The Curse of Independence: Has Kenya Truly Progressed?

At first glance, you might think the era of colonization is long gone, but take a moment to look around. Kenya, once held under the grip of foreign settlers, now suffers under the control of a new breed of elites. Yes, independence was achieved in 1963—an era marked by the joyous expulsion of white settlers and the end of foreign dominance. But what did that victory cost, and more importantly, what has it truly delivered? Has Kenya moved forward, or have we simply replaced one set of settlers with another?

The Unfulfilled Promise of Independence

Independence in Kenya was supposed to mean liberation—freedom from oppression, the ability to govern ourselves, and the chance to build a prosperous nation. Yet, decades later, millions of Kenyans still find themselves s ...