Impact Of Electoral Violence On Human Security In Kenya: A Case Of Kibra Informal Settlement (2007 – 2017)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of electoral violence on human security in Kenya, with key focus on Kibra informal settlements. Specifically the study aimed at providing an overview of historical and contemporary perspective of electoral violence in Kenya, to understand the nexus between electoral violence and human security in Kenya and specifically in kibra informal settlement, and to examine the role of government and non-governmental institution in enhancing human security in Kibra slums during the electoral period. The study also consisted of primary data which was analyzed by using qualitative data. Qualitative data was based on the strength of arguments presented by participants. Based on purposive sampling guided to select interviewees based on the experience and expertise Secondary data consisted of observations of various researchers in the fields of human security informal settlement and electoral violence studies. Most of the secondary data will be collected from academic journals, online sources; most of the secondary data will be derived from the UN habitat, United Nations, Development Programme Human Development Report. Data analysis method that was used in the study was qualitative data analysis. Most of the data that was collected was derived from focused group discussions. These consisted of youth women who live in the informal settlements. The study established that the human security is the protection of life, emerging understanding of community vulnerabilities. In addition the study established that election violence is the violence which results from disputed elections where a candidate is denied an outright win making his or her supporters plunge into violence and property destruction. The study further found that government needs to improve on political security where human rights and democracy are guaranteed, health security where people are able to have access to universal health care, personal security where right to life is guaranteed, environmental, community economic and food security, human security and electoral violence. Once these issues are addressed in Kibra people will live in harmony and cohesion. In addition the study established that the government was far way behind as issue of unemployment persists. People in Kibra Slum continue to live in apt poverty as they struggle to bring food on the table. On role of the government institution and the NGOs the study established that several non-governmental organization have also helped in building social amenities like football grounds which help in creating opportunities and reconciliation among communities that have been involved in electoral violence. These non-governmental also have helped in building of vocational institution that assist in imparting skills to both youth and women which help in reducing levels of poverty among youth and women in informal settlement. Civil society has also played a major role in enhancing human security during the electoral period in Kibra informal settlement. The Kenya Human Rights Organization is one of the civil society groups that have assisted in promoting political security among residents of Kibra slum. The organization has been in the forefront of seeking justice for the internally displaced person and persons who lost their property during the post-election violence. The study concluded that the NGOs in Kibra had been in the forefront of seeking justice for the internally displaced person and persons who lost their property during the post-election violence. The human rights has been assisting resident by giving them legal advice to enable them seek justice as victims of electoral violence and these has enabled the achievement of political justice. The study further concluded that the Key thematic areas that the government needed to address in Kibra slum included political security where human rights and democracy are guaranteed, xii health security where people are able to have access to universal health care, personal security where right to life is guaranteed, environmental, community economic and food security, human security and electoral violence. In relation to the human security and electoral violence it is emerging as a commendable administrative practice that whenever there is notorious conduct that touches on issues of law and order, special units are set up in the police force with a specific mandate to deal with the specific crime. This is done either on permanent or adhoc basis. In the same spirit, it is recommended that special units in the police force be established during electoral periods to deal with matters of electoral mal-practices. To avoid creating administrative impasses in the flow of commands, the unit will remain under the overall command of the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner of Police may through an administrative understanding with the Electoral Commission of Kenya procure specialized 'in-service' training of the officers under the unit on the electoral process and electoral laws. This will create special expertise in investigating trends of election violence and the persons involved. It is also advisable that the entire police force be trained on electoral matters so that the law enforcement agencies get imbued with their impartial role in handling issues of a political character.