Wambua, Cyprian Kioko2025-07-122025-07-122023-04https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/30571A Thesis Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts (History) of Kenyatta University, April 2023. Supervisor Peter Wafula Wekesa Susan MwangiThroughout history communities have been known to have specific and distinct patterns of economic, social and political organization. These socio-economic and political institutions are dynamic from one community and generation to another}ri Waata community is among the indigenous Kenyan communities whose social, polmca! and economic organization has not been adequately studied. This study focused on the history of the Waata people living in Kilifi County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to trace the traditional institutions which shaped the history of the Waata people up to 1895. The study examined the impact of the colonial policies on the political, social and economic history of the Waata people between 1895 and 1963. Lastly, the study investigated the impacts of post-colonial policies on the Waata from 1963 to 2010. There are many theories which could have been used to explain the history of the Waata but most of them had several weaknesses. The most relevant and applicable theory which guided this study was the cultural interaction and identity formation theory. This theory focused on how individual defend their shared cultural identities and relationships in particular situations....enThesis