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Kenya at 60: six key moments that shaped post-colonial politics

Kenya at 60: six key moments that shaped post-colonial politics

KENYA celebrates 60 years of independence this year. As a political scientist who has studied Kenya for the past 20 years, I consider a turning point from each decade that helped to shape the East African country’s post-colonial politics. I haven’t selected elections, assassinations or other moments that have enjoyed much coverage over the years. Instead, I turn to often-forgotten moments that shed light on the country’s key steps forward – and backward – and the role of agency and institutions. GABRIELLE LYNCH, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Warwick 1964: The Lanet mutiny In the 1960s and 1970s, governments…
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How politics has subverted conservation efforts to protect Kenya’s Mau Forest

How politics has subverted conservation efforts to protect Kenya’s Mau Forest

THE Mau Forest Complex is the largest montane tropical forest in East Africa. This is an ecosystem with rich biodiversity and is characterised by high rainfall. Composed of 22 forest sectors, the Mau is located in Kenya’s Rift Valley, the heart of the country’s fertile and rain-fed highlands. The forest plays a pivotal role in feeding a large part of the country’s water network. The Mau Forest’s 380,000 hectares have witnessed a long and tormented history of human habitation. It’s a territory hotly contested. Authors STEFANIA ALBERTAZZI, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Milan FRANCESCA DI MATTEO, Researcher, French Institute for Research…
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