Kenya and the politics of a postcolony / Wanjala S. Nasong'o.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nasong'o, Shadrack Wanjala, author.

Series:

Anthem advances in African cultural studies.

Anthem advances in African cultural studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kenya--Politics and government--1963-1978.

Kenya.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 230 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

London, UK ; New York, NY : Anthem Press, 2024.

Summary:

This book sets out to probe, explore and evaluate the betrayal of anticolonial nationalism in Kenya. Contemporary Kenya's emergence is rooted in the colonial enterprise, its deleterious effects and the subsequent decolonization spearheaded by a fierce anti-colonial nationalism that was embodied in freedom struggles at the cultural, political, and military levels. As a settler colony, the colonial settlers hived off millions of hectares of the best land in the highland areas of Kenya and appropriated them for themselves thereby generating a large mass of the landless. This land alienation constituted one of the most deeply felt grievances which, together with the exclusivist, exploitative and oppressive colonial system, inflamed anti-colonial nationalism that undergirded the struggle for independence. The expectation on the part of the masses was that independence would bring about social justice, restitution of the stolen lands, and a government based on the will and aspirations of the governed. Political developments soon after independence, however, demonstrated the extent of betrayal of the cause of anti-colonial nationalism, which has remained the reality to date. This book covers the extent of this sense of betrayal from the time of independence to the present.

Contents:

Cover

Half-Title

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Abbreviations

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 A Pernicious Global Enterprise: The Roots of Colonialism

Chapter 2 The Making of Contemporary Kenya: The Colonial Context

Chapter 3 Independence and the Betrayal of Nationalism: Kenyatta versus Odinga

Chapter 4 Abetting Authoritarianism: The Role of the United States

Chapter 5 Inklings of True Civic Nationalism: Chelagat Mutai and the “Bearded Sisters”

Chapter 6 National Betrayal: Bureaucratic Corruption and Rent-Seeking

Chapter 7 Broken Promises: Historical Injustices and the Land Question

Chapter 8 Not Yet Democracy: Electoral Shenanigans

Chapter 9 Mortgaged to China: A New Imperialism?

Chapter 10 Conclusion: Future Prospects

Bibliography

Index Generated by AI.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 13 Jun 2025).

Part of the metadata in this record was created by AI, based on the text of the resource.

ISBN:

9781839980282

1839980281

9781839980299

183998029X

OCLC:

1446134753