Language and the development of Kenya

Abstract

This paper looked at the negative exploitation of Kenya’s linguistic diversity and its impact on her development. It aimed at making advocacy the use of her multilingual situation as a resource for positive development. It also advocates for equal provision of the preferred language of education by the Kenyan nation in order to fully benefit from her linguistic situation. The study is based on the social psychology theory of frustration, aggression and displacement as proposed by Dollard et al (1939) and Bernstein’s (1973) theory of language advantage and disadvantage. Data was provided by 20 High school teachers and 15 ordinary Kenyan citizens. Findings showed that negative use of Kenya’s linguistic diversity is detrimental to her social, cultural, economic and political development. Likewise, inequitable provision of the language of education has left a majority dissatisfied; hence creating a society that is stratified based on linguistic affiliation. The findings of this study are meant to influence Kenya into using her linguistic diversity for positive development.

Key Terms: Education, development, language policy and practice, conflict, multilingualism