KANU was formed in March 1960 by the majority of the African leaders who were in the Legislative Council.
The members elected its leader to be Jomo Kenyatta who was still in jail after being imprisoned for seven years because of leading the Mau Mau rebellion against the British rule.
James Gichuru was elected KANU’s president to stand in for Jomo Kenyatta. His vice president was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga while Tom Mboya became the Secretary General.
The majority members of KANU were the Kikuyu and Luo, the biggest ethnic groups in Kenya. The Embu, Meru, Kamba and Kisii tribes were also members.
The members were both rural and urban dwellers.
KANU aimed at uniting Kenya in the final struggle for independence.
When elections were held in 1961, KANU won 19 seats against Kenya African Development Union (KADU) of Ngala 11 seats and New Kenya Party (NKP) of Blundell 4 seats.
KANU refused to form a government protesting the detention of Kenyatta.
KANU remained united without splitting. Jomo Kenyatta was released in August 1961 and in 1962; he was elected to the legislative council under the ticket of KANU.
Kenyatta’s effort to make KANU and KADU unite failed. He then concentrated on the activities of KANU.
In February 1962, KANU under the leadership of Kenyatta attended the Second Lancaster Conference in London.
The second election was held in May 1963 and KANU won with 83 seats and the rest of the parties got 41 seats.
In June 1963, Kenya under KANU attained self rule also referred to as Madaraka with Jomo Kenyatta as a prime minister.
On 1st December, 1963 Kenya got full independence also called Uhuru under the leadership of KANU headed by Jomo Kenyatta.
In 1964 KANU absorbed KADU and it became Kenya’s only parliamentary party. Kenyatta therefore became the president of the republic of Kenya and Oginga Odinga as the vice president.
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