Odinga and Kenyatta: The 1963 Power Struggle That Shaped Kenya’s Security Landscape
On May 27, 1963, it became clear that the Kenya African National Union (KANU) would sweep the general election. This victory marked a turning point in Kenya’s colonial history. Recognizing the moment, the colonial Governor invited Jomo Kenyatta to prepare for internal self-government—with Kenyatta as the country’s first Prime Minister.
But what should have been a smooth transition to independence was disrupted by a deep colonial anxiety: the likely appointment of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to a key security portfolio.
The Colonial Dilemma: Odinga’s Rise
Odinga, a close ally of Kenyatta and a committed Pan-Africanist, was widely expected to take up the role of Minister for Home Affairs, a powerful ministry overseeing internal security and the police. However, this prospect unnerved the British colonial establishment.
In confidential communications, officials expressed concern that Odinga’s inclusion in such a sensitive role would damage public and diplomatic confidence—particularly among European settlers and colonial expatriates. As one confidential note captured, Odinga’s inclusion might be tolerated only if he held a post where “he could do Kenya no serious damage.”
Governor’s Countermove on Madaraka Day
As Madaraka Day (June 1, 1963) approached, and with Odinga’s appointment imminent, the colonial Governor took preemptive action. Fearing Odinga’s influence over the police, the Governor stripped the Ministry of Home Affairs of its police powers, transferring them directly to the Office of the Prime Minister.
When the cabinet appointments were officially announced, Odinga was stunned to find himself Minister for Home Affairs—but without control over the police.
Odinga’s Outrage and Threat to Resign
Odinga immediately turned to Kenyatta, who admitted that the decision had been forced by the Governor. On June 2, 1963, a day after the official announcement, an angry Odinga visited the Governor in person. He made it clear that he felt betrayed, and threatened to resign.
This tension is confirmed in a classified telegram dated June 5, 1963, from the Governor to officials in London. It read in part:
“Odinga is very sore indeed at my action… He told me in strict confidence that he would probably resign… My most helpful argument was that my action was not directed simply against him, but that I thought it best for me to deal with only one Minister (and that the Prime Minister) on all matters touching my reserved subjects.”
While Odinga was not convinced, the Governor succeeded in stalling his resignation—at least temporarily.
The Bigger Picture: British Control and Political Engineering
The incident reveals how even on the eve of independence, British colonial officials were still manipulating internal political structures to retain influence over security and decision-making. Odinga’s exclusion from police oversight was not simply about administrative convenience—it was a strategic move to neutralize a figure perceived as too radical and uncontrollable.
Despite Kenyatta’s popularity and eventual consolidation of power, this episode exposed an early fault line in Kenya’s independence leadership. It foreshadowed the deeper ideological rifts that would later surface between Kenyatta and Odinga—culminating in the formation of the opposition KPU and the dramatic events that followed in the late 1960s.
Legacy of the 1963 Power Struggle
The Odinga and Kenyatta 1963 power struggle was more than a cabinet reshuffle—it marked a symbolic battle over sovereignty, the role of colonial institutions, and the place of African agency in the post-colonial state.
While Kenyatta chose pragmatism over confrontation, Odinga’s bold challenge signaled his enduring commitment to equity, justice, and African control over key instruments of power.
As Kenya moved from Madaraka to full independence in December 1963, the seeds of political rivalry, colonial interference, and elite compromise were already deeply planted.
