Government and opposition in Kenya, 1966-1969

Abstract

African Studies Center Working Paper No. 85INTRODUCTION: Little exists to document the widespread repression of opposition in Africa since independence. Current studies of the rise of capitalism and the post-colonial state largely ignore institutionalized authoritarianism, which characterizes the political side of this process. The paper below discusses the repression of opposition in Kenya up to 1972. Its salience continues with Kenya having become a de jure one party state under President Daniel arap Moi and the increasingly repressive atmosphere since the abortive coup of 1982. It now appears that authoritarianism must be regarded as part of the ongoing political process and not simply as episodic. [TRUNCATED