Kenyan migration to the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Kenyan migration to the United Kingdom has been occurring for many decades. As a result, many people in the UK
were born in Kenya
, or have Kenyan ancestry.
n Kenyans who, like those in Uganda, were forced out during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This community has a substantial cluster in Leicester and London. The most recent growth may now be coming from ethnically black
African Kenyans, mirroring wider trends across the continent of economic migration to the richer industrialised nations. There are also a small number of Kenyan-born people who are the children of British civil servants based there before the end of the Empire.
.
The largest proportion of Kenyan-born British residents are found in the capital, London
, where around half of the Kenyan-born population in Britain resides. There are also significant populations in the South East
and the East Midlands
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
were born in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, or have Kenyan ancestry.
Background
Most Kenyans in the UK are ethnically South AsiaSouth Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n Kenyans who, like those in Uganda, were forced out during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This community has a substantial cluster in Leicester and London. The most recent growth may now be coming from ethnically black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
African Kenyans, mirroring wider trends across the continent of economic migration to the richer industrialised nations. There are also a small number of Kenyan-born people who are the children of British civil servants based there before the end of the Empire.
Demographics
The 2001 UK Census recorded 129,633 Kenyan-born British residents. The equivalent figure in 2009 has been estimated at 140,000 by the Office for National StatisticsOffice for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
.
The largest proportion of Kenyan-born British residents are found in the capital, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where around half of the Kenyan-born population in Britain resides. There are also significant populations in the South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
and the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
.
Famous Britons born in Kenya
- Richard DawkinsRichard DawkinsClinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
, evolutionist and atheist - Peter HainPeter HainPeter Gerald Hain is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Neath since 1991, and has served in the Cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, firstly as Leader of the House of Commons under Blair and both Secretary of State for...
, Political campaigner and former cabinet minister - Curtis OsanoCurtis OsanoCurtis Osano is a Kenyan footballer who plays as a defender for Conference National side Luton Town.-Career:Born in Nakuru, Kenya, Osano is a defender who rose through the ranks at Reading. He has been involved with the English youth set-up, but he failed to make a league appearance...
- footballer for Reading F.C.Reading F.C.Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...