Politics and the Lack of Labor Militancy in Kenya: Trade Unionism after Independence

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Trade unionism in Kenya had a shared history with its European colonial antecedents. Its national origins were rooted in colonial capitalism, which had been characterized by the use of cheap or forced African labor. The colonial government established administrative systems that ensured control of labor resources. Then, in the pre-independence era, an African working class and migrant labor with deep ties to the rural enclaves assumed a militant posture, in part because of being disposed of land. Militancy was also a reaction to repressive practices by European settlers who strongly opposed trade union formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAfrican Histories and Modernities
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages107-133
Number of pages27
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Publication series

NameAfrican Histories and Modernities
ISSN (Print)2634-5773
ISSN (Electronic)2634-5781

Keywords

  • Colonial Government
  • International Monetary Fund
  • Labor Movement
  • Labor Union
  • Trade Union

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • History
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Literature and Literary Theory

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Politics and the Lack of Labor Militancy in Kenya: Trade Unionism after Independence'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this