1965–1969: Ensuring a Valuable Relationship

Abstract

The period 1965–1969 fostered and cemented certain British relationships with leading Kenyans. Policies converged to make Kenya appear particularly important as somewhere Britain had distinctive commitments. There was no single British interest, but a combination of interests, focused on trade and investment, the European and Asian populations, Kenya’s strategic importance in the Cold War and military relationships. Together, these made British decision-makers particularly involved and invested in Kenya. This chapter examines two occasions when Kenyatta chose to call upon British support, requesting military backing against a possible Oginga Odinga-led coup, and then against potential invasion from Somalia. British officials’ belief in Jomo Kenyatta’s importance meant that they were, unusually, prepared to secretly offer military reassurance in plans for Operation Binnacle and the Bamburi Understanding. These show how elite Kenyan politics was conducted: prominent individuals were involved in secret discussions with the British government, of which most of the Kenyan Cabinet was kept uninformed. Kenya’s government also had the potential to damage the relationship and cause problems in Britain, as the Kenyan Asian population made headline British news and prompted domestic immigration legislation. Despite the public difficulties, however, this was not allowed by either side to damage the relationship too much. British concern over Kenyan Asian immigration also meant that the Kenyans had a significant bargaining tool for their future relations. Kenya was ‘special’ for offering benefits and incentives, but also the possibility of a more difficult future relationship.