Colonial Kenya Observed: British Rule, Mau Mau and the Wind of Change

by S.H. Fazan

The coast of East Africa was considered a strategically invaluable region for the establishment of trading ports, both for Arab and Persian merchants, long prior to invasion and conquest by Europeans. In the initial stages of the scramble for Africa in the 18th century, control of the area was an aspiration for every colonial nation in Europe – but it was not until 1895 that it was finally dominated by a sole power and proclaimed The Protectorate of British East Africa. In the early 20th century, the coast was brimming with vitality as immigrants, colonisers and missionaries from Arabia, India and Europe poured in to take advantage of growing commercial opportunities – including the prospect of enslaving millions of native Africans. The development of Kenya is an exceptional tale within the history of British rule – in perhaps no other colony did nationalistic feeling evolve in conditions of such extensive social and political change.

In 1911, S.H. Fazan sailed to what later became the Republic of Kenya to work for the colonial government. Immersing himself in knowledge of traditional language and law, he recorded the vast changes to local culture that he encountered after decades of working with both the British administration and the Kenyan people. This work charts the sweeping tide of social change that occurred through his career with the clarity and insight that comes with a total intimacy of a country. His memoirs examine the fascinating complexity of interaction between the colonial and native courts, commercial land reform and the revolutionised dynamic of labour relations. By further unearthing the political tensions that climaxed with the Mau Mau Revolt of 1952-1960, this invaluable work on the European colonial period paints a comprehensive and revealing firsthand account for anyone with an interest in British and African history. Fazan’s story provides a quite unparalleled view of colonial Africa and the conduct of Empire across half a century.

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2014

Reviews

[Caleb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colonial Kenya Observed is a thick and detailed look at Kenya’s history under British rule. Fazan covers a lot of ground, beginning with Kenya’s early days as a protectorate and moving through the First World War, Second World War, the postwar period, Mau Mau, and eventually independence. I especially enjoyed the chapters on World War I, World War II, and the period immediately following World War II. There is a lot of interesting detail throughout the book, including how the colonial government moved Africans around within their own country.

That said, the book can be difficult to get through simply because of how dense it is. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to someone looking for a general introduction to Kenyan history. However, for someone wanting to dig deeper into Kenya’s colonial history, there is plenty here to explore. I would recommend picking and choosing chapters based on your interests rather than trying to read the entire book straight through.