- Early political activities started in 1920.
- The main grievances of Africans:

1. They wanted back their land.
2. Africans were forced to work in the European farms.
3. They had lost their independence.
4. They were paid low wages.

- The main political associations include:

• Kikuyu Association - 1920 - Chief Koinange.
• Young Kikuyu Association - 1921 - Harry Thuku.
• East African Association - 1921 - Harry Thuku.
• Kavirondo Tax Payer's Welfare Association - 1922 - Ezekiel Apindi.
• Kikuyu Central Association - 1924 - Joseph Kang'ethe.

The legislative council

- Eliud Mathu was the first African to sit in the LegCo.
- In 1946 B.A. Ohanga became the second African.
- In 1957 eight Africans were elected to the LegCo.

1. Daniel Arap Moi - Rift Valley
2. Ronald Ngala - Coast
3. Oginga Odinga - Central Nyanza
4. Thomas Mboya - Nairobi
5. Masinde Muliro - North Nyanza
6. Lawrence Oguda - South Nyanza
7. James Muimi - Ukambani (Eastern)
8. Bernard Mate - Central

The second World War (1939-1945)

- The 2nd World War broke out in 1939.
- It involved Germany, Italy and Japan on one side.
- Britain, France and USA were on the the other side.

Effects of the 2nd world war

- Africans learned fighting skills that they were later used in their struggle for independence.
- Africans learned that Europeans were not superior.
- Africans got courage and support from other countries.
- The United Nations Organisation was formed.

• Kenya African Study Union - 1944 - James Gichuru.
• Kenya African Union - 1946 - James Gichuru.
• Kenya African National Union - 1960 - James Gichuru.
• Kenya African Democratic Union - 1960 - Ronald Ngala.
• The Mau Mau movement - 1946 - formed by dissatisfied soldiers who disliked KAU's peaceful way of nagotiating.

Major Constitutional amendments since 1963

• 12th December, 1964 Kenya became a Republic.
• The constitution was amended to create the post of president.
• April 1966 the law was amended to make MPs who resign from one party to seek re-election.
• 1974 Kiswahili was made official language of parliament.
• 1999 both Kiswahili and English became official languages of parliament.
• 1974 voting age was lowered to 18 years.
• 1982 Kenya was made a one party state by law.
• 1988 queue (mlolongo) voting was introduced.
• 1991 multiparty democracy was introduced.
• 1997 several amendments were made in the constitution.
• 1999 parliamentary select committee was established to review the constitution.
• 2005 a referendum was held for a new constitution.
• The constitution was rejected.
• August 4th 2010 Kenyans voted for a new constitution.
• August 27th 2010, the new constitution was promulgated therefore making it the written law of Kenya.

- Europeans started acquiring colonies in Africa towards the end of the 19th century. By 1914 all African countries except Ethiopia and Liberia had been colonised.
- European nations that acquired colonies in Africa were: France, Britain, German, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Belgium.

Reasons for acquiring colonies

• Europeans wanted to get raw materials.
• They wanted to establish markets.
• They wanted to spread christianity.
• They wanted to settle their surplus population.

African response to colonial rule

- African communities reacted in various ways to European colonization.
- Most communities resisted while others collaborated.

Communities which resisted

• Nandi - Koitalel Arap Samoei - Kenya.
• Abagusii against the British in Kenya - led by Otenyo.
• Baganda led by Kabaka Mwanga.
• Southern tribes of Tanganyika against the Germans led by Kinjekitile Ngwale.
• The Hehe people of Tanganyika led by chief Mkwawa.
• The Mandinka of West Africa against the French led by Samouri Toure.

Communities which collaborated

• Maasai led by Oloibon Lenana.
• Abawanga led by Nabongo Mumia.
• The Lozi people of Zambia led by Lewanika.
• The Agikuyu of Murang'a led by Karuri wa Gakure.

French in West Africa

• They used the policy of assimilation. Assimilation refers to the method of making Africans copy French culture and way of life.
• They wanted the Africans to adopt the French culture.
• They later changed to the policy of association to integrate African culture.

Belgians in Congo (DRC)

• King Leopold II had acquired Congo (former Zaire) and administered it as his personal property.
• The Belgium rule was harsh and cruel.
• They used the policy of paternalism where Africans were treated to be inferior or little children.

Portuguese in Mozambique
- Like the French the Portuguese considered their colonies as overseas extensions. They used the policy of assimilation.

Kenya

• Africans had to take arms and fight for their independence.
• They fought a long guerilla war with the British(Mau Mau) in 1950's.
• Kenya attained independence in 1963.

Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)

• The settlers led by Ian Smith did not want Africans to be independent.
• Led by several African nationalists, Africans fought a bloody war against the British.
• Zimbabwe became independent in 1980.

Tanganyika (Tanzania)

• Struggle for independence in Tanganyika was peaceful and through negotiations.
• Political parties struggled and organised meetings to demand African rights.
• Tanganyika became independent in 1961.

Gold Coast (Ghana)

• Ghana due to its hot and humid climate did not attract many settlers.
• Ghanaians used peaceful means to demand for independence.
• Ghana became independent in 1957.

Julius Nyerere

• He was born in 1922 in Butiama in Tanzania.
• He went to Makerere and became a teacher.
• He quit teaching and joined other Africns to demand for independence.
• He founded TANU in 1954.
• He became the first president of independent Tanganyika in 1962.
• He brought reforms in communal work (Ujamaa policy).
• He retired in 1985 and died in 1999.

Haile Selasie

• He became the emperor of Ethiopia in 1930.
• He briefly went to exile in Britain.
• He brought many reforms in Ethiopia.
• He ws overthrown in 1974 and died in 1975.

Jomo Kenyatta

• He was born in 1893 in Kiambu.
• He went to school at Thogoto and later Britain.
• He joined other Africans to demand for independence.
• He was jailed for 7 years in 1952.
• He became the first president of Kenya in 1964.
• He died while still in office in 1978.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga

• He was born in 1911 in Bondo.
• He became a teacher at Maseno.
• He joined other Africans to demand for independence.
• He became the first vice president of Kenya in 1964.
• He resigned from the post in 1966.
• He was actively involved in Kenyans national politics throughout his life.
• He died in 1994.
• He is remembered as the doyen of opposition in Kenya.

Daniel Arap Moi

• He was born in 1924 in Sacho, Baringo.
• He became a teacher.
• He was elected to represent Rift Valley in 1955.
• He became president in 1978.
• He retired in 2002.

Professor Wangari Maathai

• She was the first woman professor in Eastern and Central Africa.
• She became actively involved in environment conservation.
• She founded the Green Belt Movement.
• She became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Leopold Sedar Sengor

• He was born in 1906 at a local village.
• He was the first Senegalese president 1960.
• He wrote poems criticizing the French colonial rule.
• He retired as president in 1980.
• He died in 2002.

Nelson Mandela

• He is a respected African statesman.
• He was born in 1918 in Transkei, S.Africa.
• He learned law.
• He became actively involved in fighting apartheid.
• He was imprisoned for life in 1963.
• He was released in 1990.
• He became the first black president of S.Africa in 1994.
• He retired in 1999.
• He won a Nobel Peace Prize.
• He died in 2013.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

• He was born in 1918 in Egypt.
• He became a soldier.
• In 1954 he overthrew king Mohammed Neguib.
• He ruled until 1970 when he died.

United Nations Organization (U.N.O)

• It was formed in 1945.
• It was formed to promote world peace and co-operation in the world.
• It has branches which deal with economic development, social activities and political affairs.
• Its headquarters is in New York, U.S.A.

The Commonwealth Organisation

• It is mainly made up of the United Kingdom and former colonies of Britain.
• It promotes co-operation among its members.
• The queen of England is the leader.
• Commonwealth meets after 2 years.
• Commonwealth games are held after every four years encourage social relationship among members.

Organization of African Unity (O.A.U)

• Formed in 1963 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
• It was formed to assist other African countries to achieve independence.
• In 2002 it was changed to African Union (A.U).
• It promotes peace and co-operation in Africa.