Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2013 Rush to Failure: The Governorship of Sir Percy Girouard, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E.: 1909--1912 Abdullahi Daiyabu Sara West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Sara, Abdullahi Daiyabu, "Rush to Failure: The Governorship of Sir Percy Girouard, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E.: 1909--1912" (2013). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3641. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3641 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RUSH TO FAILURE: THE GOVERNORSHIP OF SIR PERCY GIROUARD, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E.: 1909 --- 1912 Abdullahi Daiyabu Sara Dissertation submitted to the Eberly College of Arts and Social Sciences At West Virginia University In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In History Robert M. Maxon, Ph. D., Chair Joseph M. Hodge, Ph. D. Mark B. Tauger, Ph. D. James Siekmeier, Ph. D. Jeremiah Njeru, Ph. D. Department of History Morganton, West Virginia 2013 Keywords: Kenya Defined Policy of Government Administration, Multi-racial Administration, Policy of Economic Solvency, Railway Development, Land Question, Maasai Move, and the Administration of Justice. ABSTRACT RUSH TO FAILURE: THE GOVERNORSHIP OF SIR PERCY GIROUARD, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E.: 1909 --- 1912 Abdullahi Daiyabu Sara In the British Colonial Service, to be a successful administrator, certain expectations must be met. These involved clarity of dispatches, keeping the CO fully informed of development in the dependency and cultivating a healthy working relationship between the governor and his subordinate staff and between the governor and the CO. The absence of the latter was a failing on a -would be successful administrator. At the time of Sir Percy’s outstanding performance in the Sudan, Transvaal and Northern Nigeria, he was acclaimed as Canada’s outstanding proconsul in the British colonial administration. His performance in the latter places informed the CO’s decision to appoint him governor of the EAP, but the latter tour of duty belied his competence, having been confronted with challenges that were by more far difficult to resolve. Sir Percy, like his predecessors, failed to prop up the protectorate’s administrative and economic disabilities occasioned by what the CO described as a succession of weak administrators and staff members and the entry of European settlers. These were contributing factors to the inherent difficult administration and development of the protectorate, especially the introduction of an effective policy of administration and economic development. Such difficulty, created by the demography of the colony, could define the success or failure of any administrator. The CO felt that the lethargic administration of Sadler could not solve the challenges confronting the protectorate and sought Sir Percy to govern the affairs of the protectorate so that he could fix the protectorates administrative and economic predicaments. Having successfully built a railroad in the Sudan, Transvaal and Northern Nigeria, it was possible to suggest that a successful engineer might not necessarily be a successful administrator, having failed to fix the challenges confronting the protectorate, despite his lengthy proposed reform and a relatively free hand given to him by the CO. Sir Percy’s proposed reforms failed in a similar manner like his predecessor, his performance in these areas, especially, land question, produced difficulty rather than mitigating the difficult position of prospective immigrants farmers either from the South Africa or England or elsewhere. In view of its many attendant disabilities, Sir Percy, like his predecessor, also failed to solve the problems of the protectorate and that the administration of the protectorate remained weak as it had been without any change. This was as a result of the internal dynamics of the protectorate, which suggested that even the most presumed best performing administrator could be handicapped by the prevailing circumstances of the protectorate to performed as much expected of him. Despite his outstanding proposals for effective policy of government administration and development, he failed to ensure that the CO approved his proposals. His failure to follow up with the CO in respect of his proposed policy for the protectorate occasioned his failure and suggested his rush to failure as he had failed to follow up with his proposed recommendation in the CO for approval and implementation in the protectorate. Dedication This is dedicated to the memory of Adama, Walid and Fatimah. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS RUSH TO FAILURE: THE GOVERNORSHIP OF SIR PERCY GIROUARD, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E., 1909-1912………………………………………………..i Abstract……………………………………………………………….……………. ii Dedication…………………………………………………………….…………… iii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………….………….. iv Abbreviations used in the work ……………………………………………….…viii Chapter 1. ………………………………………………………………………....... 1 Introduction to the Dissertation Introduction Statement of the Problem Conceptual Frame Work Significance of the Study Scope of the Study Methodology Organization of Chapters Chapter 2 ……………………………………………………………………………... 28 Sir Percy’s Prior Achievements Introduction Early Life The Sudan Transvaal England Northern Nigeria Conclusion Chapter 3 ……………………………………………………………………………... 41 The British East Africa Protectorate Introduction Condition of EAP on Sir Percy’s Assumption of Government Conclusion Chapter 4………………………………………………………………………………. 52 Policy of Administration Introduction Amalgamation Between the East Africa Protectorate and the Uganda Protectorate Considered Appraisal of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches Sir Percy’s View on the Provincial Political Staff Reorganization of Government Departments and Staff Redeployment Conclusion Chapter 5 …………………………………………………………………………. 95 Sir Percy as Arbiter between the EAP’s Racial Groups: European Settlers and iv Indian Residents Introduction Indians and European Settlers Political Demands Legislative Council Policy of Administration Settler Policy of Administration Conclusion Chapter 6 ………………………………………………………………………… 108 African Administration Introduction Basis of Sir Percy’s African Policy Divergence of Opinion on African Administration Policy Trustees as Guardians in Administration Conclusion Chapter 7 ………………………………………………………….…………….. 129 Economic Development Policy Introduction Sir Percy’s Economic Development Policy Economic Activities Exports and Revenue Conclusion Chapter 8 …………………………………………………………………...……. 150 Railway Development Introduction Nairobi-Fort Hall-Thika Railway Sir Percy’s Tramway Magadi Railway Conclusion Chapter 9 ………………………………………………………………………… 166 The Administration of the Coast Introduction Coast Administration and Taxation The Administration of Coast Land Policy Land Concession Administration Conclusion Chapter 10 ………………………………………………………….……………..198 Land Policy Introduction Land Legislation Administration of Grants of Lands Returns of Grants of Lands v Irregularity in Grants of Lands Conclusion Chapter 11………………………………………………………………………… 243 Maasai Move and Land Compensation Issue Introduction First Maasai Move The Land Compensation Sir Percy and the Planned Maasai Move Maasai Treaty of 1911 Conclusion Chapter 12 ………………………………………………………………………... 284 The Galbraith Cole Case Introduction The Incident and the Case Deportation Conclusion Chapter 13 ………………………………………………………………………… 298 Conclusion vi Acknowledgement In the course of this research, I owe debt of gratitude to numerous individuals and institutions, which are numerous to list all of them in this dissertation. I thank all individuals and institutions that either assisted or helped me in carrying through this research. In particular, I thank all members of my family for their patience and understanding that was needed in pursuit of this program. In undertaking an extensive program of study leading to a thesis and a doctoral dissertation, a determined commitment, dedication, piety, and ability to conduct research and writing with a minimum direction is expected from my adviser and chair of my dissertation committee, Professor Robert M. Maxon. In this, I was privileged to tap knowledge, expertise, and techniques necessary to carry through this work to a logical and well-informed conclusion based on knowledge. In fact, without Maxon’s commitment to this work and his commitment to excellence in research undertaking, the work would not have been in its present form. I am therefore grateful to Maxon for his kind direction leading to the completion of this dissertation. I am grateful and indebted to Maxon whose patience, kindness and encouragement, were most significant source of inspiration in carrying through this dissertation. There were also my dissertation committee members