Jomo Kenyatta was the first Prime Minister and executive president of Kenya. He was born in 1894 to the Kikuyu people and worked throughout his life to promote Kenyan independence from British colonial rule. Kenyatta was imprisoned from 1953 to 1961 due to his suspected involvement in the Mau Mau rebellion against British control, though no evidence was found against him. After his release, Kenyatta became prime minister in 1963 and president in 1964, leading Kenya as a pro-Western nation but exhibiting totalitarian tendencies through political oppression and economic favoritism toward his family and friends.

1. Jomo Kenyatta Chris Brown Anthony Candelario

2. Introduction Born October 20, 1894 Served as the first Prime Minister of Kenya for 1963-1964 Kenyatta became executive president on December 12, 1964, when Kenya became a republic

3. Early Life Born Kamau wa Ngengi, a member of the Kikuyu people(Kenya’s most populous ethnic group) He attended Christian schools for much of his life, finally converting to Christianity in 1914 Then Changed his name to John Peter and later to Johnstone Kamau

4. Politics Joined the Kikuyu Central Association(KCA) 1928 he worked for Kikuyu land reform in Nairobi Became the editor of the newspaper, Muigwithania(Reconciler) KCA sent him to London to lobby for the Kikuyu Returned to Kenya in Sept. of 1930

5. Politics cont. In 1946 he founded the Pan-African federation with Kwame Nkrumah A group to promote African nations independence He became the president of the Kenyan African Union(KAU) in 1947 Kenyan political party to represent Kenyan grievances towards the British colonial control

6. Mau Mau Rebellion Known officially as the Kenya Emergency Was an insurgency of Kenyan rebels against British rule Was an epic fail, but could have hastened Kenyan independence A state of emergency was declared in Kenya

7. Mau Mau Rebellion cont. Kenyatta was arrested in Oct. of 1952 due to his suspected involvement All though there was no real evidence against Kenyatta, he was sentenced to 7 years of hard labor and permanent restriction in 1953 Was released from his sentence in 1961

8. The KANU and the KADU Both successors of the KAU After being put into the Legislative council in 1961, he tried to reunite the KAU(again was an epic fail) Kenyatta became prime minister in 1963 and president in 1964 Later that year the KANU and the KADU finally reunited forming a single-party

9. Leadership Pro-western and anti-communist Much did not change from the British rule He even asked British troops for help against Somali rebels Instituted land reform However, led to corruption in the leadership because it led to most land being given to his family and friends

10. Leadership cont. Kenya was admitted into the United Nations under Kenyatta Opened up trade agreements with Obote(Uganda) and Nyerere(Tanzania)

11. Level of Totalitarianism Political control Had opposition killed or imprisoned Including his first two Vice-presidents Was only name on ballot in several of his elections Economic Gave land to his family and friends They therefore controlled most of the economy Social No real control over social aspects