East Africa Protectorate 1895–1963
The new protectorate administration divided East Africa into three provinces. These were Seyyidie, Ukamba and Jubaland. Seyyidie was garrisoned by 400 Swahili and Sudanese troops who were later joined by an Indian Contingent under Capt Bharat. Some of the troops were stationed in Tana and Taveta. The troops were under the command of Gen Hatch, as the overall commandant. Ukamba Military district was placed under the command of Capt Harrison who had 125 men at a Garrison in Kanzalu. Later on the troops were moved to Machakos when the Barracks were completed. Jubaland became the third military district. Mr. Middleton who was the DO at Kisumu also acted as the OC of 300 men at his disposal.
The period between 1896 and 1900 saw the East African Rifles deployed in a number of Campaigns in line with British Colonial policies. In collaboration with Major Cunningham’s Uganda Rifles, expeditions were organized against the Nandi who put up a strong resistance. It was not until 1906 that they were subdued. Another expedition under Major Quetin was undertaken in Jubaland in 1898 against the Ogaden Somali. Another one in 1900 commanded by LT Col Hatch Commandant East African Rifles followed this. Two medals were issued after these expeditions namely ’1898' and ‘Jubaland 1900'.
East African Rifles also sent troops to help Uganda Rifles suppress a mutiny by Sudanese troops in Uganda . Capt Harrison who led this expedition was decorated. After being deployed on this expedition, he remained behind to form the 1 st Battalion of the Uganda Rifles. This battalion later became 5 KAR.
In 1901 the British government decided to organize all the existing troops in Central Africa, East Africa, Uganda and Somaliland under one command. Lt Col Manning, an officer in the Indian Corps was appointed Inspector General for all the troops and promoted to the rank of General. After the troops based in different parts of British East and Central Africa territories were placed under a Central Command, the regiment born thereof was officially designated ‘King’s African Rifles’ on 1st January 1902.
The composition of this regiment was as follows:-
The six Battalions formed a regiment which had a total of 104 officers and 4579 men.
On 1st April 1902, 3 KAR moved its Headquarters from Mombasa to Nairobi , together with 4 KAR and 5 KAR these battalions were used by the British colonial government in expeditions against those who resisted British rule. The most notable of these were against the ‘Mad Mullah’ in Somaliland in 1902 and the Nandi expedition of 1905-6. In 1904 5 KAR, which was mainly made up of Indian troops, was disbanded chiefly because of maintenance costs and also because the British felt they had contained the resistance to their rule. This was however reconstituted in 1916 during World War I and stationed in Meru. It was given the responsibility of operations in Jubaland. During this war, 3 KAR distinguished itself in Narungombe against the Germans.
Later in 1926, 5 KAR was again disbanded and their colours were handed over to 3 KAR for safe custody. On 1 March 1930 the Unit was once again reconstituted, presented with their colours and stationed in Nairobi . After World War II both battalions were used by the colonial government to contain the Mau Mau rebellion. On the dawn of Independence the Kenya National Assembly passed a bill (Kenya Bills 1963) to amend the status of the military forces in Kenya . Accordingly, the former Units of the King’s African Rifles were transformed to Kenya Military Forces and the Independent Kenya Government was legally empowered to assign names to the Units as deemed necessary with effect from the midnight of 12 th December 1963. Thus 3 KAR and 5 KAR became 3 Kenya Rifles and 5 Kenya Rifles respectively.
3 KAR which was the forerunner of today’s Kenya Army was formed on 1 st January 1902. The transformation of King’s African Rifles to Kenya Military Forces on the midnight of 12 th December 1963 is a major milestone in the foundation of today’s Kenya Army Units. The inauguration of the Kenya Military Forces, which is the current Kenya Army, therefore, robs the thunder from 3 KR because the former was a composition of all Army Units in existence at the day of Independence.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
