SETTLER ECONOMYS: TUDY CASE - SETTLER ECONOMY IN KENYA
A settler is a foreign investor who invests in a new place (strange land) and dwell there permanently. In colonial Africa, settler’s economy was dominated by the white (Europeans) settlers. The white settlers were found in almost all European colonies.
In some colonies, the white settlers were found in a big number to an extent of naming these areas as settler’s colonies. For example: in Kenya, Zimbabwe and other areas. Most of the activities of the white settlers included large scale cash crop farming, large scale animal keeping, processing industries management, mining activities and so on.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SETTLER ECONOMY IN COLONIAL AFRICA
Existence of large scale plantations: These plantations were owned by white settlers. They produce abundant cash crops (raw materials) to feed European industries of Europe.
Existence of land alienation: The colonial governments evacuated the natives from their fertile areas to allow settlers large scale production. The natives were pushed to infertile areas or reserved areas.
Direct and indirect forced labor: Settlers large scale production relied on Africa cheap labor. Through taxation, land alienation and natives labor recruitment agencies, the Africans were indirectly forced to serve as cheap labor.
Existence of new taxes and taxation system: For example: The hut taxes, poll tax, Matiti tax and so on in Kenya. Taxation was used as a means of forcing the Africans to be employed by the White Settlers and as a source of colonial government revenue.
Migrant labor: The white settlers preferred to use migrant labor because they were more productive than ordinary local area labor from the nearby people. Migrant laborers were cheap to handle and not so aggressive.
Existence of the native squatters: This was because the natives were evacuated from their fertile areas and overcrowded in the infertile reserve areas. They were used a cheap laborers.
Existence of laws in favor of the white settlers: Example. In Kenya, the master and servant act, the native registration ordinance (Kipande system) and others. The colonial government made sure that the settler production is succeeding.
STUDY CASE
SETTLER ECONOMY IN KENYA
Kenya was among the British colonies in which the colonial governments promoted settler economy. In the early 1900s, the Governor {High commissioner} of Kenya, Sir Charles Elliot, promoted settler economy by inviting the white settlers from Britain, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Holland and others. In 1922 onwards Governor Robert Corydon accelerated the efforts invented by Governor Charles Elliot.
REASONS FOR SETTLER ECONOMY IN KENYA
Settler economy in British East Africa (Kenya) was influenced by the following reasons:
The need for abundant raw materials: settler production was believed to be the only means in which the British could achieve the quality of raw materials demanded to feed the industries in Europe.
Conducive climate: The Kenyan highlands (central and Western, the rift valley etc.) were very fertile with enough rainfall suitable for various agricultural activities. This too promoted settler production.
Underdeveloped peasant production: In pre-colonial Kenya, peasant production was not much developed as it was in Southern Uganda. In Kenya the peasant production was mainly for substance. In the Northern part, most of the natives were nomadic pastoralists. The central and southern parts were occupied by poor peasants not Kulaks.
Railways line construction costs: The colonial government used settler production as a means of covering the expenses incurred in the construction of the Kenya – Uganda railway. Settler economy was the only means of obtaining revenue for settling the loan borrowed for railway line construction.
It was a crown land: According to the British, a crown colony is entitled totally to the British and ought to be dwelt by the British. This gave them courage of inviting the white settlers.
Presence of enough cheap labor: This also encouraged the British to venture into settler production large population of poor peasants ensured them a constant labor supply.
Easy transportation and communication: The presence of artificial and natural harbor in Mombasa (Malindi), the railway line and roads attracted the white settlers to invest in Kenya.
The role of colonial government: The colonial government enacted the laws which attracted white settlers. For example the native registration ordinances, the master and servant act and so on. In 1923, the Devonshire white paper also gave white settlers more rights in the Kenyan highlands.
Note: Settlers production in Kenya didn’t go smoothly. It encountered serious problems at its initial stages.
