Ethnic Land Issues and Electoral Politics in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, Kenya, 1939-2017
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Date
2024-11
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
The relationship between land, ethnic conflict and electoral politics has been widely documented. The role played by land and ethnic conflict on electoral politics has been deeply captured in Africa in general and Kenya in particular. Electoral related violence revolving around land in the Rift-Valley province of Kenya has been addressed. Kuresoi, one of the Sub counties in the larger Nakuru County in the former Rift-Valley province was one of the areas that were affected by electoral related violence revolving around land and negative ethnicity after the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1991. Kuresoi division later became a Sub-County in 2013 following the adoption of the 2010 constitution in Kenya. The study researched on the influence of ethnic land issues and electoral politics on the parliamentary electoral contests in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, Kenya 1939-2017. It examined how the peopling of Kuresoi and ethnic land issues shaped ethnic relations from 1939 to 1991. The study also interrogated the extent to which land issues and electoral politics have played out in parliamentary elections in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, Kenya. The influence of ethnic land issues, political formations and lobby groups on the parliamentary electoral outcomes was also examined. To achieve its objectives the study administered oral interviews and questionnaires to to a sample size of 260 informants from the former four divisions of Kuresoi namely Kamara and Kuresoi in Kuresoi North and Olenguruone and Keringet in Kuresoi South. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used to identify respondents. The target population included the members of the local administration, security agencies, activists, elders, the clergy, politicians, women leaders and business persons. Focus group discussions were used to back up oral interviews and questionnaires. This study applied both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis and interpretation. Anchored on the ancient hatred theory, theory of indivisible territory, the systematic replacement theory and elite manipulation theory, this study argued that the political elites have at election periods invoked the land historical injustices to win the hearts of ethnic loyalties and aligned themselves in the social formations to secure the ballots. The findings from the study will inform the functions of the security agencies in its attempt to contain the wanting security issues around the election periods and policy formations and implementations both at the national and at County levels in the development initiatives.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment for the Award of the Degree in Master of Arts of Kenyatta University, November 2024
Supervisors:
1.Julius Simiyu Nabende
2.Isaiah Otieno Oduor