Kenya travel guide: historical highlights
A wealth of unique fossil evidence tells us that the East African Rift Valley has been inhabited by our hominin ancestors for perhaps 6 million years. Archeological discoveries at several sights in Kenya, including Olorgesailie in the Rift Valley south of Nairobi and Kariandusi near Lake Elmentaita, have been key to our understanding of human evolution.
Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese at the end of the 15th century, Kenya's Swahili Coast enjoyed a golden age of trade. Portuguese dominance came to end when the region became part of the Sultanate of Oman at the end of the 17th century. An uneasy truce - marked by sporadic outbreaks of violent dissensions - endured between the established Swahili sultanates and their Omani supplanters until the coming of the British and Germans in the 19th century. A combination of missionary zeal, imperial ambition and a simple desire to explore attracted the European powers to East Africa who then proceeded to carve up the entire African interior.
Kenya’s transition from British colony to independent state began in 1922 and involved four decades of fervent political debate and, at times, bloody armed conflict which finally came to an end in 1963. Hardly had Independence been achieved, however, than Kenya found itself in the midst of a region where one neighbouring state after the other was set aflame by revolutions and/or coups, and rumours of communist subversion were rife. As with many African states, natural disasters and terrorist attacks have impeded the country's progress in recent years, but Kenya has coped better than most.
• Ghost Cities of the Swahili Coast
Kenya historical timeline
6 million BC
The earliest known East African hominin Orrorin tugenensis lived in Kenya’s Tugen Hills.1.8 million BC
Emergence of the tool-making Homo erectus.
130,000 BC
Homo sapiens active near Lake Baringo.
c. 2,000 BC
Cushitic-speaking nomads arrive from Ethiopia.
500 BC–AD 500
Bantu-speaking migrants arrive in Kenya with metalworking skills.
c. 900
Islamic settlers occupy Mombasa and other seaports, leading to emergence of Swahili civilisation.
1498
Arrival of Vasco da Gama in Malindi signals the start of Portuguese influence.
1500
Portuguese sack Mombasa.
1593
Portuguese begin construction of Fort Jesus in Mombasa.
1699
Omani Arabs capture Fort Jesus, leading to withdrawal of Portugal and long era of Omani rule.
1824
Captain Owen declares Mombasa a British protectorate, a status that is removed three years later.
1832
Seyyid Said transfers his court to Zanzibar.
1830–1880
Slave trade flourishes under Seyyid Said and his successors.
The Age of Exploration
1840s
Missionaries Krapf and Rebmann respectively the first Europeans to see Mounts Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
1856
Burton and Speke discover lakes Tanganyika and Victoria.
1883
Explorer Joseph Thomson travels from Mombasa to Lake Victoria through Maasailand.
1888
Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) builds headquarters in Mombasa.
1890
The Treaty of Berlin brings all Kenya and Uganda under British jurisdiction.
1892
Jomo Kenyatta is born in the highlands north of Nairobi.
1895
The British Government acquires IBEAC’s assets, and Kenya and Uganda become “British East Africa”.
1896
Construction of the railway from Mombasa to Uganda begins.
1899
Nairobi founded as railway headquarters.
1901
The railway reaches Kisumu on Lake Victoria.
1902
First daily newspaper founded in Mombasa.
1918
After World War I, the British Government offers war veterans land in the Kenyan Highlands.
The Nationalist Movement
1922
Nationalist leader Harry Thuku is arrested, leading to the massacre of protesters outside Nairobi police station.
1924
The Kikuyu Central Association (KCA), known as Uhuru, is formed with Jomo Kenyatta as its secretary.
1929
Kenyatta goes to England to plead the cause of Kenyan liberation.
1939–45
In World War II, Britain uses Kenya as a base for operations in Ethiopia (then Abyssinia). Many Kenyan Africans fight in the British army.
1940
The KCA and other organisations are outlawed and their leaders detained.
1944
The Mau Mau independence movement is founded.
1946
Jomo Kenyatta becomes chairman of the newly formed Kenya African Union (KAU).
1952
State of emergency declared. Kenyatta and 82 other nationalists arrested and imprisoned. War declared on Mau Mau.
Independence Achieved
1956
First elected African representatives in the Legislative Council. Mau Mau rebellion ends.
1959
Kenyatta released from prison but put under house arrest.
1960
State of emergency ends. Kenya African National Union (KANU) formed by Tom Mboya and Oginga Odinga.
1961
Kenyatta released from house arrest and assumes presidency of KANU.
1963
Kenya becomes independent with Jomo Kenyatta as Prime Minister.
1978
President Kenyatta dies in office and is succeeded by former Vice-President, Daniel arap Moi.
1982
Kenya officially declared a one-party state. Attempted coup d’état by Kenyan Air Force is put down.
1992
First multi-party elections for 25 years, but Moi is returned as President, amid accusations of electoral irregularities. Economic crisis: World Bank withholds aid until Moi agrees to economic reforms.
1997
Police clash with pro-democracy protesters. Moi is re-elected President in widely criticised elections.
1998
Islamic terrorist car bomb at the US Embassy in Nairobi kills 224 and injures 4,500.
2002
Terrorist attacks on an Israeli airliner and hotel in Mombasa leave 15 people dead. Moi's 24-year rule ends with opposition presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki’s landslide victory.
2003
Free primary education and anti-corruption measures introduced. International Monetary Fund resumes lending after a three-year gap.
2004
Wangari Maathai is the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
2005
New constitution proposals rejected in referendum.
2007
Kibaki officially defeats his rival Raila Odinga by a margin of 3 percent in presidential elections. The result is disputed, leading to violence in which at least 800 people are killed.
2008
A Unity Government is installed, with Kibaki as President and Odinga Prime Minister.
2010
East African Common Market allows for free trade with Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
2011
Uhuru Kenyatta and five other politicians appear before the ICC to answer allegations related to post-election violence four years earlier. Four hundred thousand starving Somalis flee from Somalia to the Dabaab Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. In October, Kenya invades neighbouring Somalia in pursuit of the Al-Shabaab insurgents blamed for a string of high-profile kidnappings in Lamu and Garissa Districts.
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