The Rise of a National Bourgeoisie in Kenya

Abstract

Using detailed analysis of data from two case studies, evidence is provided of the growth of indigenous capitalist enterprise in Kenya. A local capitalist class is developing, originally based on merchant capital and gradually moving into manufacturing. Far from this bourgeoisie being ‘auxiliary’ (Leys’ term) to international capital, it has used its connections with the Kenya state successfully to establish itself in direct competition with foreign firms. The tendency of dependency theory to see the principal contradiction as an external imperialism leads to a failure to see the developing internal class contradictions posed by a rising national bburgeoisie and to derive relevant political strategies for the oppressed classes. © 1977, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.