The rapid decolonisation of East Africa had major consequences for the Asian population of the region. During the colonial period, Asians occupied a middle rank within the racially hierarchical system. They were over-represented in the civil service, professions, and business when compared with Africans. The end of formal empire led to a redrawing of the old colonial order.

Newly independent African states sought to redress these historic inequalities through ‘Africanisation’ policies. This often meant Asian businesses being restricted or seized outright by the state as was seen in Kenya and Uganda. As a consequence of these political developments many Asians began to migrate to other parts of the world including Britain.

Member of the Kenyan Parliament, Joseph Karahe Gatuguta on the Africanization of business firms and companies motioned for legislation that would enforce a more rapid process of Africanization as follows:

“…in view of the slow Africanization policy in the commercial and business firms and companies in this country, this House urges the Government to introduce legislation under which such firms and companies will be required to have at least 50 per cent of their executive jobs taken by Africans.

This Motion is very straightforward, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and I know that many Members in this House will support the Motion because it is a Motion that concerns the whole future of our country. It is no good, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our Government saying, ‘Africanization or Kenyanization,’ and, on the other hand, no steps are taken to make sure that this policy is being implemented. I would like to congratulate the Government because, as far as the Civil Service is concerned, a lot has been done and a tremendous amount of Africanization is going on. In many Government departments, many Africans have already taken over the important jobs of the country, but this class of commercial people have completely ignored the policy of the Government, and what they are doing today is to perpetuate colonialism in private firms. I am particularly referring to non-African firms, firms owned by Europeans and Asians. They have made it a practice to import foreigners, to continue bringing them into this country to take up important jobs, when our own people, people who have been fully educated in the universities and high schools, are going about in the country, on the streets of the cities, looking for jobs.

You only have to look round the country, Mr Deputy Speaker. Look at the oil companies. None of these oil companies have made sufficient attempts to Africanize their firms. Most of their top executive jobs are still occupied either by Europeans or Asians and when they want to cheat–if I may use the word–the Government that they are Africanizing, they create some posts there and employ some Africans. Those posts have no responsibility; they are just given names–‘personnel manager’–without any responsibility at all. They are never there when the decisions are made. In fact, most of them are worse off than karanis. If you look at the record, you will find that, in the oil companies, many of the top Africans, who are well-educated people and many of whom have spent years there, are leaving these companies because of frustration. There is a tremendous amount of frustration in these companies.”

Source: MP Joseph Karahe Gatuguta, Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard), 3 June 1966, p. 361-62