Youth Identities in an Urbanising and Ethnically Fragmented Society: a Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

This research looks at youth identities in an urbanizing and ethnically fragmented society like Kenya. The objective of the research is to see whether ethnic identities are constructed by circumstance and are not innate and fixed. The justification for the research is to explore a new approach to nationalism that is grounded on an overarching and unifying philosophy that transcends ethnic identities. The research was informed by the constructionist theory of ethnic formation which asserts that human beings construct their identities contrary to the primodialist thinking that ethnic identities are innate and determined. The research used secondary data from a youth survey conducted by the Agha Khan East African institute. The Youth survey had adopted a descriptive survey design that used face to face interviews. The survey interviewed 1,800 respondents from every region in Kenya. Sample sizes per region were calculated by application of the population proportion size method using Kenya 2009 census figures. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The researcher sought permission from the Agha Khan East African Institute to use their data. Findings showed that environment in urban and rural Kenya are quite different especially in the amounts and quality of information the youth are exposed to. The study also found that the youth identify themselves variously as Kenyans, young people, children of God/Allah, by family and tribe in that order. These findings are consistent with the constructionist theory that identities are constructed. The findings also infer that a national identity can be constructed through public policy. The study urges the Kenyan government to use deliberate socialization policies to inculcate a sense of nationalism by using narratives that transcend ethnic identities.