ECONOMIC CHANGE IN KASIPUL AND KABONDO, 1800-196 to Ai IZ BY PETER ODHIAMBO NDEGE untvfw ’ df natkou NRlWr' A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI LIBRARY 01018720 JULY, 1987. This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. This thesis has been submitted for examination with my knowledge as University Supervisor: (i) CONTENTS: Pa g e s MAPS ....................................................................................................... v TABLES ................................................................................................ v FIGURE ................................................................................................ Vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................... vii ABSTRACT.............................................................................................. ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... I The Study Area ................................................................................ 2 Statement of the Problem and Research Objective ............................................................................................ 6 Theoretical Framework ................................................................ 7 Literature Review ......................................................................... 9 Hypotheses .......................................................................................... 19 Research Methodology and Limitations ............................ 20 Organization of the Study ......................................................... 23 Notes ........................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 2 THE PRECOLONIAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY .............................. 31 Geographical Background ......................................................... 31 Origins and Lineage Formation .......................................... 35 Migrations and Settlement .................................................... 39 (ii) Contents Pages Economic Organization ............................ 45 Political Organization ........................................................... 68 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 71 Notes ................................................................................................... 73 CHAPTER 3. COLONIAL CONQUEST, ADMINISTRATION, TAXATION AND EDUCATION ......................................................................................... 81 The Establishment of Colonial Rule: The Politics of Conquest ................................................................ 84 Colonial Administrative Theory and Practice............... 89 Colonial Education and Socialization .......................... 96 Colonial Chiefs and the Collection of Taxes ...........106 Economic Consequences of Taxation ............................... 119 Council of Elders and Tribunals ................................... 120 The Local Native Council .................................................... 125 Locational Advisory Councils ........................................... 128 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 132 Notes ................................................................................................. 135 CHAPTER 4. THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMODITY PRODUCTION ................. 145 Colonial Agricultural Policy and Trends in Crop Production ......................................................................... 146 (i i i) Contents Paces Livestock Keeping and the Extraction of Livestock Products .................................................................. 165 Impact of Commodity Production . .................................. 169 Conclusion ....................................................... 175 Notes .................................................................................................. 178 CHAPTER 5. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MIGRANT LABOUR ................................ 184 Colonial Demands For Labour, Methods of Recruitment and Working Conditions .............................. 184 Responses to Wage Labour and the Labour Supply Condition........................................................................... 198 Impact of Wage Labour ............................................................. 211 Conclusion ....................................................................... 216 Notes .................................................................................................. 218 CHAPTER 6. ROADS, MARKETS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP ......................................................................... 223 The Establishment of the Transport System................ 224 The Extension of the Market, Government Control and Trends in Local Trade ................................ 229 The Development of Entrepreneurship: Case Studies...................................................................... 242 C iv) Contents pagCS Impact of the Extension of the Market ........................ 257 Conclusion .................................................................................... 259 Notes .............................................................................................. 261 CHAPTER 7. CONCLUSION .................................................................................... 265 Sources and Bibliography .................................................... 273 Cv) MAPS Map I South Nyanza District in Relation to other Districts in Kenya - P-3 Map 2 Kasipul and Kabondo in Relation to other Locations in South Nyanza District - p.4 Map 3 Locations and Sub-locations of Kasipul and Kabondo. - p.s Map 4 Relief, Drainage and Rainfall Reliability- p.33 Map 5 Soil Fertility - p.34 Map 6 Migrations of JoKasipul and Jokabondo - p.44 Map 7 Transport and Trading Centres in Kasipul and Kabondo - P-230 TABLES Table 1 Tax Exemptions, 18th December 1935 - p.110 Table 2 Tax Exemptions for Kasipul and Kabondo 1936 and 1937 * P-111 Table 3 Daily Tax Collections at Scheduled Centres 20-24 January 1943 " P-H* Table 4 Tax Estimation and Collection 1925-1937 - p.112 Table 5 Labour Registered to Work Inside and Outside South Nyanza District, 1912-1944 - p.200 Table 6 Economic Conditions in Kenya between 1918 and 1955 'P-204 Table 7 Years of Famine in South Nyanza District - P-205 (vi) Table 8 Approximate Average Monthly Wages 1914- 1953 - p.206 Figure Relationship Between Wages and Labour Supply in South Nyanza District 1914- 1944 - p.208 (v i i ) Acknowledgements. This study owes much to the intellectual training and stimulation I received from a number of scholars during my first year Master of Arts course work in the Department of History, University of Nairobi. I am particularly indebted to Professor Godfrey Muriuki who trained me in methods of histo­ rical and social science research; Dr. E.S. Atieno Odhiambo who introduced me to political economy through our formal and informal discussions of class formation in Africa; and, Professor William Ochieng who influenced my choice of topic of study by pointing out to me that Kenya's economic history has received very little attention. I am also grateful to the following people for their more specific assistance: My supervisor, Professor A.I. Salim read through the text and made valuable suggestions. Casper Odegi-Awuondo, of the Sociology Department also read the draft and made useful comments. Mr. Mark Mumbo, a long- serving teacher in Oyugis Division, helped me identify useful informants. I am greatly indebted to Kenyatta University for offering me a scholarship to undertake a Master of Arts course in Nairobi University and funding this C v i i i) research, and also, to the Teachers Service Commi­ ssion for granting me study leave. Finally, special thanks are due to my wife, Teresa, for shouldering most domestic responsibi­ lities during my absence and giving me all the nece ssary encouragement. (ix) ABSTRACT This is a study of economic change in Kasipul and Kabondo between 1800 and 1962. The study employs the concepts of mode of production and articulation as its theoretical framework. These concepts have only recently become popular in social studies in general, and historical analyses, in particular. They are relevant to the understanding of the dynamics of change because they help us pose questions about the relationship between the forces and relations of production, and about the way the material base and the superstructure interact. These are questions which are easily ignored or overlooked by approaches that are based on the theories of modernisation and underdevelop­ ment. The use of mode of production and articu­ lation is based on the belief that history is a dialectical process in which change is a culmi­ nation of contradictions and internal tension within any given situation. In pre-colonial Kasipul and Kabondo contra­ dictions and tensions within the ‘lineage mode of production led to the segmentation of large lineages, migrations and the setting up of new lineages. Changes in the environment that were consequent upon the settlement of new areas, also led to the deve­ lopment of new technology and means of material existence and changes in political organization. These changes were exemplified by the transition from a predominantly