CORE-PERIPHERY DYNAMICS AND GEOPOLITICAL ALIGNMENTS: A WORLD-SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ON PAKISTAN-KENYA AND INDIA-KENYA RELATIONS

Abstract

This study analyses the structural asymmetry in Pakistan and India’s bilateral relations with Kenya using World-Systems Theory (WST) and the framework of African Agency. Primarily, it investigates: How do the divergent economic trajectories of India and Pakistan shape their asymmetric relations with Kenya? And how Kenya exercises its agency to navigate South Asian asymmetric strategies to its advantage.  It argues that India’s dominance is rooted in its status as an ascending semi-periphery, whereas Pakistan’s engagement remains constrained by limited capital accumulation and domestic economic volatility. Consequently, India provides high-value technological transfers and strategic depth, while Pakistan remains anchored in a traditional, commodity-based trade model. Rejecting the narrative of Africa as a passive periphery, this research positions Kenya as a dynamic regional hub that strategically leverages its supremacy to negotiate with competing South Asian powers. Through a qualitative comparative analysis of trade data and diplomatic records, the study covers the meaningful developments from 1978 to 2025. The findings reveal that India’s influence is sustained by institutional depth, vast diaspora networks, and digital infrastructure. Conversely, while Pakistan’s "Engage Africa" policy shows growth, it lacks sustained institutionalisation. The study concludes that for Pakistan to remain a viable partner, it must pivot from basic commodity exchange toward robust capacity building, diaspora engagement, and a deeper recognition of Kenya’s strategic agency.