Fight For Freedom

The first pan-Kenyan nationalist movement was led by Harry Thuku to protest against the white-settler dominance in the government. His party, the East African Association, traced its roots to the early Kikuyu political groups and was supported by several influential and militant Asians. Thuku was arrested by the colonial authorities in 1922 and was exiled for seven years. His arrest resulted in the massacre of twenty-three Africans outside Nairobi's Central police station. He was released only after agreeing to cooperate with the colonials, a decision that cost him the leadership of the Kikuyus. This incident united Kenya's African communities firmly together in their demands for freedom.

Jomo Kenyatta, a former water meter inspector with the Nairobi Municipal Council, filled the leadership vacuum after Thuku. He quickly became the first propaganda secretary of the East African Association, and later the secretary-general of the Kikuyu Central Association. In 1929, Kenyatta sailed to England to present the Association's case for freedom directly to the Colonial office, the British parliament and the people. The Carter Land Commission was convened in 1931 to adjudicate land interests and Kenyatta once again presented evidence supporting the Association's cause. The findings of the Commission only served to widen the gulf between Africans and Europeans, however, for it marked out permanent barriers between the white-owned farms and the African Land Units or "reserves." These boundries became law five years later. As a result, the number of political groups demanding greater African participation increased dramatically. The colonial government quickly squelched this mobilization effort by banning all African political associations in 1940.

World War II only increased African discontent as Kenyans fought side by side with their colonial masters. During the five year conflict Africans were exposed to many new influences and developed an awareness that the white man was far from invincible. Empowered by this new outlook, African veterans went home to Kenya with the realization that a return to the status-quo was impossible. As discontent grew, the tide of freedom swept across Africa.

Jomo Kenyatta continued as a vocal leader in the African quest for freedom. In 1946, he returned from his years in exile to unite the various African political and ethnic factions. Kenyatta assumed leadership on the Kenya African Union (KAU) and gave a common voice to the disparate groups. The attitude of the colonial authorities hardened as the KAU grew in number and intensity. Police suppressed KAU strikes by firing on protesters and the groundwork was laid for the freedom fight.

In light of the growing tension, the Kikuyu formed secret societies united in their hatred of the white dominance. These societies encouraged oath taking ceremonies which bound the participants to kill Europeans and Africans who were thought to be collaborators. From this movement the Kikuyu dominated Mau Mau organization had been formed. Its goals were considered violent and the majority of the victims were Africans loyal to their Christian church or the authorities. Many Kikuyu, including Kenyatta, endorsed a peaceful, more conciliatory path to economic, social, and political equality. Early in 1952, the Kenya Citizens Association was formed in an effort to promote change based on persuasion and compromise rather than confrontation and violence.

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