Colonialism in Kenya

In History, the Year 5 children are learning about colonialism. They have learnt about the “Scramble for Africa” and that out of all the European countries that were colonisers, the British had the biggest number of colonies in the world. They have explored some of the African countries that were colonised by the British, and are now focussing on the pre-colonial and post-colonial periods in Kenya.

The children are very inquisitive and have several questions about how life was before and after colonisation. They know now that the British settlers arrived and took control of the majority of the land in Kenya in the late 19th century. Before this, the region was also visited by traders from several other countries, and housed ongoing conflicts within Kenyan tribes.

They have found out that the British established railways and farms and introduced new laws. They took land from the local people, making it hard for them to live as they used to. Many Kenyans work for the British and not all were treated fairly. This led to resistance and, eventually, a struggle for independence. After many years of effort, Kenya finally became an independent country in 1963. Today, people learn about colonialism to understand the past and work towards a better future.

The children are now looking forward to educating all and sundry about colonialism in Kenya as they also explore the legacies that were left behind by the British. Look out for our Family Assembly date to find out more!