Why was Jomo Kenyatta’s government friendly toward Britain and other Western powers?

Jomo Kenyatta’s government maintained a consistently friendly foreign policy toward Britain and other Western powers, a stance that distinguished him from many of his African contemporaries.12

His pro-Western orientation was driven by several key factors:

• Economic Strategy: Kenyatta rejected socialist calls for the nationalization of property, opting instead for a free-market economy. He actively encouraged foreign investment from Western nations to drive development.1
• Development and Stability: By aligning with the capitalist international community during the Cold War, Kenya successfully attracted significant resources for infrastructure development. This approach helped make Kenya one of the most economically dynamic and politically stable countries in Africa during the two decades following its independence.21
• Political Pragmatism: Kenyatta established the Kenyan republic within the British Commonwealth, signaling a commitment to maintaining ties with the former colonial power. Despite his earlier imprisonment by British authorities, he remained one of the most pro-British leaders on the continent, prioritizing national stability and economic growth through these international partnerships.21