1st Edition

The Socio-Cultural, Ethnic and Historic Foundations of Kenya’s Electoral Violence Democracy on Fire

By Stephen Magu Copyright 2018
    172 Pages
    by Routledge

    172 Pages
    by Routledge

    Kenya’s 2007 General Election results announcement precipitated the worst ethnic conflict in the country’s history; 1,133 people were killed, while 600,000 were internally displaced. Within 2 months, the incumbent and the challenger had agreed to a power-sharing agreement and a Government of National Unity.



    This book investigates the role of socio-cultural origins of ethnic conflict during electoral periods in Kenya beginning with the multi-party era of democratization and the first multi-party elections of 1992, illustrating how ethnic groups construct their interests and cooperate (or fail to) based on shared traits. The author demonstrates that socio-cultural traditions have led to the collaboration (and frequent conflict) between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin that has dominated power and politics in independent Kenya. The author goes onto evaluate the possibility of peace for future elections.



    This book will be of interest to scholars of African democracy, Kenyan history and politics, and ethnic conflict.

    Preamble



    Introduction



    Chapter 1: A Brief History of Kenya: From Colony to Independence



    Chapter 2: Post-Independence, Succession, Autocracy and Global Geopolitics



    Chapter 3: Democracy, Our Way, and Multiparty Politics



    Chapter 4: Change to Believe in: New Beginnings



    Chapter 5: Reconfiguring the Politiscape: Return of History and the End of Hope



    Chapter 6: Resolving Kenya’s Complex Socio-Historical Contestations



    Chapter 7: Contemporary Kenya: First Half Century and Opportunities



    Chapter 8: Concluding thoughts: 2017, Lessons of 2007, 2010 and 2013

    Biography

    Stephen M. Magu is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hampton University, USA.