Post World War Ii Colonial Policies and The Changing Roles of Nandi Chiefs, 1945-1963

The subject of colonial chiefs has received much scholarly attention over the years. Many of these studies have shown that these chiefs served dualistic and often diametrically opposed roles, striving to meet needs of the colonial administration and those of their communities. Not many studies have examined the Nandi colonial chiefs within this dualistic framework. This paper examines the changing roles of colonial chiefs in the post-World War II period, 1945-1963. The study was anchored on the principal-agent theory and the Elite theory, which explained the dual nature of the chiefs both as elites and principal agents in societal transformation. It was conducted in Nandi County and adopted the historical research design, which relied on oral interviews and analysis of documents from archival sources. Purposive sampling was used to identify those informants who met the inclusion criteria, and it was done using Snowball sampling. Data was obtained from oral interviews, which was corroborated with data from archival sources. Validity and reliability were ensured using expert review of the interview and document analysis guides. The collected data was then analysed thematically, and then presented through narrative and direct quotations where necessary. The study revealed that Post-World War II, the socio-political landscape continued to evolve, particularly with initiatives like the Worthington Plan of 1946 and the Swynnerton Plan of 1954 aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity both among the white settlers and Africans. The colonial government was tasked with generating revenue to offset the debts and losses incurred by Britain during the war. The chiefs played a crucial role in this transition, facilitating the implementation of policies designed to promote commercial farming while simultaneously striving to maintain traditional social structures. Their ability to adapt to these changes was essential in preserving community cohesion during a time when colonial policies and the intensified strive for political independence threatened to disrupt established social norms. As such, the Kenya government should document the contributions of colonial chiefs in the period of transition from the colonial rule.