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Ruled by Oman
The region is ruled by Oman. After nearly 3 years of war, Arabs take over Mombasa -
British Protectorate
The Mombasa region is under British protectorate from 9 February 1824 to 25 July 1826. -
German Coastal Regions
Germany hands over rule of the coastal regions to the British Empire; in return Germany takes control of Tanganyika -
Waiyaki Wa Henya
Waiyaki Wa Henya (a Kikuyu chief) burns down Lugard’s fort -
Waiyaki Abducted
Waiyaki abducted and killed by the British -
Jomo Kinyatta
Jomo Kinyatta is born in the early to mid 1890s. -
British East Africa
British East Africa (modern-day Kenya and Uganda) becomes official -
First Railway
The first railway in Kenya (from Mombasa to Lake Victoria) is completed -
The East Africa Protectorate allows white settles
The East Africa Protectorate allows white settles to move to the more fertile highlands and farm there. -
Coffee
British settlers start growing coffee in Kenya -
Nairobi replaces Mombasa
Nairobi replaces Mombasa as the centre of colonial power -
Kenyans fight for Britain
200,000 Kenyans fight for Britain in WWI. 50,000 die -
First African elections
First African elections to the Legislative Council -
Kenyatta Freed
Kenyatta is freed from jail and assumes presidency of Kanu. -
Kenyan Independence
Kenya granted independence. KANU (Kenya African National Union) forms an emergency government with Kenyatta as prime minister. -
Republic of Kenya
Republic of Kenya formed. KANU’s leader Kenyatta becomes president, and Odinga vice-president. -
Kenya People’s Union
A rival party, the Kenya People’s Union (KPU) is formed by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga -
Tom Mboya
Assassination of government minister Tom Mboya sparks ethnic unrest. KPU banned and Odinga arrested. Kanu only party to contest elections, Kenya is now a single party state -
Kenyatta re-elected.
Kenyatta is re-elected. -
Kenyatta dies
Kenya's president, Jomo Kenyatta, died at his home in Mombasa. -
Daniel arap Moi
Former Vice-President Daniel arap Moi becomes President -
One-party State
Kenya officially becomes a one-party state after the National Assembly amends the constitution. -
Military Coup Attempt
Members of the Kenyan Air Force attempt a military coup, suppressed by the Kenyan Army – Private Hezekiah Ochuka rules Kenya for about six hours. -
Out of Africa
‘Out of Africa’, starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep and filmed in Kenya, is released -
International Allegations
International allegations that opposition groups suppressed, and some criticism of human rights issues. -
Dr. Richard Leakey
Moi appoints Dr. Richard Leakey the director of Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS). Leakey fires 2,000 game-park officials who are suspected of helping poachers kill rhinos and elephants for their ivory tusks and valuable horns. -
Robert Ouko Dies
Death of the foreign minister, Robert Ouko, in possibly suspicious circumstances, leads to increased dissent against government. -
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (Ford) formed by six opposition leaders, including Oginga Odinga. Party outlawed and members arrested. Creditors suspend aid to Kenya amid fierce international condemnation. -
Climate Change Conference
Nairobi Conference of Global Warming and Climate Change represents Kenya taking a leading role on climate change in Africa. -
Constitution Re-amended
The constitution is re-amended. Kenya is no longer a single-party state -
2,000 people killed
Approximately 2,000 people killed in tribal conflict in the west of the country. -
Moi Re-elected
Moi wins another 5-year term in office -
Conference on Policy Options
Conference on Policy Options and Responses to Climate Change in Nairobi continues Kenya’s international Climate Change role. -
Safina Launched
New opposition party - Safina - launched by palaeontologist Richard Leakey. Party refused official registration until November 1997. -
Demonstrations Calling for Democratic Reform
Demonstrations calling for democratic reform. World Bank withholds disbursement of $5bn in structural adjustment credit. -
Moi re-elected Again
Moi re-elected again in controversial elections (KANU party majority). -
Government Drive Against Corruption.
Moi appoints Richard Leakey to head government drive against corruption. -
Election of President Mwai Kibaki
The candidate of NARC - National Rainbow Coalition (formed as an effect of unification of opposition parties and a faction) received majority of vote and became the third President of Kenya. The door for democracy opened wider. -
Food Crisis
Harvest failure and drought resulted in a food crisis which affected numerous dwellers of rural areas in Kenya; they were supported by UN. President Mwai Kibaki named the crisis a natural disaster. -
Wangari Maathai rewarded with the Noble Peace Prize
Kenyan environmental and political activist, Wangari Maathai, became the first African woman to be given the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace". -
Oil Contract with China
A trade contract was signed letting China to prospect for oil off the coast of Kenya. -
Elections and Aftermath Violence
In the late afternoon of 30 December 2007, the Election Commission of Kenya declared Mwai Kibaki to be the winner of the country’s election, the count of which was considered by both national and international observers as flawed, possibly rigged. Political tensions during elections led to riots and the death of more than 1,500 people. It was in fact a seven-week flood of violence in parts of the country : deaths, displacements, destruction of property, disruption of social and economic life. -
Ratification of Changed Constitution
President Mwai Kibaki ratified a new Constitution. It has limited presidential prerogatives, and empowered local government. Chapter 15 of the constitution creates two independent offices (auditor general and controller of the budget) and 10 commissions (see full list below) -
International Criminal Court issues summons into the responsibility for the 2007–2008 post-election violence
Six prominent Kenyans have to appear in front of the ICC on the basis that there existed reasonable grounds to believe that they were criminally responsible for crimes against humanity, pursuant to article 7 of the Rome Statute. The men were: Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, President of the National Security Committee, Hussein Ali, former education minister William Ruto, radio journalist Joshua Arap SaSang and minister for Industrialisation, Henry Kosge -
British responsibility in the Mau Mau uprising
Kenyan Veterans win the right to sue the British government in a British court for severe abuse they suffered during the Mau Mau Rebellion. -
Troops in Somalia
After a series of cross-border raids by the Somalia-based Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, Kenya dispatched some 2,000 troops across the border into Somalia. -
Oil discovered in Kenya
President Kibaki hails it as a ''major breakthrough''. Launch of Lamu port project which is to become South Sudan's oil export outlet. -
Britain acknowledges responsibility
Colonial administration tortured detainees during the Mau Mau uprising. Veterans are claiming damages in the High Court in London. -
Outbreaks of violence
More than 100 people are killed in communal clashes over land and resources Coast Province. -
ICC Trial
Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta and former minister William Ruto - bitter political rivals facing trial at the International Criminal Court over the 2007 post-election violence - confirm that are forming an alliance for the 2013 election. -
Presidential Elections
Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's first president, wins presidential election with just over 50% of the vote. A challenge to the results by his main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is rejected by the Supreme Court. International Criminal Court (ICC) drops charges against Francis Muthaura, a co-accused of Mr Kenyatta, over the 2007 election violence. -
British government ... sincerely regrets
The British government says it sincerely regrets the torture of thousands of Kenyans during the suppression of the Mau Mau insurgency in the 1950s and promises £20m in compensation. -
William Ruto pleads not guilty
Deputy President William Ruto pleads not guilty to crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court. He and President Uhuru Kenyatta are accused of orchestrating violence after elections in 2007, and will be tried separately at The Hague. -
Westgate shopping mall attack
Somali al-Shabab militants seize Westgate, a Nairobi shopping mall and kill more than 60 people -
Kenya celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence
Kenya Marks 50 Years of Independence in an exuberant ceremony at a stadium outside Nairobi with a call for greater national unity to overcome longtime ethnic divisions. President Kenyatta says the way forward for Kenya is greater integration with African nations. He announced new initiatives to this end, including the easing of visa requirements for African citizens to travel to Kenya. -
United States- Africa Leaders Summit
President Obama welcomed leaders from across the African continent to the nation’s capital for a three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Discussions centered on how to encourage progress in key areas that Africans define as critical for the future of the continent: expanding trade and investment ties, engaging young African leaders, promoting inclusive sustainable development, expanding cooperation on peace and security, and gaining a better future for Africa’s next generation.
