4 - The Academy and its Disengagement from Popular Struggles in Kenya
Corresponding Author(s) : Godwin R. Murunga
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2010): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
This is a study of the academy and its disengagement from popular struggles in Kenya. Focusing attention on the role of faculty unions and student associations, the study identifies and describes the trajectory of engagement and concludes that the current conjuncture tends more towards disengagement from popular struggles by unions and associations, many of which are consumed by daily struggles for staff and student welfare and nothing else. Thus the pattern has moved from active participation in popular struggles against authoritarian one-party rule to the current phase in which the terrain of higher education is at a crossroads. Academics and students remain disengaged from everyday political struggles in society and the possibilities of a re-composition of the student movement and faculty union are many. The study explains why the potential for greater involvement of universities as change agents in the diverse struggles for social justice remain under-utilised.
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- Adar, K. G., 1999, ‘Human Rights and Academic Freedom in Kenya’s Public Universities: The Case of the Universities Academic Staff Union’, Human Rights Quarterly, vol. 21, no. 1.
- Ajayi, J. A. et al., 1996, The African Experience with Higher Education, Oxford: James Currey and the Association of African Universities.
- Aina, T. A., 2010, ‘Beyond Reforms: The Politics of Higher Education Transformation in Africa’, African Studies Review, vol. 53, no. 1.
- Chege, M., 2009, ‘The Politics of Education in Kenyan Universities: A call for a Paradigm Shift’, African Studies Review, vol. 52, no. 3.
- Freire, P., 1994 [1970]), Pedagogy of the Oppressed, New York: Continuum. Ghai, Y., 1965, ‘Review: Kenya’s Socialism’, Transition, No. 20, 1965.
- Imam, A. and Mama, A., 1994, ‘The Role of Academics in Limiting and Expanding Academic Freedom’, in Mamadou Diouf and Mahmood Mamdani, eds., Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Books.
- Klopp, J. and Orina, J. R., 2002, ‘University Crisis, Student Activism, and the Contemporary Struggle for Democracy in Kenya’, African Studies Review, vol. 45, No. 1.
- Mamdani, M., 1994, ‘Introduction: The Quest for Academic Freedom’, in Mamadou Diouf and Mahmood Mamdani, eds., Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Books.
- Mazrui, A., 1978, Political Values and the Educated Class in Africa, Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Mboya, T., 1963 [1993], Freedom and After, Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers.
- Mkandawire, T., 2005, ‘African Intellectuals and Nationalism’, in Mkandawire, T., ed., African Intellectuals: Rethinking Politics, Language, Gender and Development, London and Dakar: Zed Books in collaboration with CODESRIA.
- Munene, I. I., 2008, ‘Privatising the Public: Marketisation as a Strategy in Public University Transformation’, Research in Post-Compulsory Education, vol. 13, no. 1.
- Mwiria, K. et al., 2007, Public and Private Universities in Kenya, Oxford: James Currey.
- Republic of Kenya, 1965, Sessional Paper No 10 of 1965 on African Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya, Nairobi, Government Printers.
- Said, E., 1994, Representations of the Intellectual, New York: Vintage Books.
- Savage, D. C. and Taylor, C., 1991, ‘Academic Freedom in Kenya’, Canadian Journal of African Studies, vol. 25, No. 2.
- Tamarkin, M., 1978, ‘The Roots of Political Stability in Kenya’, African Affairs, vol. 77.
- Wangenge-Ouma, G., 2008, ‘Higher Education Marketisation and Its Discontents: The Case of Quality in Kenya’, Higher Education, vol. 56, no. 4.
- wa Thiong’o, N., 1993, Moving the Centre: The Struggle for Cultural Freedoms, Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers.
References
Adar, K. G., 1999, ‘Human Rights and Academic Freedom in Kenya’s Public Universities: The Case of the Universities Academic Staff Union’, Human Rights Quarterly, vol. 21, no. 1.
Ajayi, J. A. et al., 1996, The African Experience with Higher Education, Oxford: James Currey and the Association of African Universities.
Aina, T. A., 2010, ‘Beyond Reforms: The Politics of Higher Education Transformation in Africa’, African Studies Review, vol. 53, no. 1.
Chege, M., 2009, ‘The Politics of Education in Kenyan Universities: A call for a Paradigm Shift’, African Studies Review, vol. 52, no. 3.
Freire, P., 1994 [1970]), Pedagogy of the Oppressed, New York: Continuum. Ghai, Y., 1965, ‘Review: Kenya’s Socialism’, Transition, No. 20, 1965.
Imam, A. and Mama, A., 1994, ‘The Role of Academics in Limiting and Expanding Academic Freedom’, in Mamadou Diouf and Mahmood Mamdani, eds., Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Books.
Klopp, J. and Orina, J. R., 2002, ‘University Crisis, Student Activism, and the Contemporary Struggle for Democracy in Kenya’, African Studies Review, vol. 45, No. 1.
Mamdani, M., 1994, ‘Introduction: The Quest for Academic Freedom’, in Mamadou Diouf and Mahmood Mamdani, eds., Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Books.
Mazrui, A., 1978, Political Values and the Educated Class in Africa, Berkeley: University of California Press.
Mboya, T., 1963 [1993], Freedom and After, Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers.
Mkandawire, T., 2005, ‘African Intellectuals and Nationalism’, in Mkandawire, T., ed., African Intellectuals: Rethinking Politics, Language, Gender and Development, London and Dakar: Zed Books in collaboration with CODESRIA.
Munene, I. I., 2008, ‘Privatising the Public: Marketisation as a Strategy in Public University Transformation’, Research in Post-Compulsory Education, vol. 13, no. 1.
Mwiria, K. et al., 2007, Public and Private Universities in Kenya, Oxford: James Currey.
Republic of Kenya, 1965, Sessional Paper No 10 of 1965 on African Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya, Nairobi, Government Printers.
Said, E., 1994, Representations of the Intellectual, New York: Vintage Books.
Savage, D. C. and Taylor, C., 1991, ‘Academic Freedom in Kenya’, Canadian Journal of African Studies, vol. 25, No. 2.
Tamarkin, M., 1978, ‘The Roots of Political Stability in Kenya’, African Affairs, vol. 77.
Wangenge-Ouma, G., 2008, ‘Higher Education Marketisation and Its Discontents: The Case of Quality in Kenya’, Higher Education, vol. 56, no. 4.
wa Thiong’o, N., 1993, Moving the Centre: The Struggle for Cultural Freedoms, Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers.