Africa at 50: Wind of Change - Episode 4

When Kenya gained its independence from Britain in December 1963, young Zarina Patel had great hopes for the future. Everyone felt it was going to be a united Kenya and there would be no differences between Africans and Asians. Zarina Patel is a third generation Kenyan Asian. Her grandfather Alibahi Mulla Jivanjee, came to Kenya from Karachi in 1890, and established himself as the most prosperous Asian businessman of his day. Zarina grew up during colonial rule, and today she's a prominent writer and human rights activist, and in which her research has revealed that many Asians played an important part in the fight for Kenya's independence. "Looking back at history we are amazed at the role Asians played", she says. Their involvement in Kenya's independence struggle through the East African National Congress, was set up by her grandfather and modelled on Indian National Congress. Many other Asians were influential in the Trades Union movement and supplied weapons to the Mau Mau movement through their links to India. Despite this involvement, after independence many East African Asians found themselves 'surplus to requirements', as politicians whipped up 'anti-Asian' sentiment. "That forced me to think about my identity and my role and rights here in Kenya", says Zarina. Producer: Ruth Evans A Ruth Evans Production for BBC Radio 4.