-------------------------------------------------
Kenya History Then and Now
Early Kenya history evidence shows that man's prehistoric ancestors roamed Kenya as early as four million years ago.
The modern history of Kenya, however, did not start until the Cushitic people of Northern Africa moved into present day Kenya around 2000 BC. Thousands of years later, at around 200 AD, the Bantu arrived and settled along Kenya's coast. Later, between the 10th-14th centuries, the Nilotic people arrived and occupied the Great Rift Valley plains.

Arab traders began frequenting Kenya's coast during the first century AD. By 700 AD, Arab settlements had sprouted along the coastline, giving way to inter-marriages between the Arabs and the Bantu. This formed the beginning of the Swahili culture and language found in Kenya today.
Arab dominance ended in 1498, when the Portuguese arrived and settled along Kenya's coast. It was during their stay that the Portuguese built the famous Fort Jesus in Mombasa in 1593. The Portuguese retained control of much of the coast until the late 1600s when the Imam of Oman defeated them and brought Kenya's coast under Islamic control.
Kenya Colonial History
The colonial history of Kenya starts with the Berlin Conference of 1885 when European nations divided Africa among themselves. In 1894, the British government declared the East African Protectorate over Kenya and Uganda and, in 1920, the protectorate became a colony. The Kenya historical events timeline below highlights key events of the colonial period.
1944: Kenyan African Union (KAU) formed to campaign for independence.
1947: Jomo Kenyatta becomes KAU leader.
1947: The Mau Mau rebel movement is born.
1952: Mau Mau activities intensify. The colonial government declares a state of emergency. Kenyatta, Achieng Aneko and others are arrested.
1953: Kenyatta is sentenced to seven years