White people in Kenya facts for kids

White Kenyans are people living in Kenya who have European ancestors or consider themselves White. About 0.1% of Kenya's population is White. There is a small but noticeable White community in Kenya today. Most of them are descended from British settlers. Some also have Italian and Greek roots from the time Kenya was a colony.

The Story of White Kenyans

The first time Europeans met people in the area that is now Kenya was during the Age of Discovery. This was a time when European ships explored the world. They saw the coastal areas as important for trade routes in the east. Mombasa became a key port for trading ivory. The Portuguese were in control of the coast for 200 years, from 1498 to 1698. They lost control to the Sultanate of Oman when Fort Jesus was captured.

European explorers started going inland in 1844. Two German missionaries, Johann Ludwig Krapf and Johannes Rebmann, traveled into the country. They wanted to spread Christianity. Soon, other adventurers became interested in the region. Their stories slowly made their governments realize the area's potential.

In the late 1800s, a time called New Imperialism made Europeans even more interested. Businessmen like Carl Peters and William Mackinnon led the way. They wanted to create profitable trade routes. These businessmen then asked their governments to protect their trading interests. In 1885, eastern Africa was divided between Britain, Germany, and France. Britain took control of the areas that are now Kenya and Uganda. They ruled through the Imperial British East Africa Company. In 1895, the British government made these areas a "protectorate." This meant Britain would protect and govern them. This also happened as a railway was planned from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. The railway was meant to open up the interior for trade.

The East Africa Protectorate (1895-1920)

The first land laws were passed in 1897. But not many Europeans settled in Kenya before the Uganda railway was finished. In 1902, Sir Charles Eliot, the British Commissioner, started a plan. He wanted to settle European colonists in the White Highlands region. Eliot imagined the Highlands as a place for White settlers. He thought the region was perfect for a "White man's country." So, the Crown Lands Ordinance was passed. This law allowed land to be given to settlers for free or leased for 99 years. Eliot believed that encouraging European settlement would help the local economy. It would also make the Uganda railway profitable. He saw large areas of fertile land that were not being farmed.

By the end of 1903, about 100 settlers had arrived. Another 280 Boers (Dutch settlers from South Africa) came later. Some of the first settlers were rich British nobles. These included Lord Delamere, Lord Hindlip, and Lord Cranworth. They had enough money to develop large areas of land. They lived a life similar to aristocrats. The land laws were so good for settlers that they were called the most generous in the world.

By 1914, there were about 1,300 European settlers in Kenya. Before 1912, most White settlers were from South Africa. During the First World War, many more South Africans came to East Africa. They were part of the fight against German East Africa. Many stayed to work in Kenya. By 1915, the government offered 999-year leases to encourage more settlement. They also removed land taxes. The government also helped White farmers sell their crops. This gave them an advantage over Black small farmers in the markets.

It cost a lot to start farms for coffee and cattle. Because of this, Kenya became known as a "big man's frontier." These wealthy men wanted Kenya to be another "White man's country." They hoped it would be like South Africa or Australia. They knew they needed "small men" with less money to settle on smaller farms. This would increase the White population and make their vision stronger.

In 1919, the UK Government started the Ex-Soldier Settlement Scheme. This was the largest land allocation for European settlement in Kenya's history. It involved over 2,000,000 acres (810,000 ha) of land. This increased the area of White settlement by one-third. People applying had to be British subjects of pure European origin. They also had to have served in the war. Most came from Britain. Many also came from Ireland, India, and South Africa. There were also a few Canadian cattle ranchers, Australian graziers, and New Zealand farmers. Many of the soldier settlers were from the upper classes. One-third had attended British public schools. Many of these aristocratic soldier settlers were related to rich and powerful people in Britain. As a result of this plan, the European population grew to 9,651 by 1921.

Kenya as a Colony (1920-1963)

Flag of British East Africa, used when Kenya was a colony.

In 1920, the Protectorate became a Crown colony. This meant it was directly ruled by the British Crown. The British took land, forced people to work, and limited education for Africans. These actions helped start a strong African nationalist movement in Kenya in the 1920s. Leaders like Jomo Kenyatta and Harry Thuku spoke out. They showed that the political and social situation was unfair for non-settlers in Kenya.

The last effort to bring settlers to Kenya happened in 1945. Only about 500 Europeans moved to Kenya. This meant the European population remained small. There were only 23,033 Europeans compared to 5,200,000 Africans.

After the Second World War, many people were unhappy with colonialism. This led to an anti-colonial rebellion by the Kikuyu called the Mau Mau Uprising. The rebellion was partly because White settlers took Kenyan lands and discriminated against Africans. During the rebellion, 32 White settlers were killed. Most were killed by the Mau Mau organization.

Kenya Becomes Independent

By the early 1960s, the British government was less willing to keep Kenya as a colony. In 1962, the Lancaster House agreement set a date for Kenya's independence. Most of the 60,000 White settlers realized they could not declare independence on their own, like Rhodesia. So, they thought about moving elsewhere. Like the Indian population in Kenya, Europeans were given a choice. They could keep their British passports but have fewer rights. Or they could get new Kenyan passports. Few chose to become Kenyan citizens. Many White Kenyans left the country. The World Bank helped with a plan called the 'million acre' scheme. This plan allowed land to be bought and sold. It was mostly paid for by secret British money. This scheme redistributed large areas of White-owned farmland. It was sold to the newly successful Kikuyu elite.

In the 1979 general election, Philip Leakey became the first White person to be a member of the Kenyan Parliament since independence.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), there were 69,621 Europeans in Kenya in 2019. Of these, 42,868 were Kenyan citizens. More Europeans have likely become Kenyan citizens since dual nationality was allowed in 2010. There are also British citizens living in Kenya who can be of any race. In 2006, the BBC said there were about 32,000 of them.

Life and Work for White Kenyans

Early 1900s Life

From 1902, the East Africa Protectorate government gave many benefits to European settlers. This helped them gain political and economic power. Besides the land laws, they benefited from forcing Africans to work. They also gained from taxes like the hut tax. Africans were moved to special reserves. Settlers also got special rights to grow certain crops for export. In 1907, even though Kenya was still a Protectorate, the government allowed a Legislative Council. Only Europeans could vote in this council. Despite these policies, in 1914, settler farming only made up 25% of all exports.

After the First World War, European farming grew a lot. This was mainly because of taxes on imported goods. Also, Africans were not allowed to grow certain crops like coffee and pyrethrum. In the 1920s, settler farming made up about 80% of all export earnings. However, settler economic success was not always steady. In places like Rhodesia or South Africa, Africans had to work on European farms because they had little land. This boosted farm production there. But in Kenya, Africans could farm or raise animals on their own land. They produced food for the local market.

Life for Europeans in Kenya during the 1920s was famously written about in Karen Blixen's book Out of Africa. Large herds of elephants, zebras, and other wild animals lived on these estates. This attracted rich nobles from Europe and America. They came to Kenya for big game hunting.

White Kenyans Today

Today, most Europeans in Kenya are in the middle or upper-middle class. They used to live mostly in the country's highland region, known as the 'White Highlands'. Most White settlers left the White Highlands before independence. Much of their land was sold to Africans through the Million Acre Settlement Scheme. Now, only a small number of White Kenyans still own land. These include livestock and game ranchers, horticulturists, and farmers. Most White Kenyans today work in service industries. These include finance, import, air transport, and hotels.

Community Life

Apart from a few people like the late scientist and conservationist Richard Leakey, White Kenyans have mostly stepped back from Kenyan politics. They are no longer in public service or government organizations. The last staff from colonial times retired from these roles in the 1970s.

The book and movie White Mischief featured an earlier member of the Cholmondeley family, The 4th Baron Delamere. He was married to Diana Broughton, who was part of the "Happy Valley set." Her lover was murdered in Nairobi in 1941. Her first husband, Jock Delves Broughton, was tried and found not guilty.

Sometimes, there have been tensions between different groups in Kenya. These tensions can be related to history and how people see fairness in society.

See also

• List of Kenyan European people
• British diaspora in Africa
• White African
• White people
• Kenyans
• History of the Jews in Kenya