Abstract
This paper examines mass exploitation in Kenya through the lens of New Historicism, tracing its evolution from colonial times to present-day conditions. By juxtaposing Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Petals of Blood (1977) with Jomo Kenyatta’s Facing Mount Kenya (1938) and various historical records as co-texts, the study explores the different dimensions of exploitation, revealing how the colonial legacy continues to influence social and economic inequalities. The paper assesses Ngugi’s success in fictionalising Kenyan history, drawing attention to the continued alliance between local elites and former colonisers after independence. It illustrates how these exploitative practices contribute to ongoing problems such as extrajudicial killings and economic disparities. By examining the roots of exploitation, this paper addresses an important gap in understanding its persistence in Kenya, advocating for a thorough reexamination of exploitative systems to achieve meaningful social justice.
Keywords: New Historicism; Exploitation; Colonialism; Postcolonial Kenya; Inequality
DOI: 10.36349/sojolics.2026.v02i01.041
author/Abdullahi Muhammad
journal/Sokoto JOLICS 2(1) | June 2026 |
