In reviewing Nicholas Rankin’s Trapped in History, one is inevitably drawn into the perennial debate over the legacy of British colonial rule in Kenya—balancing the undeniable oppression with the infrastructural foundations it left behind. Education is often cited as a positive, and in this case, so too is medicine—particularly in the form of mission hospitals, which, in remote areas, were often the only available medical facilities. These institutions, run by missionary doctors with a sense of calling, filled the void left by an indifferent colonial administration.
However, the most transformative colonial legacy arguably lies in commercial agriculture. Unlike subsistence farming, which sustains individual families, commercial agriculture fosters surplus, trade, and ultimately urbanisation. The arrival of white settlers, granted vast tracts of land, launched Kenya into this modern agricultural economy. Though deeply unjust—indigenous Kenyans were initially barred from growing valuable “scheduled crops”—this system established the agricultural infrastructure the post-independence government inherited. Today, agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy, employing around 40% of the workforce.
Tourism, too, is an inheritance from colonial times. Figures like Mervyn Cowie laid the groundwork for Kenya’s national parks long before independence, safeguarding wildlife and setting the stage for a thriving tourism industry. Rankin’s personal reflections may at times feel dramatized, but they touch on a difficult question: would Kenya have achieved its current level of economic and infrastructural development without colonisation? It’s a provocative proposition, especially in light of the human cost of empire.
Yet, in weighing these complexities, Kenya’s story also becomes one of resilience and reconciliation. As symbolised by individuals like Jake Grieves-Cook, who remained in Kenya and contributed to its growth, the country’s post-colonial identity has been shaped not just by resistance to oppression, but also by an enduring spirit of mutual forgiveness—a legacy of Jomo Kenyatta’s early calls for national unity.
