Kenya had a different name before the Europeans arrived in Africa in the late 19th century. The land where Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania lie was initially called East Africa.
Since the British ruled over the East Africa region, they named it the East Africa Protectorate and formalised the borders of each colony in 1895.
The British protectorate expanded with time and since Kenya was more central, it was declared crown colony and named the Kenya Colony in honour of Mount Kenya which is Africa's second highest mountain after Tanzania's Kilimanjaro.
Therefore, Mount Kenya lies at the backbone of the name of our country.
But again, whow did Mount Kenya get this name Kenya?
Although there are many theories on how the mountain came to be known as Mount Kenya, it is believed that name originated from the first missionaries; Johann Ludwig Krapf and Johannes Rebmann. They visited the country's in 1846.
When the missionaries came to see the mountain, they asked the Akamba guides who were showing them around the country for its name. The Akamba guides were asked about the name of the area and they responded saying; "kiima kya kenia".
In the Akamba language, 'kenia' means shine. They called it the mountain that shines due to the perennial snowing of the mountain's top.
Others also believe that the name Kenya was bastardised from Kikuyu name 'Kirinyaga' which means 'god's resting place'. The Kikuyu people living near the mountain believe that it is their god's earthly throne.
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