MST-School of Humanities and Social Sciences

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This collections contains bibliographic information and abstracts of Master theses and dissertation in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences held in Kenyatta University Library

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Browsing MST-School of Humanities and Social Sciences by Subject "1963-2017"

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    Participation of Women Parliamentarians in Kenya’s Legislative Process 1963-2017
    (Kenyatta University, 2020-05) Mathenge, Lucy N. Kihia
    Since independence up to the 11th Parliament (1963 to 2017) in Kenya, the increase in the number of women in Parliament has been slow. The highest ever attained number was 86 in the 11th parliament (2013-2017) save for affirmative action. Though the number of women MPs in Kenya has been low (160) since independence to the 11th Parliament, compared to male MPs (1,832), there has been an average achievement in delivering the gender agenda in the country. The gradual increase in numbers of women MPs since independence has not translated into a significant increase in delivery of the gender agenda (UN Women 2017). The objectives of this study are: establishing bills tabled by women MPs since independence to 11th Parliament that could benefit the welfare of women in Kenya, evaluating achievements by women parliamentarians since independence to 11th parliament in delivering bills which translate into laws, examining the challenges encountered by women MPs in executing their legislative roles during the study period, and determining the best strategies and support that can enhance performance of women legislatures in delivering bills and laws that benefit women in Kenya, to bridge any knowledge gap identified in the study. The study applied the Theory of Change as expounded by Avril Blamey and Mhairi Mackenzie (Vogel,2012), to explore new possibilities and environment for political change in order to deliver the gender agenda. Descriptive survey and interview schedules were used. The target population was 160 women MPs, elected or nominated, in Parliament during the study period. Due to the small target population, a sample size of 46 respondents were sampled by stratified random sampling and purposive sampling for the study. The sampling criteria was 10 percent sample in each strata (Mugenda, 2003). Women who had served for more than one term or held key positions in Parliament during the study period were purposively sampled for in-depth information including opinion leader in Parliament, leaders of women organizations and academia. Face to face interviews with the respondents were done. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics that entailed mean scores and standard deviations. Quantitative data was presented in frequency distribution tables, pie charts, and bar graphs to summarize and organize it so as to explain relationships among categories. Qualitative data was categorized into common themes, presented in narrative and verbatim forms. Women did not contribute equally in Parliament with respect to moving bills that had impact on women’s welfare in Kenya. This was mainly attributed to lack of experience in the legislative process and parliamentary procedures which could be addressed through capacity building and support networks. In conclusion, the performance of women in parliament since independence up to 11th parliament had an average mean score of below 3.0 (mean<3.0). The study recommended that the State, political Parties, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders should support capacity development for women in Parliament, for a transformative institutional change.
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    Political Participation of Ethnic Minorities in Kenya with Specific Reference to the Asian Community in Nairobi City County, 1963-2017
    (Kenyatta University, 2021) Omari, Nyagaka Edwin; Julius Simiyu Nabende; Gordon Onyango Omena
    This study examines the involvement of ethnic minorities in Kenyan politics by making reference to Asians as one of the minority communities in Nairobi from 1963-2017. The following three objectives guided the study: first, is to assess the impact of Africanization policy on the Asian participation in elective politics in Nairobi between 1963 and 1978, secondly, to discuss the extent of the Asian participation in elective politics in Nairobi between 1979 and 2017 and finally, to assess the contributions made bythe Asians from Nairobi in constitutional review process in Kenya between 1991 and 2017. The study is grappling with the following three questions: first, how did Africanization policy impact on the political participation of Asians in the elective politics in Nairobi from 1963 to 1978? Secondly, to what extent did the Asians participate in elective politics in Nairobi between 1979 and 2017? And finally, how did Asians from Nairobi contribute towards constitutional review process in Kenya between 1991 and 2017? This study is guided by Rational Choice and Liberal Democracy theories as analytical tools. A descriptive research survey design informed the methodology of the study. Likewise, the study adopted the use of both secondary and primary sources of data for puposes of data collection. Primary data was collected through an in-depth oral interviews and questionnaires. Other sources of primary data included archival sources such as letters of correspondence between Asians and government/political institutions, memos, speeches, presentations during commission of inquiries, notices of motion in parliament, petitions filed by Asians and parliamentary hansards, while secondary data was collected through the use of published journals and books, newspapers, theses, internet resources and periodicals. More so to analyse data in a thematic manner, the researcher utilized a descriptive approach which involved selection of comments from respondents for purposes of explaining the extent and rate of the Asian participation in the political space of Nairobi City. The study findings reveal that the levels of political participation among the Asians of Kenya origin did decline in Nairobi between 1963 and 1978 as a result of Africanization policy. However, the Asian community remained very active in various aspects of elective and non-elective politics in Nairobi between the period 1978 and 2017. For instance, Asian tycoons started contributing towards political causes as well as financing political activities of senior political figures not only in Nairobi, but also in other parts of the country. Last but not least, the study did establish that the Asians from Nairobi were in the forefront championing for constitutional reforms in Kenya. Consequently, their contribution aided in the realization of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.