British Colonization Of Kenya

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Imagine waking up one morning to a purple, cat-like, winged creature whom calmly stated that it was to be your king from then on and everything you owned was now it’s as well. Although it may seem like quite the fascinating event, but in a sense, it would be rather similar to colonialism (Colonialism: to exert full or partial political control over another country, occupy, develop, and exploit it’s land) and how the indigenous people of modern-day Kenya felt when Britain tried to do the same (without the purple, cat-like, winged creature). But, what kind of effect did this have on the people of Kenya? Britain's colonization of Kenya stood primarily positive for the people for a range of varying reasons, yet the most effectual being the development…show more content…
Within the margin of 46 years, the British were able to lend a hand in expanding Kenya’s miniscule travel routes to cover the vast majority of Kenyan soil, something that would have been nearly impossible to create without the import of resources from Europe (Document D, taken from The Geography of Modern Kenya, Edward W Soja). Above all, the privilege of transportation gave so much to the people of Kenya, opening up opportunities they hadn’t even thought possible. In the past, if one wished to travel across Kenya’s mountains, they would have to embark on a demanding 200-mile long trek (not including changes in slope), but today’s paved roads have now made the travel both safe and efficient (Document D). Now some might argue the fact that not every Kenyan has access to a vehicle, which is no less than true. Not everyone in the world owns a plane either, but for the people who are able to use Kenya’s routes, whether it be by foot, animal, or automotive, have benefited from it. Whether it be students walking to school or tourists enjoying the beautiful lands. Not only did the infrastructure give Kenya the privilege of transportation, it also gave them jobs and an access to a larger economic…show more content…
As clearly seen in Document E, taken from the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya’s 1955 Statistical Abstract, over the span of 9 years, the average African earning has risen from £13/year to £31/year, a massive 138% increase (Document E). Compared to that of European Men/Women and Asian Men, the increase in African earnings have been ranked as the 2nd largest (Document E). With Britain extending it’s reaches to Africa, it’s economic market followed. Africa then had a connection with Britain’s large assortment of consumers. Britain was mainly in search of Africa’s “… raw materials such as wool, copper, and tin… cash crops such as tea, coffee, cocoa… [and] new markets in which to sell their products-” (Background Essay: “How Did Colonialism Affect Kenya?” p.495). Such trades helped improve the overall well being of Kenya’s economic market, giving Kenya a bit more economic freedom, per se. More so, Kenya is able to put more money towards it's

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