Kenya and the Politics of a Postcolony

The making of contemporary Kenya is rooted in the depredations of colonialism. The struggle for independence, embodied in anticolonial nationalism, was a struggle for the political freedom, economic dignity, and self-determination of the long-oppressed people of Kenya. Yet six decades down the road, the fruits of independence on the part of the common citizens remain a mirage. The fruits of independence seem to have remained the preserve of the political class who, in essence, ended up effectively betraying the cause of anticolonial nationalism. This book explores this betrayal and seeks to account for why things turned out the way they did in Kenya.