NATIONALISM AND POLITICS OF LAND REFORMS IN KENYA

DEFINITION OF NATIONALISM

Nationalism can be defined as the desire for Africans to end all forms of foreign control and influence so as to be able to take charge of their political, social and economic affairs. During the colonial era Africans were not only exploited economically, but their political and socio-culture institutions were also interfered with. This exploitation and oppression gave rise to Nationalism.

Nationalism can also be defined as the desire for independence and self-determination among a group of people.

In Africa, Nationalism was a gradual process that grew out of the determination of different African communities to rid themselves of the oppressive colonial rule they were subjected to resistance movements that spread all over the continent at the onset of colonialism were part of the early African Nationalism. They included the maji maji rebellion in Tanganyika, the murenga war in southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, the Nandi uprising in Kenya and the mandi revolt in the Sudan.

Historically Nationalism in Kenya started after the arrival of colonialist in Africa but increased after the first world war (from 1920s-1930s) however after second world war Nationalism in Africa gained momentum where the idea of Nationalism spread in Africa. From 1945 the African Continent was full of nationalists strangers. These were caused by internal and external factors.

The internal factors are those factors that prevailed within the continent of Africa and eventually contributed to the rise and development of African Nationalism. These factors included:-

Colonial exploitation. The main objective of colonialists was economic gain from colonies Africans were badly exploited in terms of Natural and human resources. The Africans were subjected to low wages, long working hours, low prices for their cash crops, poor working conditions, taxation, land alienation and so on. This exploitation was intensified in all colonies soon after the second world war. The colonialists launched various colonial development plans and schemes in Africa to facilitate the recovery of their economy. Colonies were to share the cost of rehabilitation capitalists economies. They established schemes and plans sparked high spread resistance in all colonies as Africans could no longer  tolerate exploitations, forced cash crops cultivation and so on. In some colonies Africans were forced to grow cash crops instead of food crops for example in Kenya. This resulted in persistent hunger and famine. Worst still peasants were paid very low prices for their crops hence this one stimulated them to rise and fight for their rights amongst the colonial dominion hence leading to the rise of African nationalism. The role played  by African elites. Colonial Education produced various African elites. Among others were kwame nkruma (Ghana)

Julius Nyerere (Tanganyika) Nandi Azikiwe (Nigeria), Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Patrice Emery Lumumba (Republic of Congo) Nelson Mandela (South Africa) Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya) Milton Obote (Uganda) Keneth Kannda (Zambia) Joaguim Albert Chissano (Mozambique) Hastings Kamuzu Banda (Malawi) Leopold Seder senghor (Senegal ), Frantz Fahon (Algeria) Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe among others who used that  education to fight for nationalism. These elites organized their people to unite mass nationalism movement to fight for their rights.

The influence of Liberia and Ethiopia. The presence of independent states in Africa such as Ethiopia and Liberia also influenced the growth of nationalism in Africa. This showed other Africans to rule their own countries. This as a result influenced the rise of nationalism in Africa.

The formation of political parties. The formation of political parties encouraged the growth of nationalism in Africa. In east Africa parties like KANU and KADU (Kenya), TANU (Tanganyika)., KY (Uganda) mobilized the people together to fight for their independence hence the rise of nationalism in Africa.

The influence of mass media. After world war II Africa nationalists adapted the use of newspapers to spread anti-colonialism grievances. The elites used newspapers to expose colonial exploitation  and mobilize the fellow Africans for nationalist struggle.

Improvement of transport network and urbanization enhance Africa nationalism. For instance improved transport led to concentration of population in mining centers, cash crops growing and processing areas and port cities. People of different culture background shared their experiences. They suffered the same problems of racial discrimination, unemployment and poor living conditions. This led to the desire of people to unite and fight for their independence leading to the rise of nationalism.

Loss of independence colonialism interfered with Africans political institutions. The colonial officials disregarded traditional rulers such as council of elders in the decentralized societies and in their places appointed chiefs. Those appointed were rejected by the elders who regarded them as mere instruments of colonial oppression.

Unfair taxation. The colonial government introduced a system of taxation which was unfair to Africans for example hut tax, poll ‘tax and breast tax’ . Breast tax was payable by every mature women. Hut tax was levied on every African hut in Kenya while poll tax was paid by every adult man. The taxes were collected with a lot of brutality and ruthlessness. Due to this Africans started to resist and opposed that system of government rising essence of nationalism.

Forced labour. The colonial government forced Africans to provide labour in the European settler farms and in government projects. Africans were paid low wages only enough to pay taxes to the colonial government. This policy made Africans to form federations against forced labour between 1930-1960. This resulted in African nationalism.

Loss of land back for example in Kenya, southern Rhodesia, south Africa, Mozambique and Ghana between 1930-1960 the colonial administration started to enact a land commission aimed at taking African highlands and making them white settler farms. They succeeded in taking the African highlands. Africans were therefore made squatters in their own land. This agitated Africans hence nationalism.

Africans were against the introduction of the kipande system registration. The colonial government introduced the kipande system mainly to restrict African movement from one working area to places where they could find well paying job this led to Africa nationalism

Religion also played an important role in nationalism. The Ethiopian movement, a religion which was inspired by Biblical references, that Africa and black people would dominate the world politically, socially and economically. Due to the domination of the whites in church leadership the Africans started African independent churches which they led. This was a sign of nationalism between 1930s and 1940s .

Discrimination of Africans on the provision of social services in most parts of the continent social amenities such as schools, hospitals, clubs and other recreational facilities were provided a long racial lines. The Africans had the worst service while the best were reserved for Europeans. This fuelled nationalism since the Africans wanted to enjoy better services as well.

It should be noted that African nationalism did not emerge solely due to internal factors in the colonies.  It could also be attributed to external factors.

The role of ex-soldiers also led to African nationalism many Africans participated in world war I both  as carriers and combatants. The experience acquired in the war had a profound impact on the ex-soldiers. During the war, they interacted with Europeans and Asians. This in itself enabled them to break the myth of European superiority. They returned from the war with confidence and spirit to unite their fellow Africans to fight for independence. To a large extend the ex-soldiers were in front line to influence nationalism and to struggle for independence in their respective countries.

Some of them were Dedan Kimathi in Kenya Iddi Abdalla Pengo in Tanganyika, Ndabawingi sithole in Zimbabwe among others.

The role of pan African movements.

A philosophy that is based on the belief that African people share common bonds and objectives it advocated for unity to achieve these Objectives. The idea originated in U.S.A by black African as a movement against slavery, discrimination and other injustices. These objectives were later extended towards the total liberation of all blacks in the world. In the mid20th century activities in African adopted pan African sought to unite the continental pan-Africanism, which advocated for the unity of states and people within Africa. in its other broader form –Diaspora pan-Africanism related to solidarity among all black Africans and people of black African decent outside the African continent pan-Africanism remains a significant force on global politics. In the early 1940s kwame Nkurume from Ghana founded the African student organisation (ASO) in the US where he was a student. The organization worked with fellow Africans to demand for independence and hence the rise of nationalism in Ghana. The Pan-Africans federation (PAF) was a multinational pan-African organization founded in Manchester UK in 1944 under peter Millard General Secretary. The objectives of PAF among others was to demand for self determination and independence of African people. In 1957 Ghana became the first sub-savanna African state to gain independence and Nkruma Became its prime minister. He held Pan Africanist view that the “independence of Ghana would be incomplete without the independence of all of Africa” the statement boosted African nationalism. The pan African congress was a series of fire melting in 1919,1921, 1927 and  1945  that were intended to address the issues facing Africa due to European colonisation. One of these demands was to end colonial rule and racial discrimination. The first pan African congress in Paris France in 1919 was organized by more than 57 delegates representing is countries. It demanded that African be granted home rule and Africans should take part in governing their countries.

The second was in 1921, organization in several sessions in London, Paris and Brussels in 1923. The third pan-African congress was held in London, and Lisbon.

Among other things it demanded for the minority to dominate a black majority in Kenya, Rwandesia and south Africa. in 1927. The fourth pan African congress was held in new York and adopted resolutions similar to the third pan-africa congress meetings.

The fifth pan-African congress was held in Manchester UK in 1945. It is widely considered to be the most important of all. It was dominated by leaders from the African continent for example Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Julius nyerere of Tanzania, mhamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, kwame Nkurumah of Ghana, Leopold seder Senghor of Senegal and kamuzu banda of Malawi. It was organized by the influential frinidadran pan Africanist George padmore and kwame Nkurume. It was attended by an American left-wing activist and academic W.E.B Dubai as well as many scholars, intellectuals, trade colonists and political activists who would later go on to become influential leaders in various African independent movements for example Jomo Kenyatta, Nigerian statesman Jaja wachuku, Hastings Kamuzu banda, obafemi owolowo among others. He contributed to nationalism was its declaration on racial discrimination as a criminal offence and ending imperialism in Africa pan African secretariat was established which  pursued two goals. Total African independence and continental political which in two series of international conference, held to stimulate independence movement in other African colonies second , Nkruma organized the conference of independent African states to establish a diplomatic framework for the political union of Africa by initiating representatives from independent North Africa states to the conference and by holding the 1961 all African people conference.

After 1945 some prominent pan Africanists leaders such as William Dubois and Marcus Garvey fought and argued for Africa to self rule and unity. There was also the formation of several pan African organization in the US in the late 1960s and early 1970s. one of these was the African liberation support committee (ALSC) headed by poet Amiri Baraka. It worked to increase support within the united states for liberation movement in Africa.

The sixth pan African congress of June 3^rd to 13^th 1974 held in Dar es salaam Tanzania was headed by Julius Nyerere and organized by Mrs. Amy Jaques Garvey, Mrs. Shirley G. Dubois, Dr C.LB James Vincent Harding. It drew an international delegation of more than 5000 Africans and people of African descent including hundreds from the U.S.A. the congress discussed about total liberation of couthern African teritiries including Majority rule in south Africa. in general the major role of pan Africanism was to create African unity to demand for free national states.

The independence of other nations

The independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 and Burma in 1948 helped to inspire other African countries to fight for these victories inspired Africans to fight against colonial rule.

The alternate charter of 1941. This charter helped nationalism to gain momentum in Africa. the charter was written by Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (U.S president) who called for the respect of people rights to choose a government of their will. This increased the desire for nationalism and independence in Africa.

The Banding conference of 1955. This was an international conference of 22 Asians and seven African countries, held in the capital of Banding Indonesia. It demonstrated the determination of those 29 nations which had recently freed themselves from colonialism to have an independent voice in international  affairs. It was an important milestone in the liberation of Africa. the conference was organized and sponsored by the prime ministers of Burma (Now Myanmar), Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka), India, Indonesia and Pakistan. It took place from 18^th to 24^th April 1955. The conference was under president Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia as a conference chairperson. Some of  the African leaders who attended were kwame Nkuruma Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kaunda, Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Jomo Kenyatta just to mention a few. One of the agendas was largely symbolic. It forced the great power to recognize the potential power of non-aligned nations in world politics.

The role and influence of U.N. the UN pressurized for decolonization using the trusteeship council in which the UN chair stipulates human right and the right of the colonized to self determination trustee territories like Tanganyika, Ghana, Rwanda and Burundi were supported by UN in their struggle for independence. The formation of United Nations organization favored African states to continue with Nationist struggle. Nations organization put pressure over the colonial powers to grant their colonies.

Independence for example pressurized Britain to grant independence to Tanganyika, Uganda finally Kenya.

The role and influence of U.S.A  emerged as a strong economic world power. Since the war was not fought in U.S.A. U.S.A didn’t experience destruction of their industries and infrastructure. U.S.A emerged as a world power because it was the supplier of the war requirements in Europe hence made a great fortune. Thirdly European economies were completely destroyed and could no longer maintain their colonies though they still needed them. Thus USA through the “Open door policy” supported decolonization through the decolonization commission of the UN. So as to get access to exploit these colonies which up to that time had their trade restricted to the colonial powers. Only to put this into success, USA put decolonization as a condition for the European Economic recovery under the Marshall plan. Thus using the UN USA championed the self determination principle from the Wilson’s fourteen points. Also USA championed decolonization because by then she had no colony hence for her there was nothing to lose.

Effects of second world war.

 Ex-soldiers who came back brought a few outlook due to experience and political awareness that they saw in other parts of the world. They spread new attitudes to their people hence gave rise to the growth of African nationalism. The war also caused much economic harm to Europeans a situation that forced them to intensify exploitation of Africa.  This then accelerated demands for Africans self rule in addition the crumbling of European economies as a result of the war made some Europeans to lose faith in capitalism. Socialist parties emerged and in the UK, the labour party came into power. Being socialists UK was granted independence became the values of socialism oppose exploitation in all forms including colonialism.

The role played by USSR became very outspoken against colonialism USSR strongly advocated for the liberation of Africa thus extending support to the nationalist movement.

Morally, financially, military and materially. In addition the idea of “proletarian internationalism” which advocated that all workers had to unite and fight both imperialism and colonialism as they had nothing to look at except their gains.

The emergence of new super powers USA and USSR after the second world war in 1945.

 These super powers replaced Britain, France and Germany which failed to protect world peace. The new powers wanted to be free to pursue their trading interests in Africa and wanted to spread the ideology of capitalism. Also Russia wanted to spread communism. They therefore put pressure on colonial powers to decolonise. In addition they provided support scholarships for education. They also used their influence in the UN to call for independence of Africa colonies. This encouraged the growth of nationalist movement.

The role of the labour party in Britain after world war II. The second world war led to the death, destruction of buildings and other property. As a result the conservative party led by Clement Attee. The labour party, was determined to grant independence to British colonies hence the rise of African nationalism.

Herald Macmillan speech, “The wind of change.” In his speech after visiting Africa he observed that a wind  of change was sweeping through Africa and that colonial powers had to leave Africa to avoid fighting. This encouraged the demand for independence.

The spread of communism following the Bolsheik Revolution of 1917 in Russia in which capitalism was seen as evil. Colonialism was taken to be an extension of capitalism and exploitation of the subjects which raised African self-determination.

Africans studying abroad formed student groups/Organisations that articulated African grievances. This gave rise to nationalism.

Conclusion

Having been subjected to exploitation, oppressive and humiliating rule and conditions, Africans reaction to the colonial rule was different from one county to another. Africa nationalism was therefore not uniform across the continent. It was violent in some colonies especially where the European settler farmers had been example for example Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Algeria.

On the other hand, nationalism in some colonies was less violent as the colonial powers were not as exploitative and harsh to Africans for example in Tanganyika, Uganda and Nigeria. However there is no single colony in Africa which obtained political independence without struggle.