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KAU is Founded
The Kenya African Union was founded in 1944 -
Fifth Pan- African Congress In Manchester House
One of the organisers of the Fifth Pan African Congress held in Manchester 1945 was the Kenyan Jomo Kenyatta/ -
Jomo Kenyatta Returns To Kenya
Jomo Kenyatta returned to Kenya in late 1946 after fifteen years abroad. -
Jomo Kenyatta Is Elected President Of The KAU
In 1947, Jomo Kenyatta was elected President of the Kenya African Union -
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Kenyatta Builds Support
Kenyatta became a leading nationalist , touring the country and building wide support from 1948-1952 -
The Mau Mau Insurgency Begins
In 1951 , what the colonial administration called the "Mau Mau Insurgencey" began. The movement called themselves " Muingi" ( The Movement) or " Muma wa Uigiano " ( The Oath of Unity). Membership of this radical movement,dedicated to the overthrow of British rule in Kenya , if necessary by violent means, was mainly drawn from the Kikuyu tribe - of which Kenyatta was a member -
A State Of Emergency Is Declared In Kenya and Leaders of the KAU Are Arrested
On the 20th of October 1952 a state of emergency was declared in Kenya because of the threat to law and order by the Mau Mau. That same month Kenyatta and all the leaders of the KAU were arrested. With five others Kenyatta was convicted of " managing and becoming a member of the Mau Mau society" and was sentenced to seven years of hard labour- Probably wasn't part of the Mau Mau -
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British Troops Are Sent To Kenya To Counter Insurgency
Some 55,000 British troops were used to counter insurgency in Kenya ,although no more that 10,000 were in action at any one time. Most of the burden fell on Kenyan police. The fighting went on , often with brutality on both sides, until 1960. British military victory came at a high price : almost all KAU demands were conceded.
32 Europeans had been killed whereas official Kenyan casualties came to 11,000, but estimates put the number at 20,000 -
Kenyatta Is Released And Is Granted A Seat On The Legislative Council
Kenyatta was released in 1961. He took a seat on the Legislative Council -
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Kenyatta Leads KANU Talks About Independence In London
Kenyatta lead the Kenya African National Union ( KANU) delegation to the Lancaster House talks in London in 1962 and 1963. The talks included discussion abut the constitution of an Independent Kenya -
Kenyatta Becomes Prime Minister
In May 1963 KANU won the elections and on the 1st of June 1963 , Kenyatta became the first Prime Minister of Independent Kenya
One in power he was conciliatory to many Kenyan Groups i.e. the Luo people who might have cause to dread his new authority.
He tried to persuade white settlers stay in Kenya though the issue of ownership of the best land was a concern. He distanced himself from the Mau Mau . He maintained good relations with the British Government despite his years of detention. -
Kenya Becomes An Independent Country
Kenya Became An Independent Country on 12th December 1963 -
Kenyatta Bans The Only Other Political Party
In 1969 Kenya became a one party state after Kenyatta banned the only other political party