How did KANU's policies change after Kenya achieved independence?

After independence, KANU shifted its policies towards centralisation of power, Africanisation, and state-led economic development.

The Kenya African National Union (KANU), the party that led Kenya to independence in 1963, underwent significant policy changes post-independence. One of the most notable shifts was towards centralisation of power. KANU, under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, moved away from the multi-party democracy that had been envisioned during the struggle for independence. Instead, it sought to consolidate power within the party and the presidency, effectively turning Kenya into a one-party state by 1969. This was justified as a necessary measure to maintain national unity and stability in the face of ethnic and regional divisions.

Another significant policy shift was the Africanisation of the economy and public service. This was a response to the colonial legacy, which had left the economy and bureaucracy largely in the hands of the European minority. KANU sought to rectify this through policies aimed at promoting African ownership and control. This included the transfer of land from European to African hands, the promotion of African entrepreneurship, and the replacement of European civil servants with Africans. However, these policies were often implemented in a way that favoured the Kikuyu, Kenyatta's ethnic group, leading to accusations of tribalism.

KANU also adopted a policy of state-led economic development. This was in line with the prevailing development thinking of the time, which saw the state as the main driver of economic growth. KANU pursued this policy through the implementation of successive five-year development plans, which sought to promote industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, and the provision of social services. However, these plans were often hampered by resource constraints, corruption, and inefficiencies in the public sector.

In summary, KANU's post-independence policies represented a departure from the ideals of multi-party democracy and economic liberalism that had characterised the independence struggle. Instead, they reflected a pragmatic response to the challenges of nation-building in a post-colonial context, with a focus on centralisation of power, Africanisation, and state-led economic development.