Kenya African Union

World War II was a major war between the Axis and Allies. The war experienced thousands of deaths and led to many disagreements between the participating nations. In the colonies of the European nations that fought the war, in Asia and Africa, the effect was a political awakening in which revolts and independence movements began. This is the environment in which organisations such as the Kenya African Union were born. The core of KAU's leadership eventually founded the Kenya African National Union under whom Kenya gained independence.

Formation

The Kenya African Union was founded in 1942 under the name Kenya African Study Union. The word study was dropped in 1947 when Jomo Kenyatta joined and became leader of the party. At the time Kenya was among several African colonies experiencing the confusion of their rule after World War II. Kenyan Africans tried to use KAU to gain political rights through peaceful with a nonviolent approach. The Kenya African Union formed to demand independence for Kenya in the early 1950s through a more forceful approach. Many protest and riots leading to the organisation, being proscribed in 1952, and several of its leaders being detained. The guerilla warfare tactics by the Land Freedom Army eventually gave the rebels the name the "Mau Mau" by the colonizers. Displeased by this acquisition Jomo Kenyatta gave a speech in 1952 to prove the Kenya African Union was not what the colonizers believed it was. Kenyatta stated that the Mau Mau was an organization that promoted violence while the KAU was an organization that doesn't fight violently, but fought peacefully. Also in his speech Kenyatta also stated the desire for all of Kenya to be united in order for the people to gain their independence. Along with his speech Kenyatta also said that he would set up a government system to help settle the land differentiations and maintain peace in Kenya. The KAU began weak under the British, but as their supporters grew after Kenyatta's speech and the protest Kenya’s power grew.

Accomplishments

Kenya achieved independence, adopted a parliament system and Kenya largely down to the leadership of politicians who had been part of KAU. Despite guerrilla warfare and protest, being part of Kenya's struggle for independence peaceful negotiations led by former KAU leaders prevailed inspiring other movements across Africa and the world. The parliament system, or the Royal Commission, helped settle the land arguments between the British and the Kenyans. The KAU was an organization that strived for freedom and helped Kenya become independent through peaceful protest, and led by Jomo Kenyatta helped Kenya become free. The Royal Commission also helped make government decisions and also proved that the KAU was an organization that desired peace and tranquility. Along with the commission the global attention that Kenya received aided in the spread of independence movements in Africa and helped Kenya become a wealthier and more powerful country.

Impact

Once Kenya became a free nation other African nations began their own independence movements. South Africa became independent after its racial discrimination that appeared throughout Africa in the late 1950s. Though racial discrimination was a tough barrier to break, the United Nations set up a resolution that set up seven points to help end the discrimination in South Africa in the government and society. These points were put into place under the president, Nelson Mandela who in his inaugural address he said the time of turmoil and rebuilding has come which brought significant changes to the perception of society in South Africa. In Rhodesia the Unilateral Declaration of Independence was created for them to obtain independence. In the declaration the Prime Minister, Ian Smith, states that social justice will never be obtained, and that the only way for the Rhodesian people to be treated fairly was to rid the country of foreign influence. This proved to be successful in the late 1960s. Finally, in Tanzania the Arusha Declaration was created to demand independence because for as long as there is foreign influence in Tanzania there would be no industrial development just more poverty and oppression in Tanzanian society. This declaration later led to their independence in 1967. Algeria was another country to be influenced by the KAU and their independence movement. The Algerians created the National Liberation Front, or the FLN. The FLN saw many major defeats to the French and Berbers early on, but were able to negotiate their independence. This was created by force by the Secret Army Organization (OAS). They fought with guerilla warfare and fought in a civil war until independence and peace were restored. The KAU's leadership came from a group of Africans who founded independence movements throughout the continent through protests and revolts to help aid in the end of racial discrimination and independence.