Abstract (eng)
This thesis deals with Mũkami Kĩmathi, Wangari Maathai and Rebeka Njau, three Kenyan women who have made significant contributions in their respective fields - the struggle for independence, the fight for human rights and environmental protection, and literature. What all three have in common is that their lives and works have been (auto)biographically documented and could thus be made fruitful for academic analysis in the context of this Master's thesis. Access to education for African men, and especially women, was limited during the colonial period in Kenya. At the same time, Western education played an important role in local people's efforts to gain agency and socio-political participation under colonial rule. Ultimately, it became a prerequisite for access to the country's post-colonial political institutions. Against this background, the research question focused on the educational opportunities these three women found in colonial Kenya and the educational experiences they had. Of particular interest was the extent to which this influenced their political, social and economic behaviour. In the course of the work, their personal educational journeys were not only traced, but they were also related to each other and placed in their historical context. In addition to the exemplary presentation, the social roles and collective experiences of women were made visible in the context of their life histories, demonstrating the diversity of women's realities in Kenya. The (auto-)biographies often revealed a great expectation of the influence of Western education, which remains highly valued and often equated with social advancement. In some cases, great sacrifices had to be made to achieve personal education. During the colonial era, Western education had an aura of being new, special and unattainable, and was considered as privilege. It was important for the three protagonists to have role models who inspired or supported them in their pursuit of education, especially given the fact that much of the population at the time was opposed to girls' education. Another key factor was the emotional and financial support of the family, which enabled the girls to complete their education successfully. It should be noted that the colonial school system was at that time very competitive and only those who excelled were able to progress. The impact of colonialism on the position of women was varied, complex and needs to be analysed in its social and historical context. Overall, the work shows that the political, social and economic changes for women in late and post-colonial Kenya were decisively shaped by Western education.