This dissertation examines the influence of internal and external actors in pressuring Kenya to embrace liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s during the Moi presidency. It argues that internal actors had more influence than external actors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in forcing the Moi government to concede to liberalization. To make its argument, the dissertation analyzes the influence of Kenya's colonial history, Harambee (self-help groups), the economic decline of the 1970s and 1980s, ethnic rivalry, and the role of Moi's repressive regime in bringing about liberalization. It uses Kenya's agricultural and financial sectors as case studies to explain how the influence of these actors/factors contributed to liberalization. The dissertation concludes by emphasizing why it is important to seriously consider the role of internal actors when examining liberalization (or any other reform policies). One reason is that the \"on-the-ground\" actors are primary in determining whether or not a policy can even be implemented, let alone succeed. In that respect, the dissertation recommends that international financial institutions consult with all domestic actors, including political and social activists, as part of their engagement with governments on any reform initiative.
","abstract_html":"<p>This dissertation examines the influence of internal and external actors in pressuring Kenya to embrace liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s during the Moi presidency. It argues that internal actors had more influence than external actors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in forcing the Moi government to concede to liberalization. To make its argument, the dissertation analyzes the influence of Kenya's colonial history, <em>Harambee</em> (self-help groups), the economic decline of the 1970s and 1980s, ethnic rivalry, and the role of Moi's repressive regime in bringing about liberalization. It uses Kenya's agricultural and financial sectors as case studies to explain how the influence of these actors/factors contributed to liberalization. The dissertation concludes by emphasizing why it is important to seriously consider the role of internal actors when examining liberalization (or any other reform policies). One reason is that the "on-the-ground" actors are primary in determining whether or not a policy can even be implemented, let alone succeed. In that respect, the dissertation recommends that international financial institutions consult with all domestic actors, including political and social activists, as part of their engagement with governments on any reform initiative.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Joseph, Figaro"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Rachel A. Epstein, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:03Z","subjects":["Economic liberalization","Economic reform","International financial institutions","Kenya","Moi","Popular pressure","Political liberalization","World Bank"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/838","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Rachel A. Epstein, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Joseph, Figaro"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2001-01-01T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Economic liberalization","Economic reform","International financial institutions","Kenya","Moi","Popular pressure","Political liberalization","World Bank"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/838"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This dissertation examines the influence of internal and external actors in pressuring Kenya to embrace liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s during the Moi presidency. It argues that internal actors had more influence than external actors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in forcing the Moi government to concede to liberalization. To make its argument, the dissertation analyzes the influence of Kenya's colonial history, Harambee (self-help groups), the economic decline of the 1970s and 1980s, ethnic rivalry, and the role of Moi's repressive regime in bringing about liberalization. It uses Kenya's agricultural and financial sectors as case studies to explain how the influence of these actors/factors contributed to liberalization. The dissertation concludes by emphasizing why it is important to seriously consider the role of internal actors when examining liberalization (or any other reform policies). One reason is that the \"on-the-ground\" actors are primary in determining whether or not a policy can even be implemented, let alone succeed. In that respect, the dissertation recommends that international financial institutions consult with all domestic actors, including political and social activists, as part of their engagement with governments on any reform initiative.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Reforming Kenya: Explaining the Influence of Internal and External Actors in the Process of Liberalization"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Rachel A. Epstein, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Joseph, Figaro"],"dc:date.available":["2001-01-01T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This dissertation examines the influence of internal and external actors in pressuring Kenya to embrace liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s during the Moi presidency. It argues that internal actors had more influence than external actors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in forcing the Moi government to concede to liberalization. To make its argument, the dissertation analyzes the influence of Kenya's colonial history, Harambee (self-help groups), the economic decline of the 1970s and 1980s, ethnic rivalry, and the role of Moi's repressive regime in bringing about liberalization. It uses Kenya's agricultural and financial sectors as case studies to explain how the influence of these actors/factors contributed to liberalization. The dissertation concludes by emphasizing why it is important to seriously consider the role of internal actors when examining liberalization (or any other reform policies). One reason is that the \"on-the-ground\" actors are primary in determining whether or not a policy can even be implemented, let alone succeed. In that respect, the dissertation recommends that international financial institutions consult with all domestic actors, including political and social activists, as part of their engagement with governments on any reform initiative.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/838"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"],"dc:subject":["Economic liberalization","Economic reform","International financial institutions","Kenya","Moi","Popular pressure","Political liberalization","World Bank"],"dc:title":["Reforming Kenya: Explaining the Influence of Internal and External Actors in the Process of Liberalization"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:03Z"}