section_path: History/Somalis of Kenya referendum, 1962
section_name: Somalis of Kenya referendum, 1962
paragraph_text: Somalis of Kenya referendum, 1962
  
  Before Kenya got its independence, Somali ethnic people in present-day Kenya in the areas of Northern Frontier Districts petitioned Her Majesty's Government not to be included in Kenya. The colonial government decided to hold Kenya's first referendum in 1962 to check the willingness of Somalis in Kenya to join Somalia.
  
  The result of the referendum showed that 86% of Somalis in Kenya wanted to join Somalia, yet the British colonial administration rejected the result and the Somalis remained in Kenya.