Courtesy of
National
Museums of Kenya
4.1 million years before the present
Austrolopithicus anamensis, considered one of the first upright
walking humans, inhabited the west of what is now called Lake Turkana.
3.5 million years before the
present
Kenyanthropus platyops lived in the area West of Lake
Turkana; skeleton remains found between 1998-1999 and stored at
the National Museums of Kenya.
200 A.D.
Bantu migrants bring technology to the Coast of Kenya.
+700 A.D.
Arabs who traded with the local people introduce Islam on the Coast
of East Africa.
+750 A.D.
Swahili urban settlements spring up along the Kenyan Coast.
10-14th Century
The Nilotes, consisting of the Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana, Iteso,
and Luo, moved from the West of Lake Turkana into Kenya.
13th Century
Some Bantu speakers split into two groups when moving into Central
Tanzania settling in between Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean.
The first group migrated north forming the Taveta, Dawida and Akamba
peoples. The second group moved along the coast into the hilltops
behind the coastline north becoming the Mijikenda. And a third group
moving westwards settled in the Kenya Highlands, which became the
Agikuyu, Aembu, Chuka, Tharaka, and the Ameru.
15th Century
"Golden Age" of Swahili Civilization
15th-17th Century
The Luos migrated from southern Sudan to Uganda and settled on the
shores of Lake Victoria. From there they began spreading along the
shores to Kisumu and Kano Plains.
1528
The first Portuguese attack on Mombasa
1593
Fort Jesus is built by the Portuguese in Mombasa
18th Century
The Maasai moved through the plains before settling in the Rift
Valley area.
1846 August 25th
Dr. Ludwig Krapf, a German and missionary of the Church Missionary
Society of England, establishes the first Christian Mission of Kenya
among the Mijikenda on the coast.
1883
Joseph Thomson is the first European explorer to pass through Maasai
country.
1887
Sir William Mackinnon and the British East Africa Association accept
a concession of the Zanzibar sultan's territory for a 50-year period.
1890
Waiyaki Wa Hinga, a Kikuyu chief who ruled Dagoretti, signed a treaty
with Fredrick Lugard of the Imperial British East Africa Company.
Lugard settled in Dagoretti and began harassing the Kikuyu for their
women and food. In defiance to his demands they burnt down Lugard's
fortress. In 1892, the British administration kidnapped Hinga and
buried him alive along the coast of Kenya.
1894
British government declares a protectorate over Kenya and Uganda,
calling it the The East Africa Protectorate and Sir Arthur Hardinge
becomes the first Commissioner.
1896-1897 The British sends military expeditions against the Kikuyu
and the Kamba to assert authority.
Late 19th Century
Koitalel Arap Samoei, a diviner and Nandi leader prophesied that
a black snake would tear through Nandi land spitting fire, which
was seen later as the railway line. For ten years he fought against
the builders of the railway line and train. Later, determined to
continue the railway line, the British created a trap and killed
Samoei.
Early 20th Century
Mekatilili Wa Menza resisted British attempts to eradicate Giriama
traditional culture through the destruction of kaya, sacred forest
shrines and places of worship. She led the Giriama people into a
rebellion against the British. Mekatilili was later captured and
exiled to Western Kenya.
1901
First railway line completed from Mombasa to Kisumu on Lake Victoria.
1909
National Museums of Kenya founded
1920
The status of the East Africa Protectorate is changed to the Kenya
Colony and the coastal strip is named the Kenya Protectorate.
1921
The first African political protest movement in Kenya against the
government began by the Young Kikuyu Association, led by Harry Thuku.
1944
The first African is included in legislative council of an East
African territory.
1947
In preparation for efforts to gain freedom from the British rule,
members of the Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba took oaths of unity
and secrecy, thus the Mau Mau movement began.
1953 April 8th
Jomo Kenyatta, born Kamau wa Ngengi, is charged with directing the
Mau Mau movement and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
1956
Dedan Kimathi was arrested on February 18th for his role in the
Mau Mau uprising as a Field Marshall leading thousands of fighters
for the struggle of independence.
1959
Jomo Kenyatta is released from prison.
1960
Africans allowed to form their own nationwide political parties.
African leaders met in Kambu and created The Kenya African National
Union (KANU), led by J.S. Gichuru, Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya and
later joined by Jomo Kenyatta.
1963
June 1st Kenya achieved internal self-government, known as Madaraka
(Freedom). June 1st is Madaraka Day, now celebrated as Self Rule
Day.
1963
December 12th Kenya becomes fully independent
1964
Kenya becomes a Republic with Jomo Kenyatta as its first President
and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as Vice President
1966
Vice President Oginga Odinga forms a new opposition party, Kenya
People's Union (KPU)
1969 July
1969 July
Tom Mboya, Minister of Economic Planning, and Development is assassinated.
1978
Jomo Kenyatta dies.
1978
October Daniel arap Moi succeeds Kenyatta as Kenya's second President.
1992
Section 14 of the Constitution is repealed and Kenya holds its first
multi-party elections.
1994
Oginga Odinga dies.
1997
Second multi-party elections
