COLONIAL LANGUAGE POLICY IN KENYA: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF TEXTS, POWER RELATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE

Authors

  • Chege Samuel Nganga Department of Humanities, Murang’a University of Technology, Kenya
  • Geoffrey Maroko Department of Linguistics and Languages, Machakos University, Kenya
  • Anashia Nancy Ong’onda Department of Linguistics and Languages, Machakos University, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejals.v9i1.719

Keywords:

colonial language policy, Kenya, critical discourse analysis (CDA), language and power, education, linguistic imperialism, postcolonial studies

Abstract

This study investigates colonial language policy in Kenya through the lens of critical discourse analysis, focusing on how policy texts both reflected and shaped sociopolitical interests and educational outcomes. Drawing on Fairclough’s multidimensional framework, the research analyzes key colonial-era documents, including reports from the United Mission Conference, Phelps Stoke Commission, Prator-Hutasoit Commission, Beecher Report, and Binns Commission, to reveal the complex interplay between language, power, and education. The findings demonstrate that language policy was strategically used to advance missionary, colonial, and elite agendas, with lexical choices and argument structures privileging English and, at times, Kiswahili, while marginalizing indigenous languages. The analysis highlights the ambivalence and contestation surrounding mother tongue education, showing how policy recommendations often mask deeper power dynamics and practical challenges. By situating colonial language policy within broader sociocultural and historical contexts, the paper contributes to ongoing debates about multilingual education and equity in postcolonial societies. The study offers insights relevant to scholars and policymakers seeking to understand and reform language policy in multilingual educational environments.

Author Biographies

  • Chege Samuel Nganga, Department of Humanities, Murang’a University of Technology, Kenya

    Dr. Samuel Nganga Chege is an Applied linguistics lecturer and researcher at Muranga University of Technology. He focuses on Discourse Analysis, Language maintenance and revitalisation, and language planning and policy. His expertise lies in Discourse Analysis. Chege also contributes to Language Planning and Policy by exploring the complex processes of language policy development and implementation in multilingual societies. Chege's diverse research agenda advances linguistic scholarship, and has significant implications for language education, cultural preservation, and language policy formation.

  • Geoffrey Maroko, Department of Linguistics and Languages, Machakos University, Kenya

    Professor Geoffrey Maroko is a highly regarded language lecturer and researcher, with extensive experience in the fields of Applied linguistics and education. He has made significant contributions to the study of emerging issues in language and has participated in numerous multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research projects. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Professor Maroko has also served in various administrative capacities within the university system. As an accomplished academic, he is committed to using his expertise to promote the advancement of knowledge in his field.

  • Anashia Nancy Ong’onda, Department of Linguistics and Languages, Machakos University, Kenya

    Dr. Anashia Nancy Ong'onda, a Senior Lecturer at Machakos University, has made significant contributions to the field of Applied Linguistics through her extensive publication record. The focus of her research is on language usage, discourse practices, and sociocultural implications, with a particular emphasis on the impact of linguistic power on society and language ideologies. Dr. Ong'onda's work has advanced the boundaries of knowledge in critical discourse studies, language, power, and ideologies. Her publications, which include articles, research papers, and academic publications, are of great value to scholars and students in these fields.

References

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Nganga, C. S., Maroko, G., & Ong’onda, A. N. (2023). Intertextuality and Interdiscursivity in Post-colonial Language Policies in Kenya. European Journal of Applied Linguistics Studies, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejals.v6i2.480

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Published

2026-07-04

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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