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How did colonialism affect Kenya?

DBQ
Isamar Resendez

Kenya is located in east Africa and the people, Kenyans, were ruled under colonialism in 1884, by the
Europeans (British) for nearly 80 years. Colonialism had positive effects on kenya's social environment
and growth in kenya (geography) but negative effects on the Countrys economy. Colonialism or in other
words, imperialism, means “the action of ruling another country”, in this case europeans (British) ruling
over kenyans. Here are some negative and positive ways colonialism impacted kenya. Even though
kenya was ruled under colonialism, some supportive actions were coming towards kenyans social
environment, that is to say, kenyans and europeans development in the community. The ethnic groups,
which are groups that are made of people with similar cultural backgrounds, had a connection with the
african leaders (europeans). In document 4 named, ​The colonial era in africa ​it states, ”African leaders
and ethnic groups collaborated very closely with the colonizer in exchange for certain privileges within
the colonial system”. The primary ethnic groups and the largest were kikuyu, luo and luhya which were
located in kenya, the african leaders who were in one of these positions, gave kenyans the privilege to get
liberated from slavery and rule by other ethnic and religious groups. African leaders were grateful enough
to the colonizer (kenyans), also in the same document it shows, “-despite its many abuses, it had
eliminated slavery, human sacrifice, and internecine warfare while providing opportunities for africans
with modern skills to rise socially and economically-”. The african leaders gave kenyans many great
opportunities, it is a win win with for both of them because the african leaders and kenyans, get privileges
in the colonial system, but it is mainly the win for the kenyans since kenyans are in need of a higher social
and economic modern skills, which means to get in a finer location in kenya.
Talking about locations, in the colony of kenya, beneficial movements that were caused by the mother
country (Europe), had developed rapidly in kenya. These movements were the improvements in kenyas
Rail road networks and Postal services, postal service is just another term for ​post office. ​In document 11,
named ​The geography of Modern Kenya ​it proves that in 1908, the railroad networks were scarce in kenya
and kenya did not have plenty, it also demonstrated that the railroad is connected to Nairobi, which is the
capital city of kenya and to Mombasa, which is a city in kenya as well. The railroad that is connected
between these two cities is about 800 miles long. Also in this document it shows the growth of the
railroads between Nairobi and Mombasa, in the year 1954, the expansion of the railroads is incredible,
these railroads were very efficient, and the use of them were very productive for both kenyans and
europeans. Kenyans themselves could travel more easily, more effective than a third class car and the
railroad brought goods into kenya, some of the kenyans were able to purchase these goods. The post
offices in kenya were also very scarce, in the year 1919, the document it shows, the entire post offices, but
labeled as dots, it was about 800 miles long. In the year 1968, extra post offices were joined with the little
there was.
It seems that as if Colonialism only had its ups, despite all the positive references that have been
mentioned, colonialism also had its downs towards kenya’s economy. Staying on the topic of
development in kenya, the development in agriculture with kenyans remain critical. Agriculture is ​the
practice or action of farming and the growing of crops, ​agriculture was negative regarding the kenyans in
the years 1946-1955. In document 12, named ​Colony and Protectorate of kenya ​it appears that in this
document it shows the average of earnings in kenya, it is organized in gender and race. A regular african
farmer receives the least income, earning money for farming, out of all the races in this document, a
common white male received extra amount of their income than the asians, and africans. African farmers
will only receive 2.5% in the year 1946 and in 1955 Africans received 3% of income. For Africans, this
was the only way to gain money and to obtain a decent job but clearly it was unfair. Asian farmers
generally earned about half of the white farmers receive, asians were in a more superior place then
Africans, definitely. In addition, document 12 also represents the ​average earnings in public services,
public services is a job where africans provide gas and electricity to the community, for instance kenyans
provide these resources to europeans. Referring to the other response, kenyans are given the same income,
hardly anything, including ​juveniles which are ​kids, minors a​ s well as women, all these individuals are
given 12 pounds, also know as money, each year 1946-1955. Unlike the europeans, they earn 203 pounds
a year.
Europeans, Africans, Asians all are different race but are human, Africans were bashed under colonialism
in positive and negative ways. Imperialism, same thing as colonialism, is the action of ruling another
country. Kenyans were ruled for nearly 80 years, by the europeans (British)

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