Research On The Problem Of Decolonization In Kenya

The Republic of Kenya which locates in East Africa was a colony of the British Empire before it achieved independence in 1963.When governed by the British colonial rule, the arable land of Kenya was possessed by the white settlers, but local Africans only occupied a small quantity of barren land, even had no land. Therefore, land problem was sharp social and economical problem during the colonial history of Kenya.After Second World War, as the wind of "Decolonization" blew all of the world, Kenya started up its decolonization, and land was focused by different interest groups interrelated. As the majority people of Kenya was lived on agriculture, land was the primary economical treasure of the nation. Furthermore, industry was underdeveloped in Kenya, so a lot of people, who relied on the enterprise which grounded on land, regarded it as the foundation of their material life. Then, political struggle among white settlers, African nationalists and colonial government progressed, and finally, the use, the allocation of agricultural land and ownership were settled through bargain, thus, Kenya could achieved national independence peacefully.This essay is made up of five parts:The first part is preface which expatiates on purpose of this research, and reviews the domestic and foreign research conditions.The second part is the first chapter. In this chapter, an important concept, "Decolonization" is to be explained, and from which I would like to point out the process of decolonization in Kenya is characterized by bargain; moreover, I will also historically analyze three interrelated interest groups.In the second chapter, I reviewed the history of which Kenya as a colony of the British Empire briefly. Then land problem will be derived from colonial history of Kenya, hereon, I would claim that land problem of Kenya existed for long time, and local African possessed less or no land. The serious lack of land provoked some local African to rebel for land. Although the "Mau Mau" movement failed eventually, colonial government was compelled to respect the reality that local African are lacking of land, and thus limited land reform has been startup.The third chapter is the pivot. It discusses land policies actualized in the decolonization of Kenya, and "One Million Acre Program" would be an emphasis. In this part, the social background, content and disadvantages of "One Million Acre Program" include in. Moreover, the relations among white settlers, African nationalists and colonial government are also discussed.The forth chapter is summary. It is claimed that land reform actualized in decolonization time still had important influence after independence, and that the revised "One Million Acre Program" and "Swynnerton Plan" still implement.Finally, the relation between decolonization and land reform is to be elucidated, I consider that decolonization based on bargaining has been provided a stable domestic and international environment after dependence, and that a favorable foreground for Kenyan economy and society.