HISTORY OF KENYA PRIOR TO 1884
MODULE NOTES
,HISTORY OF KENYA PRIOR TO 1884
Lesson 1:
This course deals with the history of Kenya from the earliest time to the present era. In
the first lectures the candidates are introduced to the history of Kenya. This entails
studying the Kenyan environment and the early inhabitants in East Africa. This is
important as it lays the ground for the other themes of the study which include:
• Emergence of Kenyan communities
• Production, distribution and exchange patterns of the pre-colonial communities
• Early urbanisation
• The advert of colonialism
• Colonial economy
• Social and political developments during colonialism
• Decolonisation process in Kenya.
• Post independent - (social economic and political challenges and its impact in Kenya).
• Globalisation and its impact in Kenya.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the session, the candidate should be able to:
1. Discuss the major economic resources of Kenya.
2. Describe the physical landscape of Kenya.
THE KENYAN ENVIRONMENT
The total surface area of the Republic of Kenya covers 582,646 square kilometres. Out
of this area, the water surface occupies 13,393 square kilometres comprising rivers,
lakes, and part of the Indian Ocean.
It is worthwhile not that the current boundaries of the country have a long history. They
are the product of state treaties signed between the British government, German and
the Sultan of Zanzibar in 19th century known as the Anglo German Agreements.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the history of Kenya has been shaped to a large
extent by the policies made by the British government during the period of colonialism.
,GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
Kenya can be divided into four geographical regions, namely;
• The coastal plain
• The arid low plateaus
• Kenya highlands
• Lake Victoria basin
THE COASTAL PLAIN
The coastal plain comprises of a thin belt, less than 60 km in width. It is marked by coral
reefs, mangrove and other tropical trees. Unfortunately for Kenya, our coastal plain
cannot boast of many natural harbours. However, there are two main rivers that drain
the coastal plain, namely, the Galana, and the Sabaki Rivers. These two drain their
waters into the Indian Ocean.
The coastal belt experiences a modified equatorial climate. This means that
temperatures and humidity are quite high throughout the year. On average, the
temperatures experienced are about 350c. Rains are experienced twice annually. There
are rains from March to May, and from October to December. Rains on the coastal belt
are bought by the Mansoon winds, which blow from the Indian Ocean.It is interesting to
note that the coastal plain is important to the historical development of the country in
several respects. First, most of the foreign invaders in the country such as the Greeks,
Arabs, Portuguese, and even the British entered the territory through the Indian Ocean.
Secondly, the coastal harbours have provided an opportunity for maritime commerce for
several centuries.
THE LOW PLATEAU
The low plateau occupies the largest region in the country, covering over two thirds of
the most arid parts of the country. The Lowland Plateau stretches from Kenya's border
with Tanzania in the south, to the northern part of Kenya. The region rises gradually
from 152 metres at the coastal plain to 912 metres in the interior. This belt is
characterized by a number of features. First, the temperatures here are extremely high.
Second, the rainfall is infrequent and low. In fact, the mean annual rainfall is under 508
mm. It should be noted that in spite of the arid nature of the land, it still supports
pastoralism which is an important economic occupation for many communities in
, Kenya. Moreover, many important wildlife reserves and national parks are to be found
here including the Tsavo and the Amboseli national parks.
KENYAN HIGHLANDS.
The Kenyan highlands are characterised by a series of plateaus and volcanic
landscapes lying between 915 metres in the east to 1520 meters in the West. The
region is separated into two highlands - eastern and Western highlands by the Great
Rift Valley, which runs through Kenya, from Ethiopia in the North and extending to
Tanzania, in the south. The highlands enjoy over 1000 mm of rainfall annually. In
addition, the good climate and fertile volcanic soils enables the region to support a
large population.
THE LAKE REGION
The lake Victoria basin or simply the lake basin is a plateau region that gently slopes
from the western highlands towards Lake Victoria. Rains here are about 762 mm
annually. It should be noted that the lake basin is shared between Kenya's neighbours
in East Africa, namely - Uganda and Tanzania. The Kenyan side of the lake is fed with
waters from rivers such as Gucha, Sondu, Nyando, Yala, Nzoia, and Sio. The lake
basin has a lot of agricultural potential if the waters of Lake Victoria should be used for
irrigation.
References for Further Reading
1. Ogot, B.A (ed.) (1979) Hadith 7 Nairobi Kenya Literature Bureau
2. Ochieng' W.R. 1 A modern History of Kenya
3.Ochieng, W.R.(1992)
Lesson 2: EARLY INHABITANTS OF KENYA
By the end of the lecture, the candidate should be able to:
1. Explain Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in relation to east Africa.
2. Identify the important archaeological sites in East Africa
3. Identify and describe the early inhabitants of Kenya.
Present day Kenya comprises people of different racial origins namely, Africans who are
the majority, Asians, Europeans as well as peoples of Arabic origins. Kenyans of African
MODULE NOTES
,HISTORY OF KENYA PRIOR TO 1884
Lesson 1:
This course deals with the history of Kenya from the earliest time to the present era. In
the first lectures the candidates are introduced to the history of Kenya. This entails
studying the Kenyan environment and the early inhabitants in East Africa. This is
important as it lays the ground for the other themes of the study which include:
• Emergence of Kenyan communities
• Production, distribution and exchange patterns of the pre-colonial communities
• Early urbanisation
• The advert of colonialism
• Colonial economy
• Social and political developments during colonialism
• Decolonisation process in Kenya.
• Post independent - (social economic and political challenges and its impact in Kenya).
• Globalisation and its impact in Kenya.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the session, the candidate should be able to:
1. Discuss the major economic resources of Kenya.
2. Describe the physical landscape of Kenya.
THE KENYAN ENVIRONMENT
The total surface area of the Republic of Kenya covers 582,646 square kilometres. Out
of this area, the water surface occupies 13,393 square kilometres comprising rivers,
lakes, and part of the Indian Ocean.
It is worthwhile not that the current boundaries of the country have a long history. They
are the product of state treaties signed between the British government, German and
the Sultan of Zanzibar in 19th century known as the Anglo German Agreements.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the history of Kenya has been shaped to a large
extent by the policies made by the British government during the period of colonialism.
,GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
Kenya can be divided into four geographical regions, namely;
• The coastal plain
• The arid low plateaus
• Kenya highlands
• Lake Victoria basin
THE COASTAL PLAIN
The coastal plain comprises of a thin belt, less than 60 km in width. It is marked by coral
reefs, mangrove and other tropical trees. Unfortunately for Kenya, our coastal plain
cannot boast of many natural harbours. However, there are two main rivers that drain
the coastal plain, namely, the Galana, and the Sabaki Rivers. These two drain their
waters into the Indian Ocean.
The coastal belt experiences a modified equatorial climate. This means that
temperatures and humidity are quite high throughout the year. On average, the
temperatures experienced are about 350c. Rains are experienced twice annually. There
are rains from March to May, and from October to December. Rains on the coastal belt
are bought by the Mansoon winds, which blow from the Indian Ocean.It is interesting to
note that the coastal plain is important to the historical development of the country in
several respects. First, most of the foreign invaders in the country such as the Greeks,
Arabs, Portuguese, and even the British entered the territory through the Indian Ocean.
Secondly, the coastal harbours have provided an opportunity for maritime commerce for
several centuries.
THE LOW PLATEAU
The low plateau occupies the largest region in the country, covering over two thirds of
the most arid parts of the country. The Lowland Plateau stretches from Kenya's border
with Tanzania in the south, to the northern part of Kenya. The region rises gradually
from 152 metres at the coastal plain to 912 metres in the interior. This belt is
characterized by a number of features. First, the temperatures here are extremely high.
Second, the rainfall is infrequent and low. In fact, the mean annual rainfall is under 508
mm. It should be noted that in spite of the arid nature of the land, it still supports
pastoralism which is an important economic occupation for many communities in
, Kenya. Moreover, many important wildlife reserves and national parks are to be found
here including the Tsavo and the Amboseli national parks.
KENYAN HIGHLANDS.
The Kenyan highlands are characterised by a series of plateaus and volcanic
landscapes lying between 915 metres in the east to 1520 meters in the West. The
region is separated into two highlands - eastern and Western highlands by the Great
Rift Valley, which runs through Kenya, from Ethiopia in the North and extending to
Tanzania, in the south. The highlands enjoy over 1000 mm of rainfall annually. In
addition, the good climate and fertile volcanic soils enables the region to support a
large population.
THE LAKE REGION
The lake Victoria basin or simply the lake basin is a plateau region that gently slopes
from the western highlands towards Lake Victoria. Rains here are about 762 mm
annually. It should be noted that the lake basin is shared between Kenya's neighbours
in East Africa, namely - Uganda and Tanzania. The Kenyan side of the lake is fed with
waters from rivers such as Gucha, Sondu, Nyando, Yala, Nzoia, and Sio. The lake
basin has a lot of agricultural potential if the waters of Lake Victoria should be used for
irrigation.
References for Further Reading
1. Ogot, B.A (ed.) (1979) Hadith 7 Nairobi Kenya Literature Bureau
2. Ochieng' W.R. 1 A modern History of Kenya
3.Ochieng, W.R.(1992)
Lesson 2: EARLY INHABITANTS OF KENYA
By the end of the lecture, the candidate should be able to:
1. Explain Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in relation to east Africa.
2. Identify the important archaeological sites in East Africa
3. Identify and describe the early inhabitants of Kenya.
Present day Kenya comprises people of different racial origins namely, Africans who are
the majority, Asians, Europeans as well as peoples of Arabic origins. Kenyans of African
