STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE IN KENYA FROM 1939 – 1963 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE IN KENYA FROM 1939 – 1963 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. a) State five methods which were used by African nationalists in Kenya during
the struggle for independence.

1. The nationalists attended constitutional conference to present their grievances.
2. Africans in the legislative council put pressure on Britain to hasten her – decolonization program. iii) The nationalists used the trade unions to popularize the cause of the struggle among workers.
3. They organized strikes and boycotts.
4. They enlisted public sympathy through the press.
5. They used violence against the colonial administration.
6. They formed political parties that coordinated the nationalists’ activities.

b) Explain five factors which promoted the growth of African nationalist activities in Kenya between 1945 and 1963.

i) The experience of ex – service men made them more informed in world affairs on their return, they were less inclined to resume subordinate status in the colonial set – up, and thus, informed the vanguard of the liberation front, ii) The labour government, which came to power in 1945 was more responsive to the demands for self rule in the colonies. It created a favourable climate for the nationalists activities in Kenya, iii) The constitutional changes, which were initiated in Kenya by the labour government promoted nationalists activities. For example, Lylteton constitution of 1954 provided for election for Africans to the legislative council for the first time.

1. The United Nations Organization (U.N.O.) recommended for self – determination for the colonized communities as a right. IT also provided a forum where owners were urged to liberated the colonized peoples.
2. The example provided by the India’s and Ghana independence in 1947 and 1957 respectively showed African Nationalists in Kenya that independence was achievable and made them more determined in their struggle, the leadership in India and Ghana gave moral and material support to the liberation struggle in. Kenya, vi) The Mau Mau movement consolidated the nationalists struggle and brought

into direct confrontation with the colonial thus giving an impetus to the nationalist struggle,

vii) Lifting of bans on political parties in 1945 – 1955 and 1960 by the colonial government enabled the African nationalists to co – ordinate the nationalists’ activities in Kenya viii) The activities of the trade unions promoted the growth of African nationalists activities especially in urban centers.

 ix) Education

1. Apart from trade union movement, explain six other factors which hastened the achievement of independence in Kenya after 1945.
   1. The experience of ex – service men in the Second World War exposed the myth of white supremacy and thus Africans rejected their domination. They also had military training which they used in their struggle for independence, ii) Attainment of independence by India in 1947 gave the nationalist a strong urge to fight for their own liberation.

iii) Kenya African Union mobilized Africans against colonial rules. It also influenced the colonial office to institute constitutional changes, iv) The Mau Mau uprising proved to the colonial office that unless Kenya was granted independence it would be difficult to run the colony.

1. The elected African members of legislative council put pressure on the ccolonial government to grant independence to Kenya.
2. The libertaion of Ghana in 1957 was a big influence on the other colonies like Kenya. The President of Ghana Kwame Nkurma took it upon himself to champion the cause of the nationalists struggle in other parts of Africa.

1. The formation of nationalist parties e.g. KANU, KADU and APP intensified the struggle which led to the final attainment of independence. viii) The charasmatic role of Jomo Kenyatta managed to unite KEnyan against colonial rule, ix) Africans nationalists in Kenya received support from

Afro Asian people solidarity organized and social states, ix) Pan – African movement inspired African nationalists in their struggle for independence. They organized conferences where they planned their struggles:

xi) The international opinion after 1945 was against colonialism. The British contributed to the war.

1. a) State five grievances of the Africans which were voiced by Kenya African

   Union (KAU).

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   1. Inadequate African representation in the legislative council; ii) Lack of African participation in the governance.
   1. Existence/use of the Kipande systems. iv) Lack of educational opportunities for Africans.
   2. Poor working conditions.
   3. Land alienation vii) Racial discrimination. viii) Undermining cultural practices of Africans. ix)

 Lack of compensation for the ex – service men

x) Imposition of taxes /forced labours. xi) Free labour for communal projects.

b) Explain five ways in which Kenyatta contributed to the nationalist movement in Kenya upto1963.

 i) He was a founder member of the Kikuyu Central Association that fought for the rights of Africans in Kenya, ii) He started the KCA newspaper Muigwithania through which he articulated the grievances of the Africans, iii) During his study in Britain between 1929 and 1946, he presented the plight of Africans in Kenya in many international forums, iv) He became the president of KAU in June 1947 and endeavored to transform it into a mass party.

1. His detention by the colonial government turned him into a national hero and future leader.
2. In 1961, Kenyatta was elected to the legislative assembly and he attempted to reconcile KANU and KADU.
3. In 1962, Kenyatta led KANU delegated to the second Lancaster house conference to work out constitutional changes for Kenya‘s independence, viii) When KANU won election in 1963, Jomo

   Kenyatta became the Prime Minister.

1. a) Name three political parties which struggled for independence in

Kenya after

1945.

1. Kenya African Union (KAU) ii) Kenya African National Union

(KANU) iii)
Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) iv)

 African People Party (APP)

b) Explain six grievances which African nationalist in Kenya had against colonial rule between 1945 and 1963.

1. The African nationalist complained about Africans land that was alienated by white settlers. They wanted this land to be restored to Africans.
2. They complained about lack of effective representation in the Legco. iii)

Poor working conditions and poor salaries made Africans discontented. iv) Imprisonment of Kenyatta and other nationalists who had been imprisoned

after the declaration of the state of emergency displeased the nationalists.

1. The nationalists wanted the state emergency to be lifted to facilitate free movement and formation of political parties.
2. The nationalists complained against the payment of the tax / hat tax / matiti tax. vii) The nationalist were opposed to communal labour which was used to develop public facilities.
   viii)
   The African nationalists demanded the granting of complete independence of Kenya.
3. The Kipande system was cumbersome, humiliating and restricting to the freedom of movement,
4. Unfufilled reward of promises to be participated in the world war. xi)

Africans were not allowed to grow cash crops.

1. Identify two ways in which the trade union movement contributed to the struggle for independence in Kenya.
   1. Trade unions sensitized workers about the importance of joining political parties that struggled for independence.
   2. Trade union contributed money to political parties to enable them sustain the struggle for independence.
   3. Trade unions organized strikes and boycotts to oppose some politics of the colonial government, iv) Trade unions provided relevant training ground for potential leaders,

 v) Release of political leaders e.g. Harry Thuku

1. State two main roles that Thomas J. Mboya played in the Kenya African

Union (K.A.U)

1. He was director of publicity in 1952 and opposed the KAU policies.
   
2. He became treasurer of the party in 1953 thereby mobilizing financial support for KAU.
3. He made KAU have a national outlook / revitalized KAU.

1. a) What were the grievances of African Nationalists against the colonial

   government upto 1945.

   1. Land alienation ii) Forced labour iii) The Kipande systems
   2. Interference with African culture iv) Racial discrimination
   3. Poor social services
   4. Payment of taxes

viii). Poor wages/working condition ix)

 Harassment by colonialism administrators.

b) Explain the political developments which hastened the achievement of independence in Kenya between 1945 -1963.

1. The return of ex – servicemen after the Second World War exposed the myth of white supremacy making Africans ready to fight them. They also acquired military expertise, which enabled them to organize their assistance.
2. Failure by the colonial government to reward the African men on return embittered them, iii)
   Change by the Government from conservative labour party in Britain made her adopt sympathetic attitude towards the nationalists struggle in her colonies such as Kenya/Lancaster House Conference 1960/1962.

iv} The establishment of political parties by African Nationalists e.g. KASU,

KAU

Nairobi Peoples Convention Party, KANU, KADU, APP enhanced mobilization of the masses
against colonial rule.

 iv) The Mau Mau uprising forced the British to realize the need to granting

Kenya Independence, vi) Nomination and election of Africans to

Legco enabled them to use the

House as a forum to agitate for independence.

1. Emergency of trade union movement, which helped to mobilize workers

to fight for their rights,

1. Pan African Movement and other global bodies helped in the establishment of Afro – Asian peoples Solidarity organization, which supported the course of African nationalist in Kenya, ix) The return of Jomo Kenyatta from UK in 1946 strengthened the nationalistic movement in Kenya.

x) Independence of other countries e.g. Ghana and India inspired African nationalists in Kenya to fight for their independence (Kwame or Nehru) xi) The formation of the UNO and the pressure it exerted on the European powers to decolonize.

• Why was the nomination of Eliud Mathu to the Legco movement?
  • It was important because, for the first time African interest were represented by African themselves.

• Give the main reason why African nationalists in Kenya formed the Kenya

  African Democratic Union (KADU) in 1960.

  • KADU was formed as an alliance of minority ethnic political groups to protect the right/ interest of the minority groups against possible domination of KANU/majority groups.

• a) What factors undermined African nationalist activities in Kenya between 1939 and 1963

1. Harassment, detention and jailing of the nationalist leaders e.g. Jomo

Kenyatta, Oneko and Ngei.

1. Banning of political organization especially during the inter war and emergence period.
2. Disunity among the African nationalists/tribalism iv) Lack of finances and other resources with which tornanage the struggle.
   

African nationalists were denied access to the mass media and therefore could not articulate their grievances.

 vi) Use of the mass media by the colonial government to discredit the

activities of the nationalists, vii) Betrayal of the African nationalists by other people especially the home guards/loyalists, viii) Lack of support from some communities from within and out of the country. ix) Illiteracy among Africans.

 x) Restriction of movement.

b) Describe the role of African elected members of parliament played in the struggle for independence up to 1963.

1. Elected members formed a pressure group to demand for greater political rights for Africans.
2. They formed the core team which pressurized for independence.
3. They made known the grievances of the Africans in international forums they networked with other African nationalist elsewhere e.g. Ghana and Nigeria to hasten achievement of independence in Kenya, iv) They

sought for the release of Jomo Kenyatta and other imprisoned/detained/ African nationalist.

1. They educated and created awareness among the masses to the nationalist

struggle.

1. They popularized Kenyatta and made him to accepted as the nationalist hero, vii) They took part in the formation of the independence constitution.

• In what ways did the Lennax – Boyd Constitution contribute to the constitutional changes that led to the attainment of independence in Kenya?

1. The constitution led to increased number of elected Africans in the

Legislative Council, ii) It opened up branches in various parts of the country to educate the

African representation in the Legislative Council in various ways.

1. It supported Eliud Mathu who was appointed to the Legislative Council in various ways.

   iv) It represented the grievances of the Africans internationally of its support the activities of the Mau Mau Freedom fighters by giving them moral and material support,

It provided leadership for the nationalist struggle.

vi) It laid the foundation for the formation of KANU which led Kenya to independence. vii) It organized allies in most parts of the country to create awareness on the rights of the Africans.

1. It held discussions with the colonial government about Kenya‘s political future.
2. It supported trade unions.

b) Explain five constitutional changes which took place in Kenya between 1954

and 1963.

i) The Lottleton constitution of 1954 led to the appointment of the first

African

Minister and nomination of other African leaders to the Legislative Council iii) In 1957 the first all races elections were held and Africans were elected in

8 constituencies.

iii) The Lennox Boyd constitution gave more seats to Africans from 8 and 14 members. For the ^ first time more Africans were elected to the Legislative Council iv) The first Lancaster House Conference of 1960 gave Africans more seats in the Legco. Thus African representation move from 14 to 33 members, iv)
In 1960 the state for emergency was lifted and Africans were allowed to form country wide political parties. KANU and KADU were formed,

 v) The second Lancaster Conference drew up the independence constitution

Kenya was to become Majimbo/ a federal state, vii) In 1961 the first general elections were held and KANU won but refused to form the government until the release of Kenyatta / KADU formed the government with Ngala as leader of government business.

viii) KANU and KADU formed a coalition government with Kenyatta as the first Prime Minister, ix) On December 12th, 1963 Kenya attained full independence.

1. a) What were the three main features of the independence constitution of

   Kenya?

   1. It provided for the establishment of a federal government.
   2. It spelt out that the party with the majority forms the government/multiparty.
   3. It spelt out the rights and obligations of individuals/citizens.
   4. It provided for the establishment of National Assembly consisting of the

   Senate and the House of Representatives,

   It provided for opposition/post of Prime Minister to head the government and a Governor General to head the state, vi) It spelt out the powers and responsibilities of the central government and regional governments.

   vii) It established regional government with regional Assemblies and presidents. viii) It divided responsibilities between regional governments and the central government.

b) Explain six powers that constitution of Kenya gives to the president.

i) Powers prorogue parliament/dissolve the National Assembly. ii) Powers to- appoint and dismiss the Vice President and minister. iii) Powers to appoint and dismiss senior public officials/servants, iv) Powers to maintain peace in the country by upholding the rule of law/detention.

1. Powers to preserve public security through declaring the state of emergency. vi) Powers to permit ministers and other officers in the civil service to be out of the country.

   vii) Powers to form government after a general election. viii) Powers to declare war or make peace with enemies. ix) Power to establish commissions of enquiry to investigate issues of national importance.

2. Powers to perform official opening of parliament after general elections.
3. Powers to nominate members of parliament after general elections.

1. a) What major reform result from the Lyttleton Cosntitution of 1954 in

   Kenya?

   1. I t led to the establishment of multi – racial council of minister made up of official and non official members. This new council replaced the executive

 council,

1. B. A. Ohanga one of the nominated African memberswas made minister for community Development and African Affairs,
2. Africans were allowed to form political organizations whose functions were confined to district levels.
3. The government provided for elections of eight Africans to the legislative councils.
4. It led to the establishment of an Advisory Council to discuss government

policies.

b) Explain six ways through which Thomas Joseph Mboya contributed the struggle for independence in Kenya,

1. He was a member of the Kenya Local Government Workers Union

(KLGWU) and Kenya Federation of Labour (KFL).

1. He protested against colonial separation of the Agikuyu, Aembu and

Ameru from other communities in Nairobi iii) He was a member of KAU and became its director of publicity in 1952 he was later elected
treasure of the party.

1. He protested against government arrest, detention and torture of African workers.
2. He solicited for financial and moral support to KFL from international trade unions and organizations.
3. He protested the restriction of Africans to grow cash crops.
4. He campaigned for the release of detained unionists and political leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta viii)
   He facilitated trade union in many parts of

Kenya. ix) He exposed African problems and sought help from Pan African.

1. In 1957, having been elected into Legislative council, he championed their needs such as involvements in government affairs.
2. He was elected Secretary General of KANU in 1960. xii) He condemned the reservation of white highlands for Europeans settlers.

14. Explain the functions and powers of the President in Kenya,

 i) He is the Head of state and symbol of national unity (Head of

Government). ii) He is responsible for making and ratifying international treaties and ugreemen (if one unites “elects”). iii) The president appoints the cabinet and

Assistant Ministers from among members of the

National Assembly iv) The president has the powers to summon, prologue and dissolve parliament.

1. The president has the powers to appoint disicple and remove senior public servants such as Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors and Judges..
2. He nominates twelve people to the National Assembly to represent special interests vii)
   He grants honors to deserving citizens.

   viii) He has power of clemency. ix) He presides over important state occasions.

 x) He represents the country in international conference, he is chief diplomat.

15 a) State three ways through which a person can become a member of

parliament in Kenya.

i) By being elected to represent a constituency, ii) By being nominated by the President.

 iii) By virtue of office e.g. Ex-officio (Attorney Genera!),

b) Name two Institutions which make up the Executive Arm of the

Government

i) Presidency ii)

Cabinet

 iii) Civil service