Revisiting the Big Man in Africa : Local Political Entrepreneurialism and Networks in Contemporary Kenya

The Big Man is a central concept in both anthropology and African Studies, offering valuable insights into leadership and governance in contexts characterised by limited formal political institutionalisation. Despite more than six decades of research, however, the concept remains fragmented and lacks a coherent theoretical foundation. This thesis aims to address this gap by offering a comprehensive re-examination of the Big Man, drawing on an extensive review of literature from across disciplines, continents and time periods. It contributes ten key propositions to the ongoing debate, offering both a theoretical framework for understanding the concept and a tool for exploring previously under-researched aspects, particularly the networks and agents of Big Men. To complement this theoretical discussion, the thesis includes three case studies of local Big Men from fieldwork conducted in Kenya: the Youth Leader, the Member of County Assembly, and, for the first time in African Studies, a Big Woman. These case studies highlight the varied strategies employed by local Big Men to attain their leadership positions, illustrating the complex interplay between individual ambition and the formalising political structures within Kenya’s evolving political landscape. In doing so, this thesis challenges some of the prevailing notions on electoral clientelism, neo-patrimonialism and power in the African context.