i THE RELATIONS BETWEEN ASIAN AND AFRICAN COMMUNITIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WESTERN AND NYANZA PROVINCES OF KENYA, 1900-2002 LES RELATIONS ENTRE LES COMMUNAUTÉS INDIENNE ET AFRICAINE AU KENYA: UNE ÉTUDE COMPARATIVE DES WESTERN ET NYANZA PROVINCES 1900-2002 THESE présentée à L’UNIVERSITE DE PAUET DES PAYS DE L’ADOUR Les Afriques dans le Monde Ecole doctorale des Sciences Sociales et Humanités Par OMENYA, Gordon Onyango Pour obtenir le grade de DOCTEUR EN HISTOIRE Soutenue devant la jury suivant : Monsieur le Directeur de recherches Michel ADAM, IRD. Madame le Professeur Sophie Blanchy, anthropologue, Directeur de recherche au CNRS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre Monsieur Herve MAUPEU, maître de conférences en Sciences Politiques LAM, UPPA Monsieur le Professeur Henri MEDARD, professeur d’histoire, Universite d’Aix Marseille Madame le Professeur Mildred NDEDA, Professeur d’histoire, co-directeur, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Technology Monsieur le Professeur Christian THIBON, Professeur d’histoire contemporaine, Université de Pau, directeur de la recherche, ii DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been submitted for a degree in any other university. _______________________Signature Date______________________ Omenya Gordon Onyango Ecole doctorale des Sciences Sociales et Humanites We confirm that the work reported in this thesis was carried out by the candidate under our supervision. ____________________________ Signature Date___________________ Professor Christian Thibon LAM-UPPA - Les Afriques dans le Monde Université de Pau Professor Mildred A.J Ndeda Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Department of History, Religion and Philosophy ______________________Signature Date_____________________________ iii DEDICATION To my wife Jane and children Kayo, Kito, Chieko and my dad Okech Omenya Charles iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to the French Government and the L’universite De Pau, et Pays de L’adour for offering me the opportunity to undertake my PhD studies in History and opening my eyes to the significance of scholarship. Similarly, I would like to thank the French Embassy in Kenya through Fogel Severine and Sarah Ayito for their support in organizing for my visa and ensuring that everything was in place for me. I would like to appreciate the scholarly input of my tireless supervisors Professor Mildred Ndeda and Professor Christian Thibon both of whom have been of much scholarly importance. I would also like to thank Dr. Herve Maupeu for the assistance he offered me any time I was planning to go to France for my stays. For my thesis to take this shape, many people have made immense contributions. Without my numerous respondents, I would not have had data for this study. I would also like to thank Dr. P. Wekesa and Dr. Susan Owino for their guidance, which contributed to the success of this work. I cannot forget my postgraduate colleagues in France, Dr. David Okello, Dr. Joyce Kaguta, Mr. Nyachoti, Mr. Misati Joseph, Miss Kristin Abong’o and Mr. Fabian Kigadye from Tanzania who shared their views with me and consoled me when the going got tough at some point. My sincere thanks also go to the entire staff of Center d'études et de recherches sur les pays d'Afrique orientale (CREPAO)- France for their moral support during my studies and moreso the librarian. My sincere thanks also go to CAMPUS France, which ensured that my stay in France was as comfortable as possible. On the same note, I would like to thank Prof. Elizabeth Vignatti for making it possible for me to read and photocopy materials on her account at the LAM-Bordeaux III library in France. I would like to acknowledge my dad for giving me the opportunity to pursue my studies. I also acknowledge the encouragement, support and sacrifice given to me by my sisters and brothers. I v am indebted to Kenyans living in Pau-France such as Grace, Pierre, Eunice and Maureen for their moral support, which enabled me to stay in Pau, France as I pursued my studies. The social life that Eunice exposed us to allowed me to feel so much at home away from home. I would also like to thank IRD France through Dr. Valerie Golaz and Dr. Claire Medard for availing a laptop for me that made the compilation, typing and editing of my work easier. Omondi, P. of the Kenya National Archives was a great support. Last but not least, I would like to thank my longtime friend and wife Jane Wekhomba for taking good care of our children while I was away in France. It is impossible to name all the people that gave me support; but to all of them I owe my greatest appreciation. vi TABLE OF CONTENT DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... iv GLOSSARY OF LUO AND ASIAN TERMS ........................................................................ x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................ xi CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................... 1 INDIAN DIASPORIC COMMUNITY: METHODOLOGY, IDENTITY, PROBLEMATIQUE AND HISTORY ................................................................................ 1 1.1 Conceptualizing Indian Diasporic Communities within the Global and Local Context ... 1 1.2 Context of the Problem; between Universal and Regional/local Problematique .............. 4 1.2.1 From the External World to Africa Hinterland .............................................................. 4 1.3 Selected Literature Review ............................................................................................... 9 1.3.1 Comparative Approach to the Diasporic Community in Host Countries: The US, France and the United Kingdom Cases. ................................................................................ 12 1.3.2 Kenya’s Asians ............................................................................................................. 23 1.3.2.1 Asians and the Kenya Economy ................................................................................ 24 1.3.2.2 Briefs on the Socio-Political Economy of Asians in Kenya ..................................... 24 1.3.2.3 Politics and Economic Realignments ........................................................................ 26 1.4 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 28 1.5 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................... 29 1.6 Research Premises ........................................................................................................... 29 1.7 Significance and Justification of the Study ..................................................................... 30 1.8 Scope of the Study ........................................................................................................... 31 1.9 Theoretical framework: the Postcolonial Theory as a Tool of Analysis ......................... 32 1.10 Study Locale .................................................................................................................. 39 Figure 1 Map of Kenya Showing the Position of Nyanza and Western Province ................ 39 1.11 Situating Kenya within the context of Afro-Asian studies ........................................... 43 1.11.1 A Brief on Western Province of Kenya ..................................................................... 43 1.12 Research Methodology .................................................................................................. 49 vii 1.12.1 Research Design ......................................................................................................... 49 1.13 Data Collection .............................................................................................................. 51 1.13.1 Primary and Secondary Sources.................................................................................51 1.14 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 52 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 54 DIASPORIC ASIAN MIGRATION AND THEIR FIRST SETTLEMENT IN WESTERN AND NYANZA PROVINCES OF KENYA ................................................. 54 2.1 Phases and Patterns of the Indian Diaspora .................................................................... 54 2.2 Understanding Asian Migration, Settlement and interactions in Western and Nyanza Provinces of Kenya ............................................................................................................... 58 2.3 The First Indian Settlement in Nyanza, Kibos Area ....................................................... 65 2.4 Indian Settlement in Western Kenya ............................................................................... 75 2.5 Distribution of Asians within Townships in Western and Nyanza Provinces: The Duka model ........................................................................................................................... 77