South Asians, predominantly Indian, have a long history in Kenya and East Africa as a whole. They first migrated to East Africa in the 1890s for the construction of the Ugandan railway, and then began to concentrate in trade and professional occupations, such as doctors and bankers, meaning that they were, and in some ways still are, an integral part of the company. economic condition of Kenya. Historically, however, race relations between black Kenyans and Asians have been acrimonious. The reasons for this are a matter of debate. In general, Kenyans felt marginalized by the commercial dominance of the Indians, leading to a relationship of envy between the two ethnic groups. Furthermore, it was popularly believed that Asians were corrupt, engaged in illicit practices, and abusive towards the indigenous population, which sometimes led to outbreaks of active opposition against traders. While some may consider this a compelling explanation, it is largely too simplistic. Instead, anti-Asian opinion was created by envy of Asian dominance combined with the corrupt and illicit actions of a few, which were then embellished and spread, creating an Asian stereotype that has become ingrained in the minds of the Kenyan people. In colonial and postcolonial Kenya, Asians dominated retail and commerce. They controlled 75% of medium and large manufacturing companies, while representing only 1% of the population.1 In contrast, Africans controlled only 5% of these companies2, which led to a great level of resentment among the Kenyans. For example, in Nakuru District, squatters moved into urban areas to find commercial land after World War II. However, with 5,047 Asians living in Nakuru District in 19483, they… middle of paper… a decade before this became a reality.19 Furthermore, during the late 1920s, the East African Indian National Congress, a key Indian political group in Kenya, consistently called for the abolition of colonial laws that disadvantaged and oppressed Africans.20 For example, they spoke out against the ban that prohibited Africans from growing cash crops such as coffee, which at the time greatly hindered the ability of Kenyans to succeed in agriculture, as well as the exorbitant levels of taxes on huts and huts.21 The fact that many politicized Indians cared for Kenyans and worked in their interests , contrary to popular belief that they were the corrupt exploiters of Africans, sheds further light on how the contrasting race relations of Kenya's history were largely created by exaggerated stories that did not accurately represent the true actions of Asians.