The Influence of Ethnicity on Presidential Election Competition in Kenya: the Case of 2013 and 2017 General Elections.

Abstract

The study was on the influence of ethnicity on presidential election competition: The Case of 2013 and 2017 general election. The study had three specific objectives which included: To assess how Kenyan political parties, contribute to the entrenchment of ethnic politics and contestation in presidential electoral contests, to assess how negative ethnicity; affect political reforms and governance in the nation and lastly, to assess how negative ethnicity affect cohesion in Kenya. The study used an integration of primordialism, constructivism and instrumentalism theories to describe, explain and predict the influence of ethnicity on presidential electoral competition. The study used qualitative research methods to collect data. Focus group discussions and narrative interviews were the main methods that were utilized in the collection of primary data. The study made certain findings which included: Colonial policies played a role in the genesis of ethnic politics, ethnicity evolved gradually until it was first expressed in 1963 general elections. Since then, it has evolved and manifested in the formation of political parties and coalitions on subsequent presidential elections. Attempts have been made to reduce the influence of ethnicity in presidential elections. Despite those noble measures, ethnicity was found to have negatively influenced presidential electoral contest in 2013 as well as in 2017 presidential election competitions.