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Moi
Moi
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TITLE: Impact of Ethnic Conflicts on National
Stability and Development.
DECLARATION
I KAMAU ERICK KAHURA declare that this research is my original work
and has not been presented to any other education institution for examination.
Declare that any secondary source of data used in this research has been dully
acknowledged.
DATE......................SIGNATURE.....................
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DEDICATION
This research is dedicated to my greatest role model, best friend and dad
Mr.Kamau Mundiah{who passed away while doing my K.C.S.E.]His dreams,hopes
and aspirations for a great future for his family live on...............
Also all those who suffer as aresult of ethnic conflict.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It has been an audacious attempt in my effort to understand the impact of
ethnic conflict on national stability and development in kenya;in my research
I have inccured interectual debts from many people who have given mentorship
support, encouragement, comments and suggestions I received from them.
I thank the almigthy God for his care and grace through this challenging
period of my life.Secondly I wish to record my gratitude and thanks to my parent
Mr.kamau &Teresia for bringing me in this world.Am also greatful to T.E.C.
Institute for according me the oppotunity to participate in pursuing this course.
My sincere gratitude goes to my Research Supervisor Mr. Richard Wafula,
for his thorough and incisive guidance through the entire research.also to
my lectures Mr.; Ndemaki Mandila, Kenyatta, Arron Wambua ,Eliaz Mabwai,Alex
Mulwa ;Mandam Muema,Purity,Elizabeth and Pennina for their helps in various ways.
Thanks sincerery to my friends Derric Kamanda, and cousin kahura who
Gave me valuable insights into translating my ideas coherently and enriched
them in various ways.
My heartfelt thanks to my mum Teresiah Kamau and aunt Rosemary Kahura for
their financial support, encouragement and inspiration,without which I would not
have participated in this course.
Finally I wish to acknowledge my social partners in the research; my girl friend Rose
Wangeci, who motivated me and for her love and encouragement. Thanks also to
Bro.oliver, Edwin and James; cousin. kahura, nyambu, njeri for their unwavering support
throughout this course.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0. Introduction
1.1.objective of study
1.2.purpose of study
1.3.importance of study
1.4.problem statement
2.0.LITERATURE REVIEW
ABSRACT
Ethnic conflict has been in the likes of an ugly horrific night dream from when
you wake up in a chilling childish scream.Many people are rudely shocked at
what have happened;solid and good building reduced to ashes,shops torched and
completely empited the stocks,human bodies burned to stumps and slashed to
pieces and left for dogs and insects to feed on.People displaced and jammed in
tents in open grounds and mass-fed like refugees in their own country.
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Ethnic conflict encompasses all forms of small and large scale acts of violence
between and among different ethnic groups in which ethnicity plays a casual
role in the conflict [sambanis2001] in this way, a bar room brawl between people
of different ethnic groups that erupts over accusations of cheating in a game
of billiards is not a form of ethnic conflict. It refer to conflicts which in the real
sense have been conflict over resources, political violence and class conflicts
Among other grievance.
Inspite of the world being in the era of globalization, ethnic conflict and communal
violence persists which affect the national development and stability. According to
“Nyamnjoh”it seems to be ‘Flip side of globalization “The recent trend is that ethnic
communities which previously lived together they now turn against each other leaving
behind lots of destruction among the people.
The historical origins of ethnic conflicts can be traced back to pre-colonial eras; we
cannot deny the importance of the present social economic factors. At the root of
ethnicity ties the question of economic security .Open ethnic question arises between
privileged ethnic groups who have benefited from further regions. This contributes to
political tensions because each group feels it can only win if other loses.
The recently ethnic conflicts which rocked the country in 2007/2008 raise fear and
apprehension in Kenya. It unfolded along ethnic bases. As the guardians made the
country states observers of the violence following 2007 December elections have often
referred to the violence as in contrast to an otherwise politically stable and peaceful
country
It led to death of more than thousand, hundred of property and investments were
destroyed and shocked the foundation of this nation. It heightened ethnic suspicious and
generates a political and humanitarian crisis that left Kenya at the brink of tribal war.
Because of its speed and scales, it came as a surprise that many Kenyans and
international community. It empted even before president Kibaki was declared winner of
elections, but it increased in scale after final environment of presidential elections.
However it is worth keeping in mind that most important political activities throughout
Kenya’s history as an independent state have been framed along ethnic woes
The period has been associated with inter-ethnic conflicts in Nyanza, Rift valley, Western
and coast Province.
The tradition that violence may arise prior and after General elections have made “Ethnic
conflict.” a very sensible yet an important topic for, debate aimed at making policy option
for management of conflicts. Whenever this issue is raised there is often fear, confusion
and skeptsim within the government, opposition and within the public document.
However in 2002 there were no ethnic conflicts after election .There was peaceful
handover of power. This successful change of regime was said to have made Kenya a
democratic camp. Kenya also received a lot of praises from European countries and
African nation and was referred as a “An icon of peace and stability in Africa,” All these
praise were watered down by 2007/2008 post –election violence which was considered
the worst experience since independence. The violence put Kenya from violence and
chaos which weakened and undermined the national development and stability.
It is this event of ethnic conflicts which made me to do this research which shows
correlation between ethnicity, development and stability in Kenya. The research is based
on both library and field research .As the title explicates issues related to ethnic conflicts
and their impact in national development and stability.
Objective of the study
The objective of the study is to carry out an inquiry into the impact of ethnic conflicts on
stability and development of Kenya between 1991 to date.
Purpose of Research
Purpose of this study was to generate information on implications of past and recent
ethnic conflicts on the national stability and development.
It was to generate strategies for investigations as well as strategies for managing
as well for mitigation of conflicts.
To determine the root causes of conflicts in Kenya.
I wanted to gain some understanding of ethnic conflict and how it affects the national
development and stability.
I aim to contribute to a body of knowledge concerning ethnic conflicts which have
ensured in Kenya since 1990’s whose reality cannot be ignored.
Ethnocracy
Ethnic conflict is not all irrational expression of tarstic biological impulses. It is a
political strategy to achieve tangible political and economic benefits. It is about who gets
what, who will benefit and who will lose in purely. Economic struggles for the control of
ownership, distribution and management of resources.Micheal human observed that
democracy in Kenya remains dominant by tribalism.
Political Opportunitism
Archie Mafeje has observed that ethnicity is a social tool used by African elite to advance
their own personal economic and political agenda while pretending to act on behalf of
their ethnic groups. Politicians in Kenya have adduced overwhelming evidence to show
that ethnic conflict are an artificial creation by a few self –centered politicians who are
opposed to development at democratic institutions and culture. The 1992 and 1997
eruption of violence in Rift valley is seen to derive from politicians who wanted re-
introduction of Majimbo (federalism)
When government lose credibility and legitimacy in the public domain, they retreat to
their ethnic bases and use them as quasi military ethnic strategies to defend the status quo
against political change.
Material gain
Source Sunday Nation Oct 19/2008.The measure of achievement is found in the
immediate dispending of material gain ,that is consumption rather than production .Few
politically engage population in a decision of how to achieve a longer rate of growth and
sustained development. Ethnic groups in Kenya choose to act in any manner feasible to
protect their communal rationality and realized/perceived material gain. Ethnic groups in
Kenya fight over resources and property such as land livestock pastures and water. The
winners of fight in most cases got what they want more losers loose their property.
Impact of ethnic conflicts
Economic impact
Ethnic conflict have led to many families to loss personal and household possessions as
that houses,granaries,farms,shops and business premises were burnt.
In recent violence which has been witnessed in Kenya led to more than thousand of lives
to be lost, hundred displaced and billions of shillings and of property and investments
was destroyed shook the foundation of this nation. The violence heightened ethnic
suspicious and generated political and humanitarian crisis that left Kenya at the brink of
tribal war. (Daily nation Feb 2008.
Ethnicity has inflicted senior’s damage in Agriculture education and health care services.
The destruction of farms and displacement of rich agricultural area resulted in serious
food strategies in 1993 and 2008.The government of Kenya therefore led to appeal to
international community for food Aid (Daily nation 14, 1993:6) even today agricultural
production is yet to recover.
Social impact
As a report of ethnic conflicts, many people have been left homeless,landless,destitute
injured,dead,abused.As a result of ethnic violence many school group children were
displaced, some dropped out as a result of finance and social –economic challenges
attributes to the violence stricken areas. There is overwhelming evidence that ethnic
conflicted is pre-meditated and systematically directed at particular communities. This
resulted to crisis of culture and identity between the generations of ethnic groups that
fight each other. Some people experience a number of unintended impacts in the
aftermath of being attacked .They included infection with HIV/AIDS, physical injury,
unwanted pregnancy and loss of trust in state agencies. Those who got AIDS as a result
of being raped and being unable to access medical services in time to reduce the chances
of prevention infection. The victims of sexual violence also suffered enormous
psychological trauma. Those people who have been internally displaced have been
compelled to live under harsh and squand conditions in unhygienic camps, churches and
trading centres without proper sanitation and shelters. The health of the victims is
pathetic especially children suffering from malnitrion.
Local children have been psychologically traumatized after witnessing the killing of
relatives, burning of houses and wanton destruction of property.
Those women who were sexually violated (raped) were abandoned by their husbands and
even family members which occasioned family breakdown.
Political impact
During the conflicts judiciary was unable to punish the perpetrators of ethnic violence
due to manipulation by the government.
Ethnic conflict result to coming state of emergency and security zones. In 2008 ethnic
conflict resulted to political crisis which led to the formation of current fraud coalition
government with bloated cabinet. This has made conflict between the principals over
power.
Data collection
Both primary and secondary data collected; primary data was collected using
questionnaires which were interviewer administered.Questionares were structured and
comprised of closed ended questions. This was in order to collect detained all around data
which provided a rich based for describing at the variables under considerations. It also
provided sufficient, complete and accurate information without bias to maximize
reliability of the data.
It was easier to analyze such data and hence more economical imigender (2003)
standardized questions were made as a way of operationalizing the conceptual
framework and in accordance with the need to make it possible to measure reactions of
many respondents to a limited set of questions. This facilitating comparison and
statistical aggregation of the data. This enables the forces on breadth and depth (patton
2002)
3.6 Data Analysis and Presentation
After the collection of data, all questionnaires were checked for completeness and
accuracy, and the computer’s Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to
generate the various frequencies. This was further analyzed using descriptive statistics
such as the measure of central tendency to bring a more meaningful outlook of the data as
Saunders et al (2003) stated that “Data analysis may be defined as a process for data
collection and analysis of quantative data that involved three concurrent sub processes of
data reduction, data display, drawing and rectifying conclusion. In most cases it is usually
the use of qualitative methods of data collection.” Also the researcher used qualitative
methods to arrange responses from the open ended questions into themes and categories
The data was presented using interactive tools such as tables, bar charts, pie charts and
4.1 Introduction s
This chapter presents the data that was obtained from the field research which covered
Kamunkunji costituency The data was analyzed in percentages and illustrated by the use
gender balance within the society is not balanced and the with men taking a simple
majority (53%) and the rest (47%) women. On the other hand, majority (88.8%) of the
respondents lie in their tender age bracket of 18-45 years. The dominance of using the
sample is partly explained by the fact that male dominate in the society .This is reflected
100 Women
80 Age 18-45
60 Above 45
40
\
20
0
BIO DATA
1.1 Constituency
1.2 Division
1.3 Location
1.4 Sub location
1.5 Phase
1.6 Occupation
1.7 Designation (Position)
1.8 Number of years
1.9 Name of the respondent
1.10 Gender Male or Female
1.11 Tribe
1.12 Religion Protestant Catholic Muslim
Hindu Tradition
6. Others specify
2. Knowledge of Ethnic conflict
2.1 What do you understand by ethnic conflict?
2.2 In your view do you think it is planned?
3 Personal experiences with ethnic conflict.
3.1 Have you ever been subjected to ethnic conflict?
Yes No