Kenya and the Politics of a Postcolony - (Anthem Advances in African Cultural Studies) by Wanjala S Nasong'o (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book examines the governance and politics of Kenya since independence with a particular focus on the betrayal by the political class of the aspirations of anticolonial nationalism.

Book Synopsis

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. It begins by locating contemporary Kenya within the colonial context then proceeds to thematic issues of betrayal including the fall out between President Kenyatta and Vice President Odinga over ideology and issues of development, which constituted the first betrayal; the scourge of bureaucratic corruption and rent seeking; the question of land and associated historical injustices; and electoral malpractice since the return of multiparty politics in 1992 to the most recent elections of 2022. The implications of these dynamics for the future of the Kenyan polity are delineated and discussed.

Review Quotes

"A masterful history of Kenyan politics, this book provides a critical narrative of key developments in modern Kenyan politics, spanning the colonial and postcolonial periods. Colonialism lays the foundation for contextualizing the roles of African agency, international diplomacy, and Chinese investments in shaping Kenya's political landscape against the background of political betrayal, mainstream politics, corruption, the land question, and the national debt problem. It is a must-read for students and scholars of African and international studies." -- Martin S. Shanguhyia, Associate Professor of African History, Syracuse University, New York

"It is an in-depth, well-researched, and well-written book. It is a must-read for scholars in the fields of African Studies, International Studies, and all those seeking to explore possibilities of redefining and reshaping the destiny of Kenya, the African continent, and the larger global south post coloniality in all spheres." --Peter Otiato Ojiambo, Associate Professor and Director, Graduate Studies, University of Kansas, USA

"Kenya and the Politics of a Postcolony is the most comprehensive study of the politics of independent Kenya from its colonial origins to the present. Nasong'o's approach is uniquely profound, the analysis is critically rigorous, and the results are insightfully illuminating. The breadth and depth of this volume guarantee it an enduring shelf life, and the final result is a volume whose quality is beyond reproach." -- Steven J Salm, Endowed Professor of History, Xavier University of Louisiana

"Professor Wanjala S. Nasong'o has written a compelling and insightful book. Filled with illuminating historical insights, it accomplishes a rare task, which is to boldly offer a critical review of the ruling elite's failure to build a viable nation by, of, and for the people of Kenya from independence to the present and beyond." -- Eric E. Otenyo, PhD, Professor & Diversity Fellow, Northern Arizona University

"This book delves deeper into the general sense of betrayal held by the Kenyans, as many other Africans in other parts of the continent felt about their nationalist leaders from whom much was expected at the end of colonial rule. Covering the failures of the succeeding generations of Kenya's postcolonial leaders after the founding fathers' departure to the present is critical." --Raphael Njoku, Idaho State University, Pocatello, USA

"This groundbreaking seminal work, Kenya and the Politics of a Postcolony by Wanjala S.Nasong'o, is timely and will generate debate in an area which has largely been under-researched and overlooked by African scholars and Africanists. Comprehensively addressing, from conceptual and theoretical corpus, the interface between politics and post colony in Kenya makes the book exceptional." --Korwa Gombe Adar, Professor of International Studies, United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya and the Politics of a Postcolony is a careful recollection of the historical and contemporary Kenyan political events that have shaped the East African country's politics. --The Journal of Modern African Studies

Nasong'o's book is written with such enviable clarity and intellectual depth that as a reader I found it not just easy to read but also easy to understand. I appreciated its nuanced approach to the complicated history of Kenya and its postcolonial politics. [It] shows that time and time again even well-meaning postcolonial actors find themselves making decisions counter to what we would expect. --African Studies Review

Offers new and compelling insights that emphasise important continuities in the history of modern Kenyan politics. --Commonwealth & Comparative Politics

This fact-filled study provides significant details about Kenya from its colonization until 2022. Overall an excellent, detailed study. --CHOICE

This volume tracks the events that have driven the modern Kenyan state, from the embers of colonialism in the late nineteenth century until the 2022 elections. --International Journal of African Historical Studies

Survival: Global Politics and Strategy

2025 Choice Outstanding Academic Title

African Studies Review

Rhodes College

The Journal of Modern African Studies

About the Author

Wanjala S. Nasong'o is Professor of International Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, where he teaches courses in comparative politics and international relations. He is also a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow.