Where Did the Name Kenya Originate From?

Where Did the Name Kenya Originate From?
Kenya

Occasionally, we tend to wonder where names of places, people, animals, and even countries came from. We fail to comprehend that some names are a product of circumstance, and Kenya is one example. Kenya is a prominent east African continent known for its tourism, archeology, and beautiful sceneries.

People from Europe, America, and other continents travel to Kenya to see its wild animals, sandy beaches, paleontological and archeological sites. There is no doubt it’s a home of African history. The state has also earned widespread popularity for producing long-distance running champions. The likes of Kipchoge have gained global recognition for their exceptional speed. As such, being a Kenyan comes with eternal pride and honor.

The Origin

Most African-Americans are fond of Kenya’s name, possibly because they’ve heard of it or some can trace their roots to it. For instance, President Barrack Obama, former US president, is believed to have spent his early life in Kenya and that his grandparents were Kenyans. Therefore, his lineage is linked to Kenya.

Though over 52 million people inhabit it, it is highly respected in the continent and the world for its skilled leaders. So how did the name Kenya come to be? The name Kenya comes from the language of Kikuyu. The latter is the largest ethnic language in the country. During pre-colonial times, the Agikuyu solely occupied the regions in the country’s central part.

Amidst their habitat, there was this high mountain, and because it was the highest point within their region, the Kikuyus decided to name it Kirinyaga, which means mountain of whiteness. Every year, snow rested at the top of mount Kirinyaga. Geography predates mount Kirinyaga as the second-highest mountain in Africa.

When the British arrived in Kenya, they were drawn to its nature, and mountain Kirinyaga happened to be among the attraction sites. However, they could not pronounce the name Kirinyaga, so they corrupted it to Kenya. Nevertheless, Kenya’s name only became official around the 1920s after the Europeans colonized and became the only sovereign authority in the state. Meanwhile, when the British first arrived in the continent, they called Kenya and other East Africa parts East Africa Protectorate.

The Irony

As it’s known to many, when the Europeans colonized Africans, they mistreated, exploited, and stole their riches. Kenya was an agricultural and mineral-rich land before colonial encroachment. With the emergence of the Europeans, they became slaves in their lands. Having taken in much, the people, more so the Agikuyu, decided to form rebellions.

One of the most significant rebellions was led by an influential Agikuyu leader, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Initially, Mzee Kenyatta was called Kevin. However, he took to changing his name to match his purpose as a leader. Mzee Kenyatta led the rebellion, which led to Kenya gaining its independence in 1963. Hence Mzee Kenyatta is remembered for his most remarkable achievement of liberating Kenyans. Ironically, the name Kenya is not connected to Mzee Jomo’s name in any way. It is purely a European thought nemesis.

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