history of Kenya

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Political map of Kenya showing its national boundaries with South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. The map includes rivers, lakes, and a small locator inset highlighting Kenya's position in eastern Africa.

Map of Kenya and surrounding countries highlighting the location of Koobi Fora near the eastern shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. Neighboring countries shown include Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia. An inset globe marks the region's position within Africa.

Replica of KNM-ER 1470

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.

Antique map from 1902 showing central Africa with colonial territories labeled as Kamerun, French Kongo, Kongo Free State, Portuguese West Africa, British East Africa, German East Africa, East Africa, and Rhodesia. The map details rivers, cities, and borders of the era, with an inset map of Madagascar in the lower right corner.

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

Mau Mau Rebellion

history of Kenya: Media

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Kenya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Kenya showing its national boundaries with South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. The map includes rivers, lakes, and a small locator inset highlighting Kenya's position in eastern Africa.

Kenya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Kenya and surrounding countries highlighting the location of Koobi Fora near the eastern shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. Neighboring countries shown include Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia. An inset globe marks the region's position within Africa.

Koobi Fora, Kenya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Replica of KNM-ER 1470

Replica of KNM-ER 1470

A replica of KNM-ER 1470, a reconstructed Homo rudolfensis skull found in...

© Bone Clones, www.boneclones.com

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.

Major states, peoples, and trade routes of eastern Africa, c. 1850

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.

Imperial partitions of eastern Africa, c. 1914

Eastern Africa as partitioned by the imperial powers, c. 1914.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Antique map from 1902 showing central Africa with colonial territories labeled as Kamerun, French Kongo, Kongo Free State, Portuguese West Africa, British East Africa, German East Africa, East Africa, and Rhodesia. The map details rivers, cities, and borders of the era, with an inset map of Madagascar in the lower right corner.

British East Africa, c. 1902

Partial map of Africa, showing British East Africa (now Kenya) on the upper right,...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

Colonization of Africa by European countries

Map showing the colonization of Africa by European countries in the early 1900s....

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Mau Mau Rebellion

Mau Mau Rebellion

Detained Indigenous Kenyans sitting, surrounded by barbed wire, as they wait to be...

© Planet News Ltd.—SuperStock/Alamy

Jomo Kenyatta, wearing a suit and traditional cap, waves a fly whisk and smiles amid a cheering crowd of supporters outside party headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Jomo Kenyatta

Kenya African Nationalist Union leader Jomo Kenyatta (center) waving his fly whisk...

© Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Jomo Kenyatta

Jomo Kenyatta

African statesman and nationalist Jomo Kenyatta was the first prime minister (1963–64)...

John Moss/Black Star

Daniel arap Moi, President of Kenya, in 1988, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and orange polka-dot tie, looking slightly to the side.

Daniel arap Moi

Kenyan politician Daniel arap Moi, pictured here in 1988, served as president from...

William Campbell—The Chronicle Collection/Getty Images

Mwai Kibaki

Mwai Kibaki

Kenyan politician Mwai Kibaki, pictured here in 2012, served as president from 2002...

© Simon Maina—AFP/Getty Images

Raila Odinga, wearing a dark suit and patterned tie, stands smiling in front of a United Nations emblem.

Raila Odinga

Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga (2008–13) smiling at the United Nations Headquarters,...

Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo

Uhuru Kenyatta in a suit and red patterned tie, smiling at an event with a green and white background featuring blurred text and graphics.

Uhuru Kenyatta

President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, pictured here in Nairobi, March 9, 2013.

Will Boase—AFP/Getty Images

Westgate mall attack: damaged parking lot

Westgate mall attack: damaged parking lot

The parking lot outside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, after al-Shabaab gunmen...

Kenyan Presidential Press Service/Getty Images

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga stand side by side, smiling and shaking hands in front of a red carpeted entrance at Harambee House in Nairobi.

Reconciliation

Political rivals Pres. Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Raila Odinga shaking hands after...

© Simon Maina—AFP/Getty Images

William Ruto

William Ruto

Kenya's then-deputy president and president-elect, William Ruto, speaking during...

Daniel Irungu—EPA-EFE/Shutterstock.com

Kenyan police in riot gear face a large crowd of demonstrators on a city street in Nairobi, with smoke rising between the groups during a protest against tax hikes.

Gen Z taking a stand

Demonstrators—largely led by the generational cohort known as Gen Z—and police officers...

© Kabir Dhanji—AFP via Getty Images

Large crowd of demonstrators, many holding placards with names, march through downtown Nairobi. Urban buildings and colorful murals are visible in the background.

2025 protests

Demonstrators marching in downtown Nairobi on the anniversary of 2024's deadly Parliament...

© Donwilson Odhiambo/Getty Images

Interactives

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Learn about the colonization of Africa, the process of decolonization that led to...

© Encyclopaedia Britannica