The Impacts of the Mau Mau Rebellion on Kenya in 1950 (Research Paper Sample)

Karatina University
Itiati campus
School of education and social sciences
Bachelor of education arts
Department of humanities and languages
Wafula wayong’o hendrick
Ed/049/11
History of Kenya from 1919 to 1963
His 221
Task: discuss the causes and impacts of maumau rebellion in kenya.
Presented to: ms kavulavu
Date: 13th march 2016
Introduction.
The mau Mau movement of Kenya was a nationalist armed peasant revolt against the British colonial state, its policies and its local supporters. The overwhelming majority of the Mau Mau fighters and their supporter who formed the ‘passive wing’ came from the Kikuyu ethnic group in central province. Similarly there was also representation in the movement from the Embu, meru and kamba ethnic groups. In addition, available evidence show that some individual members of the Luo, Luhya, and even the Maasai ethnic groups participated in the revolt as well
Most of the Mau Mau guerillas were young men and landless peasants who had lost land to corrupt chiefs and other ‘landed gentry’ in central province, while others were victims of land appropriation carried out to enable European settlement. Repatriated African squatters from the White Farms in the rift valley fueled the ranks of the guerillas, as did the economically desperate and the unemployed Kikuyu in Nairobi and the surrounding urban centre. This was due to the post-world war two periods where there was massive African unemployment, along with very poor housing and high inflation.
The Mau Mau rebellion rose up around 1952. Undeniably, it was caused by the growing interest between the Kikuyu and the white European settlers in Kenya. However, despite growing unrest, there are no precise causes except for the economic, social and political tensions caused by the colonial administration in an attempt to discover the real reasons for the Mau Mau rebellion.
Arguably, one of the core reasons for the rebellion was the economic deprivation of the Kikuyu. The kikuyu had long been unhappy with White Settlers taking their land hence this economic deprivation led to vast discontent. Despite attempts to address this issue the Kikuyu were ignored. Michael Coray has argued that failing to create a system through African grievances against white settlers could be settled fairly, the colonial administrators laid a platform for the development of the Mau Mau rebellion.
Social conditions of the Africans in Kenya cannot be ignored when addressing the outbreak of the Mau Mau rebellion. Harsh restrictions were placed upon Africans; they were taxed heavily considering they were earning only a fifth of the wages white settlers and racial tensions increased. White settlers saw the African as agricultural competitors hence heavy restrictions were placed on them. Disciplinary measures were introduced on peasants who were often tortured and mistreated by White settlers. These horrific treatments only angered the Africans further and caused greater discontent between Africans and the Setttlers.
The vast growth of Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) also played a major role in the rise of the revolt. KCA made its aims clear to reclaim land taken from them hence creating protests which demonstrates the unrest among the Kikuyu prior to the rebellion. They also demanded higher wages and the right to grow coffee again. Despite these protests, KCA was largely ignored but since their grievances originated in the 1920s and 1930s, by 1952 when Mau Mau broke out, decades had passed with little changes and with little benefit to Kikuyu.
Other factors such as unemployment, poverty and overpopulation from economic deprivation furthered the outbreak of the rebellion. It caused Africans resentment and anger as they were forced to move to cities in search of employment opportunities and also run away from the overpopulation in the reserves had been ‘dumped’. In the cities, they got low paying jobs such as clerks and meters readers which could not meet there needs and those of their families.
Impacts of Mau Mau rebellion
During the mau mau rebellion, the movement ‘weight’ could be felt. Some of the most seen effects included:
Many people lost their lives which led to depopulation. About 100 Europeans and 2000 pro-British africans lost their lives. Over 10000 energetic men were killed and this lead to massive loss of productive labor led to economic decline in Kenya after 1956.
Kenyans were allowed to participate legislative in large numbers. In 1958 Lennox constitution was drawn which provide for 15 members of African Representation to the council. Members such Arap Moi, Oginga Odinga and Tom Mboya joined the Leg co and later become influential in the struggle for independence.
The rebellion led to the leaders of the Mau Mau and their accomplices being arrested and detained in prison for a long time hence the suffering and misery. Examples of the detainees include Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, and Achieng Oneko among others. Ground fighters such as Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi underwent more severe and ruthless torture with Dedan being executed.
Activities of the Mau Mau uprisings put pressure on the colonial government to the extent that Kenya got her independence in 1963. The colonial government was forced to undertake social, economic as well as political reforms. For instance, in 1958 constitutional reforms were adopted which quickened the way to multi-racial form of government in Kenya. For the first time, Africans were included in the local and national politics.
Mau Mau rebellion affected the settlemen...