Economic development in Kenya

Question 1

Provide examples of economic policies.

Answer 1

• The Indian acquisition Act (1896) empowered the authorities to take over land for the railway, government constructions and public utilities.
• The land regulation Act (1897) allowed the government to offer a certificate of acquisition and a lease of 99 years. It encouraged settlers to take up land left ‘vacant’ by the Gikuyu due to drought and famine.
• The East African Order in Council (1901) defined crownland as ‘all public land’ The government could take away any land at will, sell it or lease it for use by settlers.
• The Crown land ordinance of 1902 allowed the government to sell or lease crown land to Europeans at 2 rupees per 100 acres or rent it at 15 rupees per 100 acres annually.

Question 2

What were the impacts of the colonial land policies?

Answer 2

• The land policies put Africans at the mercy of the colonial government i.e.
• They lost their land and were denied the right to own land in the reserves. This created a sense of insecurity and bitterness,
• By 1914, 5 million acres of land had been taken from the Africans and lord
• Delamere and captain Grogan owned 100,000 and 200,000 acres respectively.

Question 3

What led to the formulation of the Devonshire White Paper?

Answer 3

• Conflict between European settlers, Asians and Africans on land had intensified.
• In 1922 Sir Edward Northey was accused of having given too much power to the settlers.

Question 4

What was the Devonshire White Paper a reaction to?

Answer 4

• The following reforms took place in 1922
• Governor Northey was removed and was replaced with Sir Robert Cornydon.
• Racial segregation was abandoned in Kenya apart from White highlands
• Four Asians were elected to the legislative Council which had initially been dominated by the British.
  -In reaction to this, in March 1923 a delegation was sent to London by the settlers to settle scores with the secretary for colonies, the Duke of Devonshire. The outcome of this meeting was a fundamental set of principals referred to as ‘The Devonshire white Paper’

Question 5

What were the terms of the Devonshire White Paper

Answer 5

• The Kenya highlands were to be exclusively for white settlers.
• Indians could elect five members to the Legco on a communal roll.
• The European settlers demand for self government in Kenya was rejected.
• Racial discrimination in all the residential areas plus restrictions on immigration was abolished.
• The interests of the Africans were to be given priority before those of the other races in the event of conflict, for Kenya is an African country and interests of the Africans were paramount.

Question 5

What were the implications of the Devonshire White Paper to the indians?

Answer 5

• Opposed the total settler dominance in Kenya by calling for equality for all races.
• They opposed the fact that the government was inviting more settlers to check Indian migration in Kenya.
• They demanded for direct and adequate representation in the Legco, based on common elections. The Indian congress refused to cooperate with the government
• They opposed the separate taxation and education for Europeans and Indian.

Question 6

What was the Implication of the Devonshire White Paper to the settlers?

Answer 6

• They opposed the Indian call for equality and termed it as unrealistic and wishful thinking
• They felt that racial discrimination would be justified since European culture was superior
  They claimed that they had a moral right to protect African interests. They’d better listen to Africans that Indians.
• They felt the highlands were theirs and they had a legal claim over them

Question 7

What was the implication of the Devonshire on Africans??

Answer 7

• Wanted their land back
• Abolition of the Kipande and squatters system
  African representation in the government
• They wanted to be given freedom to offer labour the way they wished

Question 8

What were the results of the Devonshire White Paper?

Answer 8

• Denied the Asians the right to settle in the highlands which were reserved for Europeans settlement.
• It intensified the rivalry between the Indians and settlers leading to Indian refusal to take up seats in the Legco.
• Led to the appointment of John Arthur (missionary) to represent the African interests in the Legco.
  The whites in the colony felt betrayed by the paper as they did not achieve their goal of self independence.
• The problem of land and labour affecting the Africans was not resolved
  Kenya was declared an African territory and the interests of the Africans became paramount whenever there was racial conflict.

Question 9

Provide examples of agricultural developments in Kenya?

Answer 9

• Sisal was introduced into Kenya from Tanganyika in 1893 by Richard Hindorf, a Germany Doctor. It was initially grown around Thika. By 1920 it was 2nd to coffee. It was mainly grown by the Europeans.
• The main sisal growing areas were Baringo, Koibatek, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Ruiru, Thika, Murang’a, Voi, Taita Taveta.
• Africans began to grow it in 1964 but faced competition due to the introduction of artificial fibres.
• It was introduced in Kenya in 1903 around Limuru by Messes Caine Brothers. It didn’t succeed until after 1925.
• In 1925, large tea companies e.g. Brooke Bond and African Highlands Tea from India were formed. The steady high demand for tea and coffee made many farmers to grow it on large scale.

The main teabelts were Nandi, Kericho, Sotik, Nakuru, Murang’a and Kiambu.

Question 10

Provide an example of development made in transport?

Answer 10

• The Uganda Railway
• It was built between 1890 and 1901 with George Whitehouse as the engineer.
• Work was done by 32,000 Indian coolies and 5,000 clerks and craftsmen.
• It cost the British taxpayers about 6million Sterling pounds.

Question 11

What were the results of the Uganda-Railway?

Answer 11

• It led to importation of many Asians who embarked on business. They set up shops that were referred to as Dukas that catered for Africans and Europeans.
• It led to growth of urban centres e.g. Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Voi.
• It led to settlement of many Europeans in the interior who later developed large scale plantation farming on the white highlands
• It created employment for many Africans and Indians.
  It enabled the missionaries to move into the interior where they set up mission stations, churches and schools.

Question 12

What were the problems faced by the construction of the railway?

Answer 12

• Harsh climate across the coastal plains, the dry Nyika and Taru desert was intolerable due to heat and dehydration. Some areas had heavy rains.
• Tropical diseases such as smallpox, malaria and jigger attacks slowed down the progress.
• Attack by the man-eaters of Tsavo reduced the hours of work and caused mass desertions by labourers.
  Shortages of food, water and medicine.
• Railway materials and equipments were usually delayed and were costly.