Kikuyu Central Association
Encyclopedia
The Kikuyu Central Association (KCA), led by James Beauttah
and Joseph Kang'ethe, was a political organisation in colonial Kenya
formed in 1924/5 to act on behalf of the Kĩkũyũ community by presenting their concerns to the British government. One of its greatest grievances was the expropriation of the most productive land by British settlers from African farmers. Most members of the organisation were from the Kĩkũyũ tribe.
KCA was formed after the colonial government banned the earlier Young Kikuyu Association
founded by Harry Thuku
and the East African Association. Jomo Kenyatta
, later the first president of Kenya, joined it to become its General Secretary in 1927.
The Kikuyu Central Association was banned in 1940 when World War II reached East Africa. Some fighters of the later Mau-Mau still understood their struggle as continuation of KCA and even called themselves KCA.
The end of World War II, however, saw the new type of African organisation that went beyond tribal boundaries with the rise of the Kenya African Union
that later was to become KANU
.
KCA published the Muiguithania ("the reconciler"), a Kikuyu language newspaper. It was banned alongside KCA in 1940.
James Beauttah
James Beauttah led the Kikuyu Central Association, Kenya's first all-African political organization together with Joseph Kang'ethe. They were later joined by Jomo Kenyatta in 1924 as they lay the foundation that would be the beginning of his road to presidency....
and Joseph Kang'ethe, was a political organisation in colonial Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
formed in 1924/5 to act on behalf of the Kĩkũyũ community by presenting their concerns to the British government. One of its greatest grievances was the expropriation of the most productive land by British settlers from African farmers. Most members of the organisation were from the Kĩkũyũ tribe.
KCA was formed after the colonial government banned the earlier Young Kikuyu Association
Young Kikuyu Association
The Young Kikuyu Association was formed in Kenya on the 10th June 1921, as a break away organisation from the Kikuyu Association . In July 1921 it was renamed the East Africa Association ....
founded by Harry Thuku
Harry Thuku
Harry Thuku was born in Kenya into the Kikuyu ethnic group, one of the groups that lost the largest amount of land to white settlers during the British takeover of Kenya....
and the East African Association. Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
, later the first president of Kenya, joined it to become its General Secretary in 1927.
The Kikuyu Central Association was banned in 1940 when World War II reached East Africa. Some fighters of the later Mau-Mau still understood their struggle as continuation of KCA and even called themselves KCA.
The end of World War II, however, saw the new type of African organisation that went beyond tribal boundaries with the rise of the Kenya African Union
Kenya African Union
Kenya African Union was a political organization formed in 1944to articulate Kenyan grievances against the British colonial administration of the time...
that later was to become KANU
Kenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
.
KCA published the Muiguithania ("the reconciler"), a Kikuyu language newspaper. It was banned alongside KCA in 1940.