The Role Of European Colonialism In Kenya

Before the legitimate colonization of Kenya took place, many different peoples settled in the area. Cushitic-speaking people from northern Africa settled in a region of East Africa, which is the region that is now considered Kenya, around 2000 BC. Due to Kenya’s proximity to the Arabian Peninsula, by the first century AD, Arabian traders frequented the Kenyan coast, eventually establishing Arab and Persian colonies. In addition to the Arabs and Persians, during the first century AD, the Bantu and Nilotic people also moved into this specific East African region, settling inland. It was because of these peoples settling down here that the Swahili language was formed, as it evolved from a mixture of the Arabic and Bantu languages. Swahili developed as a lingua franca for trade for the different peoples. However, the dominance of the Arabs on the Kenyan coast was cut short when the Portuguese arrived in 1498. The UK would come in during the 19th century to act as another European influence. …show more content…
European powers held this conference, which divided East Africa into territories of influence for the first time. In 1895, the East African Protectorate was founded by the British Government, and soon after this, they would open the highlands to white settlers. These new settlers were allowed a voice in government though, until 1944, Africans and Asians who lived there were banned from direct political participation. Also during this period of time, thousands of Indians were brought to Kenya to work on the construction of the Kenya Uganda Railroad Line, which would eventually lead to these Indians settling in the region and inviting their family to also