A country that was once a colony of England fought for and eventually won its independence. The country's indigenous population felt underrepresented in government and felt oppressed. As a result, they finally decided that it was time for the British imperialists to leave their country. Does this situation sound familiar to you? It should; This is a basic description of the American Revolution. Less well known is that these statements also fit the description of the Kenyan independence movement. Even though these events occurred years and miles apart, they initially seem strikingly similar. The independence movements of the Kenyan colony and the American colonies seem at first glance parallel in many respects. However, the similarities are only superficial. There are several important differences that separate them. At first glance, the movements seem surprisingly parallel. One of the most obvious similarities is that both regions were colonies of England. Early settlers in the Americas had various reasons for migrating to the future United States. Examples included escaping religious oppression or seeking economic prosperity. But whatever their reasons, they came. Eventually, the future United States became formal British colonies ruled by the King of England. Similarly, Kenya's borders were decided in the 1800s without the participation of the indigenous population. In 1894, England declared Kenya a British protectorate, and in 1920 it became an official colony (History). In both colonies, the indigenous population felt underrepresented in government. In the American colonies, in 1763, the question of representation took on more and more importance. The British decided that the American colonies were going middle of paper...it was a travesty of due process. The Mau Mau were therefore completely defeated. However, they accelerated the process of independence in more ways than one. For example, because of the rebellion, reform became imperative. One consequence was that the British sought Kenyan support to undermine the Mau Mau. They achieved this in part by increasingly allowing Kenyans to participate in government. Through this participation, a Kenyan elite class was emerging, which skillfully used its place in society towards independence. Works Cited Daniels, Anthony. “Mau Mau revisited.” New criterion 23.10 (2005): 21. MasterFILE Premier. Internet. November 10, 2013. Ogot, Bethwell A. Decolonization and independence in Kenya: 1940-93. London: Currey [ua, 1995. Print.Tokar, John A. Logistics and the British Defeat in the War of Independence. Np: np, nd Army Logistics University. US Army. Internet.