| Year | Event |
| 600 | Arabs arrive at the Kenyan coast and begin settling and developing trade |
| 1498 | The Portuguese led by Vasco Da Gama become the 1st Europeans to reach Kenya's coast. They soon leave for India. |
| 1505 | Eager to control trade at the Coast, the Poturguese led by Dom Francisco De Almedia invade and take over control of the Kenyan coast. |
| 1591 | Fort Jesus is built in Mombasa by order of King Philip I of Portugal |
| 1729 | The Portuguese are driven off from the Kenyan Coast by the Omani Arabs after rebellions in Mombasa and Makupa. |
| 1830s | The Omani Arabs consolidate control of the Kenyan coast. |
| 1895 | The British East Africa Protectorate is created. |
| 1895 | December - Construction of the Uganda Railways starts in Mombasa, built mostly by Indian indentured servants |
| 1901 | Railway line reaches Kisumu, then known as Port Florence |
| 1902 | The Kenya-Uganda border is adjusted. What are now Western and Nyanza province become part of Kenya. |
| 1904 | Laibon Lenana signs a peace treaty with the British |
| 1920 | East African Protectorate becomes crown colony of Kenya - administered by a British governor. Edward Northey becomes the 1st governor.. |
| 1921 | Harry Thuku forms the Young Kikuyu association to fight the kipande registration, land alienation and forced labour |
| 1923 | The Young Kavirondo association is formed |
| 1944 | Kenyan African Union (KAU) formed to campaign for African independence. |
| 1947 | Jomo Kenyatta becomes KAU leader |
| 1952 | Mau Mau uprising starts. A state of emergency is declated by governor Evelyn Baring |
| 1953 | Jomo Kenyatta is accused of being the leader of Mau Mau and arrested |
| 1956 | Dedan Kimathi, leader of the Mau Mau is captured by the British signalling the defeat of the Mau Mau |
| 1957 | Dedan Kimathi is executed |
| 1959 | Kenyatta is released but placed under house arrest |
| 1960 | Britain ends the state of emergency and announces plans to turn over the country to majority rule |
| 1960 | KANU is created by Tom Mboya and Oginga Odinga. KADU is also formed with Ronald Ngala as leader. |
