The History of Labour Movement in East Africa: The Case of Kenya and Tanzania

This study looked at the history of labour movement in Kenya and Tanzania for the period between 1900s – 1980s. The two countries are the former British colonies and the founders of the East African Community. The study used desk review as a method of collecting necessary information and comparative method to analyse the information and compare the situation of labour movements in the two countries. It has been understood that the first labour movements in both countries appeared as spontaneous strikes carried out by workers in the transport sector (ports and railway), and that organisation into unions came later, and started as associations and friendly clubs. Situations before independence, in both countries, discouraged the development of any labour movement. British colonial regimes used different legal texts to freeze movements, until the beginning of 1940s. At this period, workers unions were weak and underground, but the struggle for independence awakened their strength. The situation after independence worsened, for the governments took complete control over the trade unions’ activities, but was little bit better in Kenya than in Tanzania. Trade unions had to wait until the introduction of political liberalization to regain their freedom. The study contributes to existing knowledge base on labour movement in East African, and in Kenya and Tanzania in particular, using comparative approach.