Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

The questions posed in this paper are: first, what is the nature of the 'managerial elite'; and second, how different are the characteristics of the "managerial elite" from the other societal groups in contemporary Kenya. In answering these questions, I started with the premise that Africanization in contemporary Kenya can be best understood by a close examination of the "managerial elite", which becomes particularly salient during this process. Two aspects of Africanization noted include: Africanization of management and Africanization of ownership in trade and industry. This paper is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the current theory and methodology on the "managerial elite" and provides an alternative way to conceptualize the "managerial elite". The second part deals with the historical aspect of Africanization and the social position of the "managerial elite" in contemporary Kenya.