The dual role of English in Kenya: exploring language ideologies in a multilingual context

English occupies a complex position in postcolonial societies, functioning both as a global resource and a reminder of colonial hierarchies. In Kenya, where it holds official status alongside Swahili and coexists with rich local linguistic diversity, English represents both opportunity and inequality. This study examines language ideologies towards English among young, educated Kenyans, exploring how multilinguals negotiate its dual role as a colonial inheritance and a medium of socioeconomic mobility. Data were collected through qualitative interviews with 21 participants. Findings confirm a prevailing appreciation of English as a pathway to education, employment, and global engagement, yet participants also expressed concern about its potential to displace Kenyan local languages and cultural identity. This ambivalence emerges as a form of linguistic resilience, through which speakers reconcile inherited colonial hierarchies with contemporary global aspirations. Rather than viewing English as oppressive or emancipatory, participants articulated a desire for balanced multilingualism and inclusive language policies that sustain local linguistic vitality while enabling global participation. The study contributes to sociolinguistic and postcolonial scholarship by demonstrating how ideological ambivalence operates as an adaptive strategy within multilingual ecologies. It argues that fostering a functional equilibrium between English and local languages can promote both social mobility and cultural continuity.