Paper short abstract:

This paper examines how a range of different forms of diversified business groups have emerged in Kenya since independence. It highlights how politics has nurtured different growth trajectories among businesses.

Paper long abstract:

Since the 'Kenya debate', which generated a range of studies examining the status and hopes for African capitalist classes in the 1970s-1990s, there has been comparatively fewer discussion of the status and politics around the emergence of African businesses. This paper examines how a variety of diversified business groups have emerged in Kenya since independence, higlighting how politics has been central to nurturing and obstructing their growth.

This paper forms part of a broader comparative research agenda, examining the emergence of Africa's diversified business groups and how their position within domestic economies is currently de-linked from the agenda to revive nascent manufacturing sectors across the continent.

In Kenya, in particular, several different forms of business groups have emerged (portfolio, organic and politically-induced). While some have concentrated their growth in manufacturing sectors both within and outside the country, others have focused their activities on finance, real estate and construction. The paper explains what may account for these different trajectories of growth.