Authoritarian states Kenya - Kenyatta Flashcards
Emergence - conditions which Kenya emerged
- Impact of war - Kenya after colonization offered a top top-down approach
- There was a distorted governance after african colonization
- Kenyatta called for a forgive and forget keystone for his government
*Kenyatta rejected permission of dual citizenship to Asians and Europeans
Differences between the KANU and the KADU and social division and ethnic tribalism among major tribes like the Luo and Kikuyu communities.
Presidential powers - weakness of constitution
The weakness of consititution - the consitituion after independence offered the presidemt extensive presidential powers
Kenyatta influences th judiciary and appointed a network of loyal officials reinforing his influence
Lack of African technocrats to give political direction
- Shortage of skilled African technocrats led to heavy reliance to Jomo Kenyatta for political and decision making
- ## Concetration of power to Kenyarra led to authoritarinism and reduced potential of sidelines and quality of decision making
An illiterate kenyan population
- Kenyan population was highly illiterate and lacked political education with low levels of participation nd education making Kenyatta manipulate without public scrutiny
- Vulnerability of Kenyan population maniplation- Kenyatta exploiated their lack of awareness to control narratives, disseminate propaganda and shape public opnion in his favour
- Kenyans revered him as “Mzee” - wisdom and respect
Divisions within the Kanu
- Divisions within the party arose between the members ; Oginga Odinga, Achieng’ Aneko and Bildad KAggia who criticized the government of Kenyatta of not uplifting Kenyan’s to African socialism.
- Kenyatta accussed Odinga and his team of being communist supporters
This relted to Limuru conference MArch,1966 where Oginga was replaced by Joseph Murumbu.
Economic factors
- Stagnation of investment due to transfer of capital by white settlers
- Landlessness due to colonial land policies - hence a land redistribution was needed
- Rural urban migration led to pressure in urban areas and unemployemnet
- Kenyan economy largely controlled by the Europeans hence a saviour was indeed needed.
- Lack of qualifiedmanpower to work in th technical sectors of the economy.
Policies and strategies Kenyatta used
- Centralization of economic power
- One party rule where Kenyatta’s party KANU(Kenya African NAtional Union ) led to consolidation of power and shape economic policies.
- Economic patronage - allocation of land ,c ontracts, economic benefits to reward loyalty and support
- Foregn investment and economic stability.
Policies and strategies Kenyatta used
Africanization policies - involved redistribution of economic control from foreign owned businesses (asians)
Suppression of opposition
Crony capitalism - propagated throgh corruption and nepotism
Methods to consolidate power
Fore and coercion
- Use of UN democratic measures to restrict opposition.
- Restrictions to arrest and detain anyone “from public secirity without trial
- Banning of the ( Kenya’s people unionby Oginga Odinga) and arres of Oginga
- Murder of Pion Ga Pinto - 195 a critic of the government despite being a member of KANU
- Murder of Tom Mboya
- assasination of JM Kariuki
- Detain Martin Shikuku
- Repressive measures on civil liberties repressed opposition and discouraged dissent
Methods to consolidate power
Use of legal methods
Kenyatta made constitutional ammendments to punish and reward individuals
Change in constitution compeled MPs to defect from party, resign and seek reelection
- In 1974 passed the ammendment for the president to pardon electiions at his own disccretion
- Allowed Paul Ngei to reclaim his seat
Methods to consolidate power
Leadership cult
- Kenyatta was potrayed as the “father of nation”
- He was revered as “ freedom fighter who liberated Kenyans from the hands of the colonial master.
- HE was seen as wise and all knowing referred as Mzee Jommo Kenyatta
- NAtional slogan “Harambee”
Methods to consolidate power
Persuation through ideology
Promoted African socialism emphasizing self reliance
presented himself as visionary leader
HArambee philosopy campaigned for hardwork unity and pulling resources together to sustaian gov projects
Political purges -
Key figures were expelled and seen as political rivals hence assasination of Pio dama Pinto and J.M Kariuki
Propaganda and state controlled media
- State controlled media outlets disseminated narratives that exposed Kenyatta’s leadership qualities and downplayed oppoition
- Propaganda shaped public perception
- Kenyatta was viewed as a visionary leader and stifling dissenting views through control of media
- His policies of African socialism and Harambee downplayed gov critics
Aims and results of policies
Kenyatta’s policies and impacts
- African socialism - by KaNu coined in 1963
- Harambee - Advicated for pulling together hardowl, resources and money to success of development projects
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Aims and results of policies
Political policies and impacts
- One party rule - eliminated political pluralism
- Authoritarian leadership style - centralized decision making
- Suppression of opposition(Restrictions to arrest and detain anyone “from public secirity without trial) - suppresion of opposition through legal and extra legal methods
- USe of patronage - Rewarding system of loyalty maintained a network of political support
- Ethnic balancing- reuced inter-ethnic tensions and maintained broad based support
Aims and results of policies
Political policies and impacts
- National unity
- Land and economic policies - land redistribution and development schemes
- Use of symbols and nationalism -
strong sense of patritism and loyalty to foster national identity
Control over media and infom- suppression of critical voices.
All this together helped Knyatta consolidate his power
Aims and results of policies
Economic policies and impacts
- Creation of settelment schemes for whites to settle the landless - eg the a million acre sheme , Harambee scheme
- Registering of land through title deeds - sense of stability
- Small scale farming instead of large scale farmingempowered individual farmers
- Free market with foreigners welcomed- gained support for the population
Social policies and impacts
Social policies and impacts
- Promotion of African identity and culture
- Education reforms
- Health reforms
- Rural development and settlement - cater for social inequalities.
Impacts if social policies
- Education literacy
- Rurak development and land land redistribution
- Improved healthcare
- Fostered national unity
