What resistance movements arose against British rule in Kenya?

The Mau Mau Uprising and the Kikuyu Central Association were significant resistance movements against British rule in Kenya.

The Mau Mau Uprising, which took place from 1952 to 1960, was one of the most significant resistance movements against British colonial rule in Kenya. The Mau Mau, primarily made up of the Kikuyu ethnic group, sought to reclaim their land and political rights that had been stripped away by the British. The rebellion was marked by guerrilla warfare tactics and a brutal response from the British, leading to a state of emergency declaration in 1952. The Mau Mau Uprising is considered a pivotal moment in Kenya's struggle for independence, which was eventually achieved in 1963.

The Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) was another key resistance movement, active in the 1920s and 1930s. The KCA was a political organisation that sought to address the grievances of the Kikuyu people, particularly regarding land dispossession and forced labour. The KCA used peaceful means such as lobbying and petitioning to challenge British rule. However, the British authorities banned the KCA in 1940, viewing it as a threat to their control.

Both the Mau Mau Uprising and the Kikuyu Central Association were driven by a desire to reclaim land and political rights from the British. These movements were met with significant resistance from the British authorities, who used both legal and military means to suppress them. Despite this, the Mau Mau Uprising and the KCA played crucial roles in Kenya's journey towards independence, highlighting the power of resistance movements in challenging colonial rule.