The Kikuyu community faced a significant political transition in 1979 with the death of Kenyatta and the rise of Daniel arap Moi. Kenyatta had been Kikuyu, and his rule had been understood as reflecting Kikuyu political dominance and Kikuyu economic interests. The shift to Moi's leadership raised questions about how the Kikuyu political establishment would adapt and whether the community would maintain its privileged position in Kenya's political system.
Kikuyu politicians elected in 1979 included sitting MPs who retained their seats and new MPs entering Parliament. The Kikuyu remained substantially represented in Parliament, though the specific composition of Kikuyu representation changed.
Kikuyu elites, including businessmen, professionals, and politicians, had to assess their political standing under Moi. Some Kikuyu politicians aligned themselves with Moi and sought to position themselves as supporters of his government. Others maintained distance from the new president or pursued their own political interests.
The concentration of Kikuyu representation in Central Province remained unchanged by the 1979 election. Central Province elected predominantly Kikuyu MPs who represented the region. The Kikuyu heartland thus retained its parliamentary strength, though overall Kikuyu dominance of national politics appeared to be declining.
Some Kikuyu politicians held ministerial positions or exercised significant government influence under Moi. These prominent Kikuyu figures navigated the new political order and attempted to maintain their standing and influence.
The economic interests of the Kikuyu community, particularly in coffee production and in urban business, remained important to the community's political power. Kikuyu farmers and businessmen participated in the 1979 election, voting for candidates who promised to support their economic interests.
Kikuyu women, like women in other communities, participated in the 1979 election as voters and organizers but were excluded from standing as candidates. Women's organizations in Central Province mobilized women voters and engaged with candidates.
The question of whether Moi's government would redistribute development resources away from Central Province to other regions remained unresolved in 1979. Central Province continued to receive government investment and development projects, but the question of how resources would be distributed under Moi was politically significant for Kikuyu interests.
Kikuyu politics in 1979 thus involved both continuity (the community remained substantially represented) and uncertainty (the position of the community under a non-Kikuyu president was unclear).
See Also
- 1979 Election
- Kikuyu Politics Kenya
- Jomo Kenyatta
- Daniel arap Moi
- Central Province Kenya
- Kenya Ethnic Politics
Sources
- Widner, Jennifer. The Rise of a Party-State in Kenya. University of California Press, 1992.
- Gertzel, Cherry. "The Politics of Kenya: Toward Authoritarianism." Journal of Eastern African Studies, 1975.
- Hornsby, Charles. Kenya: A History Since Independence. I.B. Tauris, 2012.