Hundreds of thousands of Asians emigrated from Kenya between 1963 and 1980, yet tens of thousands chose to remain. Those who stayed made a conscious commitment to Kenya, took Kenyan citizenship, invested in businesses and real estate, and worked to become integrated into Kenya's society. Their stories and choices shaped contemporary Kenya.
Why They Stayed
Asians who remained gave various reasons. Some had deep family histories in Kenya (grandparents or great-grandparents born in Kenya) and felt fundamentally Kenyan. Some had significant business investments they could not easily liquidate. Some doubted whether emigration (to often-racist Western countries or to India with which they had limited connection) would improve their lives. Some had African spouses or mixed-race children, making emigration complicated. Some believed in Kenya's future and wanted to contribute.
Economic Investment
Asians who stayed invested heavily in education for their children, assuming Kenya would be their permanent home. They invested in real estate, businesses, and professional development. This investment signaled commitment. Asians who thought Kenya was temporary would not invest their children's future in Kenyan schools. Those who invested in real estate assumed they would live there long-term.
Taking Kenyan Citizenship Seriously
Some Asians who stayed took Kenyan citizenship seriously, adopting Kenyan national identity. They participated in politics, civic organizations, and community service. They spoke Swahili, made friends with African Kenyans, and saw themselves as contributing to Kenya's development. They pushed back against the idea that Asians were inherently foreign.
Professional and Business Success
Many Asians who stayed became successful professionals and businesspeople. They adapted to post-independence conditions, took advantage of opportunities, and built enterprises. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and traders among the staying population prospered. Their success demonstrated that Asians could thrive in post-colonial Kenya if they adapted.
The Chandaria Model
Manu Chandaria (born 1929) is the paradigmatic example of the Asian who stayed. He took Kenyan citizenship, built a massive manufacturing conglomerate (Comcraft Group), became one of Kenya's most respected businessmen, gave back philanthropically through the Chandaria Foundation, and lived his entire adult life in Kenya. His life demonstrates that staying in Kenya could be economically and socially rewarding.
Philanthropy and Community Service
Some Asians who stayed became major philanthropists. They donated to hospitals, schools, religious institutions, and cultural organizations. The Aga Khan Foundation, the Chandaria Foundation, and other organized philanthropic efforts by Asians demonstrated commitment to Kenya's welfare and development. Philanthropy also served as a way to build status and reputation in Kenya.
Confronting Discrimination
Asians who stayed had to confront ongoing discrimination and marginalization. They faced suspicion that they were not truly Kenyan, that they were exploiters, that they should leave. Some internalized this hostility; others resisted it. The daily experience of being defined as foreign despite being citizens was psychologically exhausting for many.
Building African Friendships and Alliances
Some Asians who stayed made conscious efforts to build friendships and business alliances with African Kenyans. These relationships, when genuine, helped Asians feel integrated. Some Asians married African partners or had children with African spouses, creating family ties across racial lines. These interracial families became symbols of integration and belonging.
Second and Third Generation
The children and grandchildren of Asians who stayed are now fully Kenyan, born and raised in the country. Many do not speak their parents' home languages fluently. They are educated in Kenyan schools, work in Kenyan professional environments, and think of themselves primarily as Kenyan. Yet they often maintain awareness of their Asian heritage through family, religion, or food traditions.
Mixed Success and Ongoing Challenges
While some Asians who stayed prospered, others struggled. The ones who could not adapt their businesses, who faced discrimination they could not overcome, who felt perpetually unwelcome, sometimes emigrated later. The choice to stay was not always vindicated; some came to regret it. Yet the majority seem to have made peace with Kenya and consider it home.
Contemporary Asians: The "Staying" Legacy
The contemporary Kenyan Asian community (estimated at 80,000-120,000) is largely composed of descendants of those who chose to stay. They are more integrated, more professional, more educated, and wealthier than earlier Asian immigrants. They are also more confidently Kenyan, less apologetic about their presence, and more involved in Kenya's national life.
See Also
- Asians at Independence
- Chandaria Group
- Bidco Group
- Devki Steel Mills
- Kenyan Asian Identity Today
- Index
Sources
- Wikipedia: "Indians in Kenya" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indians_in_Kenya)
- Tuko.co.ke: "Manu Chandaria's net worth, house, companies, children, and foundation" (https://www.tuko.co.ke/facts-lifehacks/celebrity-biographies/529127-manu-chandarias-net-worth-house-companies-children-foundation/)
- OpenEdition: "Kenya in Motion 2000-2020, Minorities of Indo-Pakistani Origin" (https://books.openedition.org/africae/2590?lang=en)