GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

  After subduing indigenous Kenyan communities, the British embarked on establishing a Central and local government for efficient and effective administration. The subjection of Kenyan Africans to British rule was accomplished when the seat of colonial administration was shifted from Zanzibar to Nairobi in 1905. The following are factors that undermined British efforts to establish a good system of administration in Kenya up to 1914 They lacked both funds and experts to facilitate colonial administration in Africa, let alone Kenya. They lacked a Reference model of an administrative system like that of the traditional Buganda that could be emulated by Kenyan communities for the purpose of administration. Most of the chiefs selected by the British lacked legitimacy, for they were rejected by the African elders, who regarded them as nonentities as well as the young generations, who saw them as instruments of colonial exploitation and oppression. Many chiefs used their power to acquire...

  The Maasai and the original Kalenjin speakers first lived in the northern Lake Turkana area. They may have entered east Africa around 1000AD. Being nomadic pastoralists, they probably migrated mainly due to the need for fresh grazing land and water for their large herd. In spite of their close association with the original Kalenjin speakers in the Northern Lake Turkana region and elsewhere, the Maasai may have developed separately, as shown by the different languages and cultures among and between them and their previous associates. Around 1500AD, the Maasai began to move within the area between mount Elgon and mount Kamalinga and reached the Uasingishu plateau. Around 1700AD, they went southwards and established themselves in the area previously occupied by the Kalenjin, who had migrated ahead of them. They assimilated some of the people they conquered, such as the Sirikwa. By 1800, the Maasai had occupied much of the Central Kenya plains and north-central Tanzania. By that time...

  The Luo originated from Bahr-El-Ghazal, area in Southern Sudan, from where they moved and settled at Pu Bungu in northern Uganda. They then moved to Pakwach, where they had settled by 1450AD. It was from Pakwach that they later migrated into Kenya. By the 15th century, the Luo had begun to move to present-day Kenya. Though they all claim common ancestry in Ramogi, They migrated and settled in Kenya in four main groups. These were: Joka Owiny, Joka Jok, Joka Omolo, Abasuba. social organization among the Kenya Luo during the pre-colonial period. The family was the basic social unit. Several families formed one clan. They practised polygamy (marriage of more than one wife). They were exogamous i.e. they did not allow marriage within the clan. They were deeply religious and believed in a creator: God, whom they called Nyasaye. They had sacred shrines and trees where they offered sacrifices to the ancestral spirits. They had religious leaders, including priests, rain makers and medici...