Having joined the East Africa Association (EAA) in his youth, he helped publish a Kikuyu tribal newspaper which championed their case for regaining land lost to white settlers. The EAA was disbanded but reformed as the Kikuyu Central Association (KCA). In 1928 Kenyatta took office as its general secretary and edited its journal Muiguithania (The Reconciler). Through this the KCA voiced opposition to British proposals for a Union of East African states, demanded the return of confiscated lands and representation on Kenya's legislative council, and sought other changes.

In 1929 Kenyatta's eloquent presentation to the colonial under-secretary was rejected but brought support for Kenyan reform from many in the British Labour Party and announced him as a significant political figure. However, a behind the scenes leadership struggle saw him lose to Harry Thuka. Between 1931 and 1946 Kenyatta led the campaign to highlight Kikuyu land grievances in Britain. Whilst overseas he also attended Moscow State University and studied anthropology at the London School of Economics. The latter led to the publication of Facing Mount Kenya - a study of traditional Kikuyu customs and beliefs which became a best seller and definitive work on the subject.

Having helped organise the 1945 Pan African Congress in Manchester, Kenyatta was given a hero's welcome on his return to Kenya. In 1947 he was elected president of KAU, the Kenya African Union. Though primarily supported by the Kikuyu, this multi-ethnic organisation sought independence for the country. By 1948 he was a formidable statesman and unifying force amongst fellow Africans.

Anti-colonial militancy erupted into the 1953-56 uprising of the Mau Mau, a Kikuyu secret society committed to forcibly ejecting the British. Despite having denounced their activities, Kenyatta was imprisoned for alleged involvement and KAU was banned.

In 1960 KAU was renamed the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and won a majority of seats in the Legislative Council. On his release, Kenyatta, its president, was elected to council unopposed and became Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs in 1962. He helped negotiate terms for internal self-government and in June 1963 assumed office as Kenya's first Prime Minister. A year later he was President of the new Republic.

Through his policies of African socialism, alignment with the west and Harambee (pulling together), he sought to unite the diverse ethnic groups, including whites, in a stable nation. Kenyatta, however, became increasingly autocratic in his de facto one party state. Nevertheless the free market economy boomed, though most of the generated wealth was concentrated in the hands of the dominant Kikuyu select.

Kenyatta died in August 1978 at Mombasa and was succeeded by Daniel Arap Moi, his Vice-President.

Published in Travel Africa Edition Ten: Winter 1999/2000 Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)