Evidence of early man's occupation including tools, the iron-age through the pre-colonial period and up to the present time is wide spread in sites in Kenya. Documented history on occupation of Kenya between this early period and the 19th century when the British colonized the country is not specific. However, it is clear that Islamic immigrants started trading at the coast during the 8th Century followed by the Portuguese who were among the first known European settlers along the coast. Up to the 19th Century, very little was known of the Kenyan hinterland until the arrival of the British into Kenya.

The scramble for colonies in Africa among European countries reached fever pitch in 1884, when the Berlin Conference was convened to partition Africa amongst European colonial rivals. Among British acquisitions was the land we today call Kenya. A British trading company, Imperial British East Africa Company, was set up and posted to administer Kenya under the name British East Africa Protectorate. When it was realised that the company could not contain Kenya’s hostile communities the British declared the country a colony and Protectorate on 1st July 1895 and posted the first Governor, Sir Arthur Hardinge, to establish a formal British administration.

The seventy years of colonial rule in Kenya were characterised by punitive economic, social and political policies. Most outstanding among these policies was racial discrimination. Huge fertile land was alienated for white settlement, and harsh labour laws were enacted to force the Africans to work at low wages on settler farms and public works. In addition, African political participation was confined to local government.

The colonization process was met with resistance, which was countered with excessive force. Hence, most of Kenya’s modern history is marked by rebellions against the British, with the first one being in 1890 and the last one, known as Mau Mau rebellion in 1952. The outbreak of the Mau Mau paved the way for constitutional reforms and independence eleven (11) years later. In 1955, a myriad of political parties were formed all over the country after the colonial Government yielded to their formation.

Elections were held in March 1957, after which racial barriers in the Government began to be lifted. By 1960, the Legislative Council (LEGCO) had an Africa Majority. In 1960, Kenya African National Union (KANU) which advocated for a unitary government was formed and in 1961, Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) which advocated a quasi-federal government (Majimbo) was formed.

The first full franchise General Elections were held in May, 1963, with KANU the winner. On 1st June 1963, Kenya attained internal self-government. On December 12th of the same year, she attained full independence. On the first anniversary of independence in 1964, Kenya became a Republic with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta as the First President. Kenya has conducted regular elections every five years since independence.

The country has had three Presidents since independence. Upon Jomo Kenyatta’s death on 22nd August 1978, Daniel arap Moi took over the leadership. He retired on 30th December 2002 in line with a constitutional Provision which limits the Presidential term to a maximum 10 years of 5 years each. This provision took effect in 1991 following the re-introduction of multipartism. Previously Kenya was a single party state.

Mwai Kibaki took over from Moi on 30th December 2002 to become Kenya's third President. Kibaki and his National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) won with a landslide victory in the December 27 2002 general elections, thus ending KANU's forty year stranglehold. Mwai Kibaki was re-elected for a second term in 2007.

Following the dispute in the 2007 election results president Mwai Kibaki and Hon. Raila Odinga signed the National Accord and Reconciliation Agreement which led to the formation of a Grand Coalition Government. A constitutional amendment and an Act of Parliament subsequently entrenched in the Constitution the post of prime minister in the executive structure. Hon. Raila Odinga was subsequently appointed Prime Minister. The role of the prime minister is the co-ordination and supervision of the functions of government.

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