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12 Pivotal Moments Pre- And Post-Kenyan Independence

12 Pivotal Moments Pre- And Post-Kenyan Independence

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This East African nation is often referred to as the cradle of humanity from which all humans descend. Kenya celebrated 51 years of independence from Great Britain on Dec. 12. Here are 12 pivotal moments pre-and-post Kenyan independence.

Sources: About.com, BBC News, The Guardian

For additional reading, go to Africa.com.

Menengai crater
Henri Bergius/flickr

1. Arab traders arrived

During the 600s Arab traders began settling along Kenya’s coastline and started setting up trading stations with the Arab world, Persia and India.

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.en.wikipedia.org

2. British rule

After the Portuguese attempted and failed in the 1500s to establish a colony in what is now Kenya, the British succeeded in 1895 with the formation of the British East African Protectorate. British settlers begin arriving. It took another 25 years, but in 1920, Kenya officially became a crown colony administered by a British governor.

A kenyan slum Thinkstock
A kenyan slum
Thinkstock

3. Independence struggle begins

In 1944, 24 years after Kenya came under colonial rule, the Kenyan African Union (KAU) formed to campaign for African independence, and became the first of its kind on the continent. This was the first African appointment to a legislative council. In 1947, Jomo Kenyatta, who later became Kenya’s first president, assumed leadership of the Kenyan African Union.

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.en.wikipedia.org

5. Mau Mau campaign

In the 1950s, shortly after the Kenyan African Union was established, a secret Kikuyu guerrilla group known as Mau Mau begin a violent campaign against white settlers in an effort to re-control their land. The movement was not only comprised of men, women also participated as pictured here. The rebellion lasted until 1956. Kenyatta was arrested for his involvement with the group during this time.

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.en.wikipedia.org

6. Independence granted

Kenyatta was released from jail in 1961 around the time Great Britain began prepping Kenya for independence, which came on Dec 12, 1963. Kenyatta was installed as president in 1964 and the Republic of Kenya was officially formed.

Uhuru+Kenyatta+Apr+16+2013

6. How Independence Day is celebrated today

Dec 12. is a national holiday in Kenya and one of the country’s most important holidays. Known as Jamhuri Day from the Swahili word for “republic,” it is a day of parties, feasts, parades and political speeches that is celebrated by nearly all Kenyans, from rural areas to cities.

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.en.wikipedia.org

7. Post Independence: change in power

In 1978, Kenyatta died in office and was succeeded by vice president Daniel arap Moi, who began a 24-year reign that was marred by extreme corruption.

Thinkstock Nairobi
Thinkstock
Nairobi

8. Al-Qaeda attacks

In August 1998, Kenya and Tanzania were rocked by duel terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda operatives. In Nairobi, the U.S. Embassy was bombed, killing 224 people. The bomb was delivered via truck to the rear entrance of the embassy and exploded around 10:35 a.m. local time. In addition to killing 224 people, another 4,650 plus were injured, CNN reported. 

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.en.wikipedia.org

9. Another change in power

In December, 2002 the winds of political change again blew, and Mwai Kibaki won a landslide victory, ending Daniel arap Moi’s 24-year reign.

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.en.wikipedia.org

10. Election violence

When Kibaki ran again for president in 2007, the elections turned violent and some 1500 people died in the disputed presidential elections. Later, those held accountable were charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

kenya-today.com
kenya-today.com

11. A Kenyatta is back in office and terrorists hit a mall

Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s first president, won the presidential election in 2013, collecting just more than 50 percent of the vote. That year, al-Shabab militants seized control of a shopping mall in Nairobi and killed more than 60 people.

kenya_mall_attack_181419535_fullwidth_620x350

12. More violence in 2014

Several countries issued travel warnings against Kenya following a number of attacks on hotels and police stations that killed more than 48 people in 2014. The attacks were blamed on Somali militants. President Uhuru Kenyatta appeared before the International Criminal Court in the Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity over the 2007-2008 post-election election violence. Prosecutors dropped the charges in December, 2014.