Readings from the Kenyan Constitution: A Critical Discourse Analysis on Legacy and Freedom

One of the most important documents about historical realities is the Constitution. It establishes the principles of fundamental human rights and institutional provisions for governing a country. Given the above, the study explores the aspects of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, focusing on the themes of legacy and freedom. It aims to explore the relevant articles and chapters to show how the principles of legacy and freedom are articulated. It does this by paying attention to the language employed, the historical and cultural contexts adopted, and the power dynamics at play in the Constitution. The purpose of the study is to support the emphasis on the need for the principles of freedom and liberty, which is one of the basic principles of human existence. Methodologically, the study draws on qualitative text analysis to examine the choices of language used, the contextual elements influencing the articles, and the implications for Kenya. Using the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) theories of Norman Fairclough (1995) and Ruth Wodak (1997), the study investigates how the Constitution constructs notions of authority, responsibility, and inclusion while highlighting the challenges of marginalisation within the discourse. The findings speak to the intricacies of language, power, and ideology in making national and international responsibility for freedom and human rights. It highlights the importance of actively engaging with the Constitution and critically analysing its implications for contemporary Kenyan society. The discussion contributes to considering how language establishes power dynamics and ideological commitments in international relations