A Brief - Asians In Kenya At Turn of 19th Century
Created | Updated Mar 10, 2008
It is most definitely true that most Asians, both Hindus and Muslims went to Kenya from various parts of India in the early days of the Colonial rule in 1896. A lot of them went in a dhow – consisting of about 350 men. But the British had, it is estimated taken more than 30,000 Asians, mainly of Punjabi origin, to work as labourers, artisans and clerical staff on the Uganda Railway, which started on the Eastern coastal town of Mombasa, in which is now known as Kenya but what was known as British East Africa. A lot of the indentured labourers, once completing the work on the railway, returned to India but some remained and they were joined by hundreds of independent immigrants, who were mainly Gujaratis and a few Goans, who went over as shopkeepers, artisans and professionals.
Most of the Asians went to Kenya, not just as individuals, free lancing adventurers, but as people who were members of already existing communities. The History of Asians in Kenya can be tracked to the few original immigrants who settled and succeeded and then returned to India only to return with members of their families. This was a very strong corporate and is considered to be traditional in Indian societies and did and has helped the economic systems and was strengthened by the immigrants position as strangers in a strange land. The Asians were forbidden, by law from owning farmland but they settled in townships such as Kisumu, Kajiado, Athi River, Kitale, Nakuru, Naivasha, Mombasa, Machakos, Thika, Nyeri, Nanyuki and later Nairobi. Not only did they live there, but in some cases, they built towns and became urbanised. The concentration in towns went on to facilitate the developments of community associations as well as services. This enabled each community to establish their own places of worship, schools, centres which provided focal points for their communal lives. Basically, Asians were self sufficient, socially and spiritually – and above all extremely successful economically. It was the latter that led to resentment with the Africans.
In 1969, six years after Kenya became Independent, the Trade Licensing Act came into existence where non citizen traders had their licences revoked as a part of the Government's policy of promoting citizen businesses - African.
Most of the Asians went to Kenya, not just as individuals, free lancing adventurers, but as people who were members of already existing communities. The History of Asians in Kenya can be tracked to the few original immigrants who settled and succeeded and then returned to India only to return with members of their families. This was a very strong corporate and is considered to be traditional in Indian societies and did and has helped the economic systems and was strengthened by the immigrants position as strangers in a strange land. The Asians were forbidden, by law from owning farmland but they settled in townships such as Kisumu, Kajiado, Athi River, Kitale, Nakuru, Naivasha, Mombasa, Machakos, Thika, Nyeri, Nanyuki and later Nairobi. Not only did they live there, but in some cases, they built towns and became urbanised. The concentration in towns went on to facilitate the developments of community associations as well as services. This enabled each community to establish their own places of worship, schools, centres which provided focal points for their communal lives. Basically, Asians were self sufficient, socially and spiritually – and above all extremely successful economically. It was the latter that led to resentment with the Africans.
In 1969, six years after Kenya became Independent, the Trade Licensing Act came into existence where non citizen traders had their licences revoked as a part of the Government's policy of promoting citizen businesses - African.
