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Jomo Kenyatta
Historical figureKE1891-1978

Jomo Kenyatta

First President of Kenya (1964-1978) · First Prime Minister of Kenya (1963-1964)

Kikuyu nationalist who was jailed by the British during the Mau Mau emergency, then led Kenya to independence. As its first president he kept a market economy, welcomed settlers and ran a one-party state.

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Profile on 12 axes6 of 12 documented
ECONOMYSTATESOCIETYWORLDOwnershipMarketsWelfareAuthoritySecurityStructureMoralityReligionTechnologyCultureTradeForeign
Where they stood

Jomo Kenyatta, axis by axis

  1. 01Ownership+30
    PublicPrivate

    His government bought white-owned farms for Africans on a willing seller, willing buyer basis and welcomed foreign investment. Moderately private.

  2. 02Markets+35
    PlannedFree
  3. 03Welfare-10
    SharedSelf-reliant

    His government introduced free primary education and a free medical service, but within a market economy. Slightly toward shared provision.

  4. 04Authority+65
    DemocraticStrong leader

    Kenya became a one-party state, he was the only presidential candidate at each election and critics cite nepotism. Yet he took power through negotiated independence. Moderately toward strong leadership.

  5. 05SecurityNo clear record
    LibertyOrder
  6. 06StructureNo clear record
    LocalCentral
  7. 07MoralityNo clear record
    ProgressiveTraditional
  8. 08ReligionNo clear record
    SecularReligious
  9. 09TechnologyNo clear record
    EmbraceCaution
  10. 10Culture-15
    MulticulturalNational identity

    He urged settlers to stay and called for people of different races to build a new Kenya together, though Africanization of jobs and firms followed. Mildly multicultural.

  11. 11Trade-40
    GlobalProtected

    Foreign investment was welcomed and the economy grew about 7 percent a year in the first decade. Leaning toward open trade.

  12. 12Foreign policyNo clear record
    CooperationStrength

6 axes have no clear record, so matching leaves them out.

Who was Jomo Kenyatta?

Jomo Kenyatta was born around 1891 in Kikuyu country and wrote the anthropological study Facing Mount Kenya in London. After returning in the 1940s he led the Kenya African Union. Arrested in 1952 during the Mau Mau emergency, he was convicted in a trial that later historians regard as rigged, and was held until 1961. He led independence talks, became prime minister in 1963 and president in 1964. His government dissolved the opposition KADU party, making Kenya a one-party state. He died in office in Mombasa on 22 August 1978 and was succeeded by Daniel arap Moi.

Political views

  • Became president of the Kenya African Union in 1947 and campaigned for African political rights after returning from fifteen years in London.Source: sahistory.org.za
  • Was arrested in 1952 as the alleged head of the Mau Mau and imprisoned. Later accounts say he probably had nothing to do with the rebellion and call the trial rigged.Source: gcsehistory.com
  • Backed a million-acre scheme, financed by Kenya and Britain, under which Africans bought former settler farms on a willing seller, willing buyer basis.Source: ebsco.com
  • Encouraged settlers to stay and called on Kenyans of all races to build a new Kenya together.Source: ebsco.com
  • Welcomed foreign investment, Africanized the administration and firms, and introduced free primary education and a free medical service.Source: ebsco.com
  • Presided over the dissolution of the opposition KADU and was the only candidate for president at each election, a record of one-party rule.Source: sahistory.org.za

Legacy

Many Kenyans honor Kenyatta as Mzee and Father of the Nation. Admirers credit his role in the independence struggle, his reconciliation with white settlers, steady economic growth of about 7 percent a year in the first decade and free primary schooling and medical care. Critics say his government was marked by corruption and nepotism, that he became the largest landowner in the country, and that his government ended multiparty politics. His imprisonment is regarded by many historians as unjust.

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Jomo Kenyatta: questions

Was Jomo Kenyatta behind the Mau Mau?

He was convicted of leading it in 1952-53, but later accounts say he probably had nothing to do with the rebellion and describe the trial as rigged. Historians still debate his exact role.

Was Kenya a one-party state under Kenyatta?

Yes in effect. The opposition KADU was dissolved, and Kenyatta was the only presidential candidate at each election during his term.

What did Kenyatta do about land after independence?

A Kenya-British scheme bought former white-owned highland farms and sold them to Africans on a willing seller, willing buyer basis, with some cooperatives.

Sources