THE CONSEQUENCES OF ELECTORAL VIOLENCE ON DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN KENYA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Electoral violence can erode the trust that citizens have in their political institutions and leaders. When people witness violence associated with elections, they may lose faith in the democratic process, making it more difficult to consolidate democratic norms and values.however, in every modern society, election and democracy are classified as essential ingredients of development. Electoral politics began in Kenya in the 1920s with the introduction of elective principles by the 1922 Clifford Constitution. This constitution was very symbolic as it served as a landmark in the electoral history of Kenya. Kenyans were, for the first time allowed to exercise their political rights by voting their own candidates during elections in 1957 (Ezera, 2020).

A country can be described as consolidated when the current democratic system becomes “the only game in town” (Kuwama, 2019), meaning no one in the country is trying to act outside of the set institutions. This is the case when: no significant political group seriously attempts to overthrow the democratic regime, the democratic system is regarded as the most appropriate way to govern by the vast majority of the public, and all political actors are accustomed to the fact that conflicts are resolved through established political and constitutional rules. Consequently, other constitution that emanated after 1922 improved on the elective principle. These preceding constitutions further expanded the scope of electoral participation.There is no doubt that election has been a factor in Kenya’s political development since independence, even in per-independence era, it played significant role both at the national and regional levels. But the fact remain that post-independence elections in Kenya have a through elections, the public bestows legitimacy upon their chosen leaders, effectively voicing their collective will and sovereignty (D’Angelo, P, 2019). However, election cycles serve as critical junctures for citizens to evaluate the performance of the incumbent political party and to set their expectations for future administrations.

Additionally, the distinctive features of democracy include elections, which give the government political legitimacy and allow for peaceful changes in governance. Also, elections are frequently marred by hostilities and violence in a pluralistic nation like Kenya. Electing someone or being elected as an officer to any political office in a state system is both a human and political right. According to Covey,(2019) states that elections are frequently regarded as the "silver bullet solution" to civil conflict. They frequently signal the conclusion of a regime's peaceful transition period from one to the next. Elections are frequently insufficient and cannot be regarded as the exclusive catalyst for the move to democracy (Brown, 2018).

In a conceptual sense, the term 'violence' pertains to actions that employ physical force with the intention of causing harm, destruction, or fatality to a person or an object. The phrase "election violence" encompasses various interpretations. As per Laakso's (2017) definition, it is described as actions driven by an endeavor to influence the outcomes of elections. This influence can be achieved through the manipulation of electoral processes and participation, or by challenging the legitimacy of the election results. Additionally, electoral violence can have negative economic consequences, which can in turn impact democratic consolidation. It can deter foreign investment, disrupt economic activities, and increase poverty, all of which can undermine the stability necessary for democratic consolidation (Avraham,2019). Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to evaluate the consequences of electoral violence on democratic consolidation in Kenya.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

After a democratic transition is completed, there are still many tasks that need to be accomplished, conditions that must be established, and attitudes and habits that must be cultivated before democracy can be regarded as consolidated. Moreover, electoral violence often goes hand in hand with a breakdown in the rule of law. When political elites and supporters engage in violent acts with impunity, it weakens the legal institutions necessary for democratic consolidation. Further more, electoral violence poses a significant threat to democracy by eroding trust, limiting political participation, and disrupting the normal functioning of government and the economy.

Additionally, electoral violence represents a substantial threat to democracy by corroding trust, reducing political engagement, and disrupting the regular operation of government and the economy. Also, this violence tends to concentrate around the time of elections or in extreme cases, electoral fraud designed to manipulate the outcomes. According to Höglund ( 2019), electoral violence may encompass actions such as the harassment of potential candidates and voters, physical assaults, intimidation of candidates, election personnel, and voters, riots, property destruction, and even political assassinations, among other things. Such election-related violence can deter voters from casting their ballots at polling stations and dissuade candidates from seeking office.

Furthermore, frequent occurrences of electoral violence can undermine democratic institutions, hindering the effective performance of political leaders, including their ability to uphold the rule of law, safeguard human rights, and maintain checks and balances within the system. Therefore,it is in the light of these that the study seeks to evaluate the consequences of electoral violence on democratic consolidation in Kenya.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is on the consequences of electoral violence on democratic consolidation in Kenya. Specifically, the study will;

1. Assess the nature of the electoral violence in Kenya

2. Identify the factors responsible for electoral violence in Kenya

3. Investigate how electoral violence affects democratic consolidation in Kenya

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1. What is the nature of electoral violence in Kenya?

2. What are the factors responsible for electoral violence in Kenya?

3. How does electoral violence impact democratic consolidation in Kenya?

1.5 Significant of the Study

This study will help the government to identify and analyze the problem of historical conflicts and how to resolved in order to foster country’s aspiration of peaceful elections. Also, it will help policymakers in passing an enabling legislation to realize these values and align other laws with the new constitution.

Further more, the study will be revealed to the electorate as the information gathered will strengthen their levels of interaction and political participation processes. 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 the consequences of electoral violence on democratic consolidation in Kenya.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the consequences of electoral violence on democratic consolidation in Kenya. Theoretically, this study will assess the nature of the electoral violence in Kenya, identify the factors responsible for electoral violence in Kenya and investigate how electoral violence affects democratic consolidation in Kenya.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to people in Muranga, 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

Electoral violence: Electoral violence is an activity motivated by an attempt to affect the results of the elections – either by manipulating the electoral procedures and participation or by contesting the legitimacy of the results”(Laakso, 2017).

Consequences: a result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

Democracy: a system of government in which laws, policies, leadership, and major undertakings of a state or other polity are directly or indirectly decided by the “people.

Consolidation: is the process by which a new democracy matures, in a way that it becomes unlikely to revert to authoritarianism without an external shock, and is regarded as the only available system of government within a country (Andreas, 2018) .