The impacts of economic and political systems on the *development of Kenya: The neocolonial period, 1964--1994

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which historical materialism can be used to understand underdevelopment in Kenya. To achieve that objective this work examines the nature and characteristics of economic and political systems and their impacts on the development of Kenya during the neocolonial period (1964--1994). Following the historical materialist methodology, which is grounded in dialectics, the analysis emphasizes the centrality of the mode of production as the basis for social relations and development. The study uses carefully selected economic, political and historical data sources on Kenya's development.;The findings indicate that Kenya's underdevelopment, measured in terms of inequality in the distribution of educational resources, employment opportunities and income allocations, is an adverse outcome of the capitalist mode of production. Kenya's incorporation into the world capitalist economy began with colonialism, which transformed its pre-colonial modes of production by creating conditions conducive to the penetration of capitalism's contradictions. This research views neocolonialism not only as a continuation of colonialism, but also as a distinct stage of the expansion of capitalism on a global scale.;What characterizes Kenya's experience with neocolonialism is its domination by the leading economic forces within the global economy, coupled with the internal influence of its indigenous capitalist class. The findings also demonstrate that the neocolonial state in Kenya is not simply a dependent superstructure, but an intrinsic part of the global capitalist economy. As such, it determines the fundamental social relations of production and their contradictions within the country. Overall, the results imply the need for a transformation of capitalism on a global scale before change can occur in Kenya's educational system, employment sector and wage earnings.