AN INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPACT OF ETHNICITY ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF KENYA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Ethnicity serves as the central axis along which national and municipal politics in Kenya pivot. Despite Kenya's stated objective of establishing a political system that prioritizes issues, centres on the people, focuses on accomplishing results, and ensures accountability to the public, the country's political landscape fails to fully embody the values and best practices associated with a democratic political system. The primary manifestation of this deficiency is seen by the presence of political parties that are organized along ethnic lines, however lack a coherent set of guiding principles and an intellectual framework upon which to attract members, engage in policy-making, and execute their ambitions and goals.The user's text is not sufficient to rewrite in an academic manner. The aforementioned developments encompass the shift towards inclusivity, equality, and participation among various populations, achieved through the decentralisation of authority and allocation of resources to local communities (Ilievski, 2015).

Additionally, the prohibition of ethnic-based political parties and the promotion of national values have been instrumental in fostering a collective national identity (Ilievski, 2015). The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) aims to address the issues of ethnic-based politics within the political system of Kenya. This is achieved through various means, including the analysis of underlying factors that contribute to ethnic disputes and conflicts in the country. The commission then provides recommendations to the government and other relevant stakeholders in order to propose effective solutions. However, despite the aforementioned framework, the issue of ethnic-based politics remains prevalent. This was seen in the 2013 general election, as political parties and coalitions continued to align themselves along ethnic divisions, as has been the historical norm (D’Arcy & Cornell, 2016). The significance of this matter is of utmost importance. With the approaching 2017 general elections, there is a notable emergence of political groups and alliances that are primarily based on ethnic affiliations.

Further more, this trend has the potential to steer Kenya towards a very destructive outcome. An persistent characteristic of the post-colonial legacy in Kenya is the presence of ethnic divisions, which manifested not only as a means of group identification but also as a catalyst for mobilization in the pursuit of economic objectives. The intricate process of social class construction was intricately intertwined with the colonial regime's efforts to control the characteristics of a traditional society and its endeavours to foster the growth of a capitalist market within the colonial context. Hence, comprehending the ethnic challenges within Kenya's political landscape necessitates an examination of the historical context of colonial capitalism and its disparate consequences on different ethnic communities (Mamdani, 2018). The emergence of ethnic consciousness within Kenya's political processes can be attributed, in part, to the arbitrary manner in which British colonialists established administrative boundaries and local governance structures along cultural and linguistic divisions. This decision was influenced by the underlying assumption that African communities were organized into tribes, thereby necessitating the adoption of tribes as the foundation for colonial administration (Maxon, 2016).

In addition,Kenya akin to numerous African colonies, was a construct of colonial powers, a construct that appeared to possess inherent flaws from its inception. Consequently, this territorial invention gave rise to an impending crisis due to the amalgamation of diverse ethnic communities, some of which exhibited minimal or negligible cultural similarities. Also, various communities exhibited reciprocal hostility against one other. This does not imply that cultural homogeneity is an essential condition for political stability. It might be argued that the coexistence of culturally varied ethnic groups may be hindered unless those in positions of power actively strive to foster harmonious relations among them. Kenya is home to over 42 distinct ethnic groups. These particular groups, in and of themselves, do not provide a significant risk to either the overall stability of the nation-state or to their own well-being, since individuals do not engage in conflict solely based on differences in cultural and linguistic characteristics (Taylor, 2016).

The emergence of persistent hostility between ethnic groupings in Kenya may be attributed to the politicisation of ethnicity. Postcolonial leaders have shown a similar attitude towards ethnicity as the colonialists, therefore failing to establish a national civic culture inside the country's political framework. This failure may be attributed to the self-centered pursuits of those in positions of power, who prioritised their own narrow interests and fostered a divisive and exclusive environment. Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to

investigate the impact of ethnicity on the political system of Kenya.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Numerous scholars have recognized the detrimental impact of ethnic politics on effective governance, genuine democracy, robust economic and social policy frameworks, and competitive political environments. According to Taylor (2016), the existing legislative framework seems to have been ineffective in addressing the issue of ethnic-based politics and the emergence of political parties and alliances based on ethnicity. The efficacy of laws and institutions in addressing the issue of ethnic-based politics in Kenya remains uncertain. The inquiry at hand pertains to the potential of existing legal frameworks and institutional structures to effectively address and alleviate ethnic political inclinations within the context of Kenya. What are the essential attributes and features that laws and institutions must possess in order to effectively accomplish this objective? How have nations characterised by significant ethnic diversity effectively addressed and controlled ethnic political inclinations?. Hence, It is in the light of these that the study seeks to

 investigate  the impact of ethnicity on the political system of Kenya.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of ethnicity on the political system of Kenya. Specifically, the study will;

1.        Determine whether there is a significant relationship between ethnicity and the political system of Kenya

2.        Determine the extent ethnicity influences interest and awareness in Kenya political system.

3.        Determine the extent ethnicity influences political participation in Kenya political sphere.

4.        Determine the extent ethnicity influences the consolidation of Kenya political system.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1.        Is there a significant relationship between ethnicity and the political system of Kenya?

2.        To what extent does ethnicity influence interest and awareness in the Kenyan political system?

3.        To what extent does ethnicity influence political participation in the Kenyan political sphere?

4.        To what extent does ethnicity influence the consolidation of the Kenyan political system?

1.5       Significance of the study

Ethnic-based politics in Kenya is of major significance. It is anticipated to decrease ethnic violence greatly and to generate a greater degree of peace, democracy and equality in the nation. Indeed, if ways could be found of using laws to remedy the ills of politicized ethnicity and an adequate legal framework put in place to restrict politicians from conducting ethnic-based campaigns, which by their nature tend to derogate members of other ethnicity, all the citizens of the country would benefit greatly. Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to an investigation on the impact of ethnicity on the political system.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on an investigation on the impact of ethnicity on the political system. Geographically, the study will be delimited to the people Nairobi, Kenya.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Ethnicity: the quality or fact of belonging to a population group or subgroup made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.

Political system: the set of formal legal institutions that constitute a government or a state