African Contribution in the Growth and Development of Western Education: A Historical Study of Meru County, Kenya (1920–1963)

Abstract

The history of Western education in Africa has frequently highlighted the role of missionaries and colonial governments, often neglecting African initiative. This study examines the contribution of Africans to the establishment and growth of Western education in Kenya, with a particular focus on Meru County between 1920 and 1963. Using a qualitative historical approach, data were collected from archival materials, oral interviews, and secondary literature to reconstruct Africans’ participation in the development of education. Findings reveal that Africans were key participants in building schools, mobilizing resources, advocating for learning opportunities, and even teaching in early institutions. Beyond physical labour, Africans facilitated curriculum adaptation, encouraged enrolment, and promoted literacy as a tool for both social advancement and resistance to colonial dominance. Case studies from Meru demonstrate how African leaders, evangelists, catechists, and community members collaborated to expand access to education, thereby shaping educational structures that influenced broader national outcomes. The study underscores that Western education in Kenya was not merely imposed but co-produced through African resilience, initiative, and innovation.

Keywords: African initiative in Western Education in Kenya; Western education in Meru County, Kenya; education history in Meru County; Africans contribution to the growth and development of Western education in Meru County

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-11-02

Publication date: October 30th 2025