Amit's Blog

  Colonial Structures and Ethnic Rivalries: The Economic Dominance of Indians and African Exclusion in Kenya The economic ascendancy of Indian immigrants in Kenya during the colonial era (late 19th century to 1960s) and the marginalization of native Africans created a volatile ethnic and economic divide that shaped Kenya’s post-independence trajectory. Indians, primarily from Gujarat and Punjab, transformed from railway laborers to dominant merchants, controlling commerce and urban real estate. By 1960, they owned 75–80% of Kenya’s retail businesses, despite being only 2% of the population (176,000 out of 8.6 million). “Indians were the commercial linchpin of colonial Kenya, but their prosperity sowed discord,” writes historian Robert Gregory (Gregory, 1993, p. 23). Africans, restricted to agriculture and denied education, faced systemic exclusion. The British racial hierarchy exacerbated tensions, positioning Indians as intermediaries. Post-independence Africanization policies a...

Colonial Legacies: The Rise of Indian Immigrants and African Marginalization in East Africa   The economic success of Indian immigrants in East Africa, particularly Uganda, during the colonial and early post-independence periods (late 19th century to 1960s) contrasted sharply with the marginalization of native Africans, leading to tensions that culminated in the 1972 expulsion of Asians under Idi Amin. Indian success stemmed from colonial policies positioning them as economic intermediaries, cultural practices like community networks and education, and access to urban markets. Africans faced systemic barriers, including restricted land access, limited education, and confinement to agriculture, which delayed their economic mobility. The British racial hierarchy exacerbated tensions, placing Indians above Africans but below Europeans. The 1972 expulsion aimed to empower Africans but led to a 20% GDP drop due to mismanagement of redistributed businesses. This essay explores these ...