East Africa Association

The East African Association, later known as the East African Association, was a Kenyan political organization established in 1921. Harry Thuku served as its first president. This group primarily drew support from young men and advocated for African representation in the legislature. It gained traction among the Kikuyu by addressing grievances such as low wages, restrictions on coffee cultivation by Africans, and missionary disapproval of traditional practices like female genital cutting. Although it failed to unite different ethnic groups under Kikuyu leadership, the association marked a significant early effort by Africans to increase their participation in the political process. The organization's activities led to Thuku's arrest and subsequent exile.1