Kenya: Our History our

Future
A presentation to Association
of Kenyans in Diaspora
Bridgewater State college

Boston 17th-20th July 2009

By
Rapaine Ole Koissaba Ben
Partnership for Change/NCSC
Ole Koissaba 09
 Members
• Coast Land
Advocacy
• Kenya Land • National Civil
Alliance
Society
• Muungano wa
Wanavijiji Congress
• Maa Civil Society • Partnership
Forum
•
For Change
Shelter Forum
• Kikuyus For
Change
• Rift Valley Youth
Alliance
• National Coalitions
of IDPs
• RECONCILE
Ole Koissaba 09
• KNCHR
 Ee Mungu Nguvu yatu,
Ilete Baraka Kwetu
Haki iwe Ngao na Ulizi
Na tukae na undugu Amani
na Uhuru
Raha Tupate na Ustawi

Ole Koissaba 09
 Early Contacts
• 14th Century • Emergence of
contacts with new culture
ancient Greeks • Africans lost
and Chinese . sovereignty
• 16th Century • Destruction of
Portuguese African values
explorers- • Emergence of
Vasco-Da the Swahili
Gama language
• 18Th Century • Slavery
Arabian
conquests
Ole Koissaba 09
 The European Conquests
• 1849 First Contacts by • Scramble for
CMS Missionaries'
Krapf and Rebmann Kenya land and
• In 1883 Joseph other resources
Thompson became the • Converts
first European to
traverse Maasai • Africans were not
territory.
• In 1886, Germany and
consulted
Britain signed a treaty • They were
• 1887 Sir WILLIAM dispossed of their
MACKINNON founded
the Imperial British indigenous lands
East Africa Company and other
(IBEAC) designed to resources
open the hinterland
for British trade; the • Leadership
company obtained a structures
concession from
Sultan Bargash of disorganized
Zanzibar for the • Forced into
Sultanate's territory
on the coast within provide cheap
the British sphere of labor to new
interest, for fifty yearsOle Koissaba 09
• 1899. Nairobi made
European
 Resistance to external occupation by the
Indigenous Communities
• 1895-1899, The Luo
and Luhya resisted
• 1895-1906, The Nandi • Repressive action
• 1904-1907, The Kikuyu against the
and Embu revolted communities that
• 1907-1914. The Kisii revolted.
• 1913- The Maasai file
case in court • Many Africans lost
• 1921 Young Kikuyu lives.
Association, Kenya's • Africans put in
first all-African political concentration
organization. camps
• Kenya African Union
(KAU), was established • Displacements and
in 1944. loss of land
• 1953- The Mau Mau • Denial of
revolution opportunity for self
• 1962- Maasai walk out expression and
of Lancaster denial of justice
conference
• 12th December 1963 Ole Koissaba 09
Kenya It declared
 Immediately after Independence.
Enter Kenyatta
. Ambitious resettlement
programs
. Creation of the Million acre
scheme in the Rift Valley
. Formation of Land buying
companies- GEMA,
Nyakinyua, Ngwatanoro-
mostly form central
province
. Changing of Constitution-
Creation of executive
presidency.
. Political fall out- Jaramogi
and Murumbi
. Threat of cessation by NFD –
Massive killings
. Appointment of Moi- To
silence Rift Valley
. Political assassinations and
disappearances.
• Feeling of political and
economic
marginalization by the
Luo, Maasai, Somalis
etc.
• Introduction of over 22
laws that have a direct
relationship with land
• Privatization of land and
sanctity of the Title
emphasized in
disregard of whether
the processes were
legal
• Trust Land titles for all
the community land.
• The president abrogates
Ole Koissaba 09 powers to control land.
 Moi and Fuata Nyayo
• Political • Looting of
Marginalization of
communities national coffers
perceived to be anti • Environmental
system destruction
• Political detainees
• Land grabbing
• State sponsored land
mania
grabbing
• Sponsored repression • Tribal Politics.
– The Wagalla • Blood letting- 82
Massacre, Nakuyen coup/ Sabasaba
Massacre etc
revolt
• Political patronage
• Tribal clashes
• Community
• Emergence of vibrant conflicts and
civil society tribal clashes-
• Repealing of Section 1992/97
2A of the constitution Ole Koissaba 09 • Demonization of
 Kibaki and the MoU
• Dis-houring of the MoU • Increase in tribal
• Political fall out coalitions
• Sense of revenge by
certain communities.
• Disunited government
• Continuation of corruption • Upsurge of rights
in the echelons of power based CSOs
• Defeat of the draft • Resurgence of
constitution.
•
unlawful armed groups
Clamor for historical
injustice by some • Loss of life and
communities- coast, Rift destruction of
Valley and Central
Province.
property
• The land policy • Tribal politics
formulation Process • Rampant big time
• Resurgence of land base corruption
pressure groups
• Maasai , the Ogieks and • Police and pre-judicial
Coastal people Killings
demonstrations. • Disappearances
• Clashes in Naivasha,
Baringo, NE • The Stolen election
• Government high Ole Koissaba 09• Elections Violence
handedness response-
 Post 2007 Elections
• CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM-12
months
The • INSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE

National •
JUDICIARY-12 months.

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE

Accord POLICE-12 months

• INSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE CIVIL
SERVICE
• INSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE
• Formulatio PARLIAMENT

n of •

•
LAND REFORM

POVERTY,INEQUALITY AND

Coalition REGIONAL IMBALANCES

Governme
• POVERTY,INEQUALITY AND
REGIONAL IMBALANCES

nt • CONSOLIDATING NATIONAL
COHESION AND UNITY
Ole Koissaba 09
• TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY,
 Observations
• Kenyans have been subjected to
historical injustices over the last 150
years.
• Tribal polarization.
• Increased level of poverty.
• Increased crime rates.
• Dispossession ,displacements and
land grabbing
• Increase in state orchestrated
corruption.
• Loss of life and destruction of
property
Ole Koissaba 09
 What is your role in shaping
the future
• To Change leadership-
Responsive, Responsible and
Respectable leadership
• Change the culture of impunity
• Build Nationhood.
• Reduce poverty
• Equity distribution.
• Accountability for our past
• Quality education for all.
Ole Koissaba 09