Youth (Dis) Enfranchisement, Political Mobilisation And Electoral Violence In Kenya: A Case Study Of Kawangware Informal Settlement (2007-2017)
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Date
2023-09
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School of Arts and Social Sciences, Daystar University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Elections hold a significant role within the realm of regime-studies literature. Existing research suggests that elections lacking fairness often result in issues like electoral violence. In Kenya, election-related violence involving the youth has been prominent since 1992, with some instances of their involvement documented, though not extensively. The present study examined youth disenfranchisement, political mobilisation, and electoral violence in Kenya, utilising the Kawangware informal settlement in Nairobi as a case study. By conducting the study in Kawangware, the researcher filled the gap in literature observed and was able to provide a better understanding of the pervasive issues in the ward. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between youth disenfranchisement and political mobilisation in Kenya, with the Kawangware informal settlement serving as a case study. To explore potential reasons for youth engagement in election violence, the study was driven by the core ideas and assumptions of Robert Agnew's General Strain Theory and Kimberle Crenshaw’s Intersectionality Approach. In this study, a mixed methods research approach was adopted. The research's population included youth in Kawangware, key informants from the police, NGOs and youth groups, the local administration, village elders, and community leaders. To identify respondents, stratified and purposive sampling procedures were used. Questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. CAQDAS was used to analyse qualitative data, whereas IBM SPSS - 25 was used to analyse quantitative data. According to the findings, youth in Kawangware are considerably disenfranchised in all aspects of social life except voting. Politicians were also identified as the primary perpetrators of political mobilisation that resulted in electoral violence. The study recommended that providing several options for youth advancement in life, as well as keeping politicians accountable, could therefore effectively minimise youth participation in election violence in Kawangware.
Description
Masters Thesis
Keywords
Youth, Political Mobilisation, Electoral Violence, Kenya, Kawangware Informal Settlement, 2007-2017
Citation
Mondoh, T. N,. (2023, Thesis). Youth (Dis) Enfranchisement, Political Mobilisation And Electoral Violence In Kenya: A Case Study Of Kawangware Informal Settlement (2007-2017). School of Arts and Social Sciences, Daystar University