History

Paleontologists believe that the first inhabitants of Kenya lived over 2 million years ago! But as far as the records go the Arab seafarers established colony settlements along the coast of Kenya in the 700’s. In the early 1500s the Portuguese took control of the area. During the reign of the Portuguese over 40 ethnic groups resided there. The largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, migrated to Kenya in the 18^th century. In 1890 the land became a British Protectorate, then in 1920 it became a crown colony. The British named Kenya British East Africa. The country was running smoothly until 1940 when nationalist stirrings began. In 1952 Kikuyu militants rebelled against the government. This action was called the Mau Mau Movement. The fighting lasted until 1956. Then, on December 12, 1963 Independence was finally achieved. Jomo Kenyatta, a nationalist leader during the struggle, was the first president.
Now that the country was independent Kenyatta chose to make it a one-party nation in 1964. It was ruled like that by Kenyatta and then by Daniel arap Moi. The country was ruled in this way until demonstrations and riots broke out in Kenya. Moi was forced to allow a multiparty election in 1992.
Kenya's economy did not flourish under the rule of Moi. The country also suffered through multiple disasters in 1997 and 1998. First severe flooding destroyed roads, bridges, and crops causing much trouble to Kenya. Next a Malaria and Chloera epidemic ravaged the health care system. To top it off the two main ethnic groups, the Kikuyu and Kalenjin,clashed in the Rift Valley causing much trouble to Kenya. Then, on August 7, 1998, terrorists bombed the U.S. embassy in Nairobi. 243 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured in the bombing.
Kenya was now considered a corrupt country. It is regurly on the top ten list of corrupt countries in the world. Since being a corrupt country isnt a good thing they tried to pass a anticorruption law, which failed to pass in parlaiment in august of 2001. The parlaiment wouldn't pass the law because it was too weak and was full of loopholes. This made it much more unlikely for the country to receive international aid.
In December of 2002 Mwai Kibaki won the presidential election by promising that he would end the corruption in Kenya. At first the new president helped by examining corrupt judges and police and giving free primary school education. People were very pleased with these reforms, but it soon seemed like that was all he was going to do. By 2004 the people were becoming more and more disappointed in Kibaki. He had failed deliver a long-awaited constitution that would limit the presidents power. Then in July, 2005 the parliament passed a draft of the constitution. It was then time for the voters to decide. Everything seemed fine, but then the voters noticed a detail. The constitution would actually increase the presidents power rather that decrease it. The constitution was rekected in December, 2005.
After the constitution problem Kenya's welfare really decreased. First there was a very serious drought that ravaged Kenya causing close to 2.5 million faced starvation by January, 2006. Then Kenya descended into a state of violence and chaos after the 2007 presidential election. Kibaki won the election against Raili Odinga. Odinga had promised to end corruption and he was very popular with the poor. When the new president had been announced violence broke out between the Lou and Kikuyu tribes. In January, 2008 the fighting intensified with more than 800 people dieng across the country because of violence. The violence continued and by February, 2008 more than 1,000 people had died.
To solve this problem the government knew that Odinga needed to have a place in the government. Kibaki agreed that this was true. Odinga was then appointed as the prime minister. This was the first step to restoring the country.