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Positive Impact of Colonization on Kenya
Kenya was a British colony from 1920, but before then it was a British protectorate since the late 1800s. Although colonization is mostly seen to have had negative impacts on African countries, there are some positives. One positive effect of colonization on Kenya is the strong trade ties the country retains with its former colonial master. The United Kingdom is the largest foreign investor in the country with more than two hundred companies valued at more than £2.5 billion (Heldring & Robinson 11). The UK is also the largest importer of Kenyan exports such as tea, coffee and horticultural produce.
The Kenyan education system is ranked one of the best in Africa, making education one of the positive impacts of colonization. Before the British occupied Kenya, learning was mainly informal. The introduction of formal learning systems during colonization continued to date with many benefits for the country. In 2017, the Kenyan education system was ranked first among other African nations (Sharma & Gupta 142). The Kenyan government has continuously prioritized education as a major policy area, resulting in high literacy levels. Many of the higher learning institutions established during colonial times remain some of the most prestigious to date.
The British introduced new cash crops in Kenya which remain the highest exports earning the country millions of dollars in revenue. Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy with most of the crops having been introduced during colonial times. Tea and coffee are the country’s highest exports alongside other horticultural products. Aside from earning the government revenue, the agricultural sector is also the biggest employer in the Kenyan economy. More than 40% of the rural population are employed in farms and food processing industries from which they earn a living. The British also introduced new and more efficient farming methods during colonial times that have allowed Kenyan farmers to maximize on their agricultural output.
Works Cited
Heldring, Leander, and James A. Robinson. Colonialism and economic development in Africa. No. w18566. National Bureau of Economic Research, 2012.
Sharma, Ambika, and T. A. N. U. Gupta. “The Making of Third World: The Impact of Colonization.” Research Journal of English Language and Literature 3.2 (2015): 141-144.
