war against Somalia in the 1993. [/b]USA never won a war by herself in the 20th and 21th century AD.

• Djiboutians aren't Afar only. They are Somalians, Afars and few Hararis).

Check how many militiamen were KIA in that one night called Malintii Ranger,Day of the Rangers. My info is at least 800 dead while some 20 US servicemen died.

kikuyu1:


Check how many militiamen were KIA in that one night called Malintii Ranger,Day of the Rangers. My info is at least 800 dead while some 20 US servicemen died.

I'm talking about war, not battle. Even if USA had won some battles in Somalia that time, in the end they didn't achieve their objectives in the war.