Ethnicity and Degree of Partisan Attachment in Kenyan Politics

Abstract

The present analysis disaggregates election results and voter turnout according to the voters’ ethnic background during a time span which covers three electoral processes (1997–2007) in Kenya. The two data combined produced an index which was called the ‘degree of mobilization index’. Given that most of the Kenyan parties proved to be ethnic or made of ethnic alliances, voter turnout was found crucial in differentiating the degree of ethnic mobilization. Ethnicity alone, however, failed to explain these differences. The findings were likely linked to the past record of patronage for the five selected ethnic groups and the ability of such groups to provide a cohesive ethnic leadership.