The mass emigration of Kenyan Asians to Britain between 1967 and 1968 was triggered by two converging crises: the Africanisation policies of Kenya's independent government and the passage of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act in Britain. Thousands of Kenyan Asians, holding British passports (acquired during the colonial period), rushed to emigrate to Britain before the immigration door closed. This exodus represented a fundamental shift in the Kenyan Asian community and had profound consequences for both Kenya and Britain.
Kenyan Citizenship or British Passports
At independence in 1963, Kenyan Asians faced a crucial choice regarding citizenship. Those who opted for Kenyan citizenship renounced their claim to British passports. Those who maintained British citizenship retained the option to emigrate to Britain. However, the cost of holding British passports was increasing uncertainty about whether Britain would continue to accept immigrants. As Africanisation policies intensified in Kenya after independence, those holding British passports faced less risk of being trapped in Kenya.
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act
In 1968, the British Parliament passed the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, which severely restricted immigration from Commonwealth countries. The Act was effectively designed to prevent large-scale immigration from South Asian and Caribbean Commonwealth countries. The passage of the Act in 1968 created a panic among Kenyan Asians holding British passports, as they realized the door to Britain was closing. Many rushed to emigrate before the restrictions took effect, leading to scenes of chaos at British embassies and airports.
The Emotional and Political Panic
The combination of Africanisation pressures in Kenya and the closure of British immigration created an acute sense of panic and urgency. Families who had lived in Kenya for generations suddenly felt that they no longer belonged. The political rhetoric in Kenya, which explicitly blamed Asians for Kenya's economic problems, created a sense of hostility and rejection. The fear was that Asians would soon be explicitly expelled (as had happened in Uganda under Idi Amin) or would face widespread violence and discrimination.
The Emigration Process
Emigration to Britain was chaotic and often tragic. Families with limited resources struggled to sell properties and businesses at depreciated values to raise money for emigration. Many families sold businesses and properties at severe losses. Permits were required from the Kenyan government, and some cases involved bribery of officials. Visas were required from the British government, and the queues at embassies were enormous. Some families were separated as some members obtained visas while others were rejected.
Reception in Britain
The reception of Kenyan Asians in Britain was mixed at best. While Asians brought capital and professional skills, they faced significant racism from British society. African-Caribbean immigrants and Irish immigrants had preceded them, and British society had already developed stereotypes and prejudices against non-white immigrants. Asian immigrants were viewed as foreign and unassimilable. Housing discrimination was severe, with many landlords refusing to rent to Asian families. Employment discrimination was also common.
Settlement Patterns
Kenyan Asians in Britain settled primarily in urban areas where they could find affordable housing and where existing immigrant communities provided social support. London (particularly areas such as Leicester, Birmingham, and later areas like Southall) became the primary destinations for Kenyan Asian immigrants. Some Asians used capital brought from Kenya to establish businesses in Britain, including retail shops, restaurants, and professional services. Over time, these communities developed institutional structures including temples, community associations, and businesses.
Wealth Transfer and Investment
Kenyan Asians who emigrated to Britain brought significant capital with them, especially those from merchant families. This capital was invested in housing, businesses, and education. Some Asians leveraged their capital and entrepreneurial expertise to build successful businesses in Britain. This enabled upward mobility for many immigrant families within a generation or two. However, racism and discrimination also limited opportunities for some.
Impact on Kenya
The emigration of Asians from Kenya had immediate economic consequences. Businesses were closed or sold. Commercial property values declined. Skilled professionals, teachers, doctors, and engineers left Kenya. The departure of these entrepreneurs and professionals reduced Kenya's business and professional capacity. The departure was accelerated by the Africanisation policies, which were intended to transfer economic opportunity to Africans but also caused the loss of experienced merchants and professionals.
Divided Families
Many families were divided by emigration. Some members obtained British visas and emigrated while others remained in Kenya or were rejected for visas. These divisions often persisted for years or decades, with family members separated by distance and immigration law. The pain of family separation was one of the human costs of the Africanisation era.
Long-term Diaspora
The emigration of the 1960s and 1970s created a Kenyan Asian diaspora, with significant communities in Britain, North America, and elsewhere. These diaspora communities maintained connections to Kenya, sending remittances and maintaining cultural and business ties. Over time, the diaspora became more economically successful than it had been initially, as barriers to upward mobility gradually reduced (though racism persisted).
See Also
- Asians at Independence
- Asians who Stayed
- Idi Amin and the Ugandan Asians
- Kenyan Asian Identity Today
- Index
Sources
- Ballard, Roger & Ballard, Catherine (1977). "The Sikhs: The Development of South Asian Settlements in Britain." In J. L. Watson (ed.), Between Two Cultures: Migrants and Minorities in Britain. Blackwell. https://www.wiley.com/
- Gregory, Robert G. (1993). "South Asians in East Africa: An Economic and Social History." Westview Press. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/
- Cohen, Robin (1997). "Global Diasporas: An Introduction." University of Washington Press. https://www.washington.edu/