A survey of education and politics of national development in Kenya

Abstract

This paper attempts to bring out the impact which politics has had on education in Kenya. In the efforts to explore the linkages between education and politics in Kenya, this paper zeroes in on one salient aspect of politics which will be operationalized in this study to mean nation-building. This variable of nation-building has been selected for analysis on the basis that it constitutes the core of politics of independent countries in terms of the uses of state power through value allocation. Over time this variable has preoccupied the policies of not only Kenyan political leaders but also African leaders in general. This study carries out a critical examination of various political forces which influenced the trend of education from the colonial to post-independent Kenya. The study is significant as it contributes to the history of education in Kenya specifically and Africa in general. It is a useful study for educationists and policy planners for it brings out the relationship between education and politics.