The Impact of Kenya African Soldiers on the Creation and Evolution of the Pioneer Corps During the Second World War

INTRODUCTION

As the Kenya colony began preparations for World War II, a crisis engulfed the newly formed Pioneer Corps at their various bases at Ahero, and Nairobi, Kenya. The main problem was the government’s refusal to issue African members of the Pioneer Corps with rifles for military service, among other grievances. Indignant at what they perceived as an affront to their masculinity, the pioneers in Nairobi demanded to know why the government was refusing to arm them with rifles as promised during recruitment. On 18 September, 1939, they confronted their officers, and reminded them that: “you told us that we are just as much askaris¹ as the KAR [King’s African Rifles] because the KAR cannot fight unless they have roads for lorries to take their supplies to them. Surely then, if we have to make the roads, we shall be in front of the troops and be slaughtered like women unless we are armed.”² The situation deteriorated, and the pioneers, according to the government, went on “strike” over the lack of rifles.³ Initially, the government responded to the striking pioneers intransigently, and dismissed “a few malcontents.”⁴ The pioneers were not cowed, however; the protests continued. Eventually, the government succumbed and the pioneers were assured by the government that their grievances would be looked into.⁵ The pioneers scored a major victory in their struggle for a respectable and dignified status in the military when the government specifically promised to arm 25 percent of them with rifles during combat. The pioneers were also promised by the government that all of them would be trained and taught how to use firearms during military service.

There are critical lessons in African history that can be gleaned from the pioneers and their protests and campaigns in Nairobi and other places in colonial Kenya during World War II. For one, the pioneers and their campaigns and protests during military service provide us with important insights into the agency and initiative of ordinary Africans in the making of their history in colonial and postcolonial Africa. By fearlessly confronting the powerful colonial citadel over their right to bear arms, among other rights and actually earning some of those rights, the pioneers provide us with a powerful reminder that ordinary Africans have the power to bring change in their societies. Ordinary Africans need not be fearful, passive, and submissive in the face of of injustice, intolerance, or unfairness; like the pioneers during the colonial period, ordinary Africans too can take matters into their hands and confront acts of injustice, intolerance, and unfairness and bring about meaningful change in their societies.

This article therefore helps us to understand and appreciate the power, agency, and initiative of the ordinary people of African to change their lives and societies for the better. When we look at the system under which the pioneers were expected to serve during World War II, we see a system in which the colonial government was expected to give orders and lay down the law while the colonial subjects such as the pioneers automatically followed the orders and obeyed the laws without question. We see a system where the colonial government sought to treat the African pioneers as mere instruments towards its own ends. But, as we see in this article, when the colonial government started recruiting the Africans into the newly formed Pioneer Corps, it found itself increasingly coming under pressure from its recruits questioning its policies in the Pioneer Corps. Instead of being obeyed, it was being questioned. While the colonial government seemed intent on treating the pioneers as mere automatons in the service of the colony, the pioneers, on the other hand, appeared intent on ensuring that their service was dignified, meaningful, and above all else, humane. While colonial government wanted the pioneers to serve without questioning their service, the pioneers on the other hand were determined to challenge policies that undermined their dignity and humanity. Thus, the article shows that the pioneers were not passive spectators offering their military service uncritically...