Obstacles to Sovereignty and Democracy in Kenya

This book deploys the techniques of philosophical reflection to examine obstacles to Kenya’s sovereignty and democracy. Twice in its short history (1963 and 2010), independent Kenya has promulgated constitutions that affirmed its sovereignty and commitment to democracy. In both instances, however, the constitutions were defaced through legislation and policies that sought to concentrate power in the presidency. Meanwhile, the country has also continued to grapple with neo-colonial pressure to serve global capitalism rather than its citizenry. Among the questions this book seeks to answer are: how do sovereignty, social contract, and representation interact within the contemporary Kenyan context? Is Western liberal democracy, with its emphasis on the nation-state, elections, and party politics, practicable in a multicultural former colony such as Kenya? And does Western imperialism still bear any responsibility for Kenya’s predicament more than six decades after independence? This book will be vital reading for those interested in contemporary African politics, and post-colonialism in general.