Politics and Nationalism in Colonial Kenya: The Case of Babukusu of Bungoma District, C. 1894-1963

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dc.contributor.authorWEKESA, PETER WAFULA
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-11T08:18:31Z
dc.date.available2022-11-11T08:18:31Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.descriptionThesisen_US
dc.description.abstractThis study focuses on politics and nationalism in Kenya with special reference to Babukusu of Bungoma District in the period between 1894 and 1963. It examines the place of Babukusu in Kenya's politics of decolonisation by demonstrating their contribution to the emergence and development of nationalism. Using an integrated approach, the study examines the growth of political consciousness among the Babukusu in the light of the changes in their material conditions posed by the colonial political economy. It has been deduced herein that since the inception of colonialism, Babukusu like other Kenyans elsewpere, offered a concerted political challenge to its existence. This challenge, as we have shown, can only be adequately explained by taking into account the fundamental social, economic and political changes, which were introduced during the colonial period. It was out of their sense of self-realization that a political consciousness grew, which in essence was a reaction to the unfavourable structures of the colonial political economy. This political consciousness created a new necessity, namely, decolonisation that finally led to the liquidation (?f colonial~sm in 1963. For a clear insight into the theme of politics and nationalism, aspects of the Bukusu pre-colonial history that are important for understanding their participation in Kenya's nationalist politics during the colonial period are discussed. It has been demonstrated ' that the people's social, political and economic structures on the eve of the colonial rule laid an important basis for understanding the phenomenon of colonial politics and the nationalist struggle. In discussing the method and. nature of the establishment of the colonial administration among the Babuktisu, their initial reactions between 1894 and 1918 to the setting up ~f colonialism are noted. It is obser~ed that' the' initial wars of resistance . impacted heavily qn the development of the Bukusu nationalism within this period. The wars together with the social, economic and political changes introduced by the colonialists' impacted greatly, on the people's traditional values and institutions. The Bukusu response, therefore, towards this potent new political force is highlighted. ' During the . inter-war period, Babukusu continued to participate in Kenya's nationalist politics. Here, the central role the unfair colonial policies continued to play in I increasing the people's · political activity is emphasized. Other factors like their experiences in .the First World War, the ~conomic hardships arising from it and the world depression are highlighted as equally important in unleashing all sorts of hardships within the period.· As such, both official and non-official avenues adopted by Babukusu in challenging' the colonial· state and the latter's response to such initiatives are demonstrated. Unlike the inter-war period, it is indicated that during and after the Second World I War the Bukusu nationalist politics intensified both in strength and purpose. The period became a critical one not only in the Bukusu history but the whole of Kenya in general. It was within this period that the seeds of African nationalism that were sown before and during the inter-war years matured with rapid speed into the decolonisation drama and eventually independence. It is demonstrated that just like the First World War, the Second World War became an important precipitate in fuelling nationalist unrest among the Bukusu. The war and post-war time circumstances specifically created the conditions favourable in shaping local, national and international politics. It was with the convergence of the foregoing actors that the reality of independence became feasible in Kenya in 1963.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKenyatta universityen_US
dc.identifier.citationWekesa, P. W. (2010). Politics and Nationalism in Colonial Kenya: The Case of Babukusu of Bungoma District, C. 1894-1963. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=pcXb0IIAAAAJ&citation_for_view=pcXb0IIAAAAJ:LkGwnXOMwfcC
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/24401
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.subjectPolitics and Nationalism in Colonial Kenyaen_US
dc.titlePolitics and Nationalism in Colonial Kenya: The Case of Babukusu of Bungoma District, C. 1894-1963en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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