The Role of Politicized Ethnicity on Conflict in Africa: a Case Study of Kenya, 1992-2013

Abstract

Efforts to promote inclusive governance in Africa and Kenya in particular remain a mirage despite more than two decades of restructuring. This is partly due to the failure by political leaders to de-ethnicize politics, a development that is often associated with the intermittent conflicts witnessed in many parts of African continent. This study therefore examined the role of politicized ethnicity on persistent conflict in Africa using the case study of Kenya. To achieve this objective, the study focused on how politicized ethnicity contributes to poor governance, resource mal-distribution, human rights abuse and ultimately conflicts. This study was guided by the Instrumentalist theory of ethnic conflict which explains ethnic conflicts from socio-economic and political perspective. In particular, this theory argues that competition between diverse ethnic groups for scarce economic and political resources is a major motivation for ethnic based conflicts. In its methodology, this study utilized the case study research design, while the primary data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide with both closed and open ended questions. The study utilized both quota sampling when administering the questionnaire to the general public and purposive sampling while conducting interviews with the experts. Expert opinions among academicians, security officers, NCIC commissioners and civil society employees who are well-versed on the role of ethnicity on conflicts were sought. The data was finally analyzed using mixed methods such as content analysis, trend analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings of this study indicate that the politicization of ethnicity, which is an element of poor governance, heightens perceptions of exclusion and sometimes legitimate exclusion which ultimately provokes conflicts. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that politicized ethnicity encourages mobilization along ethnic lines and increases the consciousness on human rights violations whether legitimate or not, therefore stoking conflicts. Politicized ethnicity also shapes inter-group politics which promotes structural violence, thus creating cycles of future conflicts and exclusion. This study also depicts that politicized ethnicity in Kenya has been fomented by failure to de-ethnicize politics, corruption, lack of patriotism, nepotism, weak government institutions and failure to implement relevant laws. Thus, this study recommends that there is a need to have a legal framework that insulates public establishments from political interference. In addition, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development should review the curriculum to underline the efficacy of political inclusivity, while at the same time National Cohesion and Integration Commission should be anchored in the constitution and given more resources for it to become more efficient and effective in addressing politicized ethnicity.