The Cottage Industry Among the Tharaka People of Tharaka South Sub-County, Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya (1907-1963)

Abstract

During the pre-colonial period, Tharaka people were making variety of indigenous items such as pots, mats, bee hives, boats, baskets, swords and hoes to sustain their livelihood. The coming of the European colonialists negatively affected these traditional cottage industries. The study examined the cottage industry among the Tharaka of Tharaka South Sub-County from 1907 to 1963. The study discussed the pre-colonial cottage industries in Tharaka South Sub-County. The study also examined the colonial policies on cottage industry among Tharaka people. The contribution of colonial rule on the cottage industry in Tharaka South Sub-County has also been analyzed. The assumptions of the study are that there existed a thriving cottage industry among the Tharaka people in the pre-colonial period, that the British colonial government introduced a number of policies that were not in favor of the development and growth of cottage industries in the Sub-County and the British colonialism contributed to underdevelopment of the cottage industry in Tharaka South Sub-County between 1907 and 1963. To achieve the intended objectives, the study employed the primary, archival and secondary data. Research instruments used comprised interview schedules and focus group discussions. The study applied purposive and snowballing sampling techniques to select respondents for oral interviews. The target population was 75,250 people. The study purposively sampled and interviewed 50 respondents. The study was anchored on the articulation of modes of production theory. The data generated from the study was analyzed and interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative data was transcribed into written text by merging the notes into coherent description of the conversation which was presented in a narrative form. Quantitative data was presented in tables. The study was carried out in Marimanti, Karocho, Chiakariga and Gituma locations in Tharaka South Sub-County. The study found that iron working, weaving, pottery, traditional beer production, flour and gruel production, wood-works, cloth making, snuff production, herbal medicine production and salt production were major cottage industries that existed in Tharaka South Sub-County during the pre-colonial period. Further, the colonial rule introduced a number of policies on cottage industries, such colonial policies were: high taxation, forced labor, transformation of Tharaka people into raw material producers, importation of western manufactured goods and abolition of Tharaka culture; female circumcision leading to non-production of tools like blades (irunya). The study also noted that colonialism led to decline of the cottage industries, consequently, causing mass unemployment among the traditional crafts. Colonialism, in addition, led to widespread poverty to traditional artisans. Majority of the crafts moved out of their residential places as result of joblessness and went to seek employment to other places. The study employed the descriptive research design. The findings of this study has contributed to Tharaka socio-economic historiography.