Issue-Based Politics in Kenya: Assessing the Underlying Factors, Progress Made, and Barriers

Abstract

Over the last three decades, Kenya’s democratization journey has been marked by significant progress evidenced by the adoption of multiparty politics, new constitution promulgation in 2010, and institutionalization of key reforms in government and civil space. This formed a strong foundation for the entrenchment of issue-based politics as envisioned in Kenya Vision 2030’s Political Pillar that advocates for “a democratic political system that is issue-based, people-centered, result oriented and accountable to the public and viable political party systems guided by policy and ideological differences rather than region or ethnicity.” However, a litany of underlying issues and factors –have to a greater extent –been the cause of political violence majorly ethnic driven and thus dimming the prospects of transition of the country to issue-based politics away from ethnic-centered politics. This paper aims to discuss the underlying issues and triggers of political violence in Kenya, take stoke of progress made, and barriers in the advancement of issue-based politics. This study is premised on secondary data in form of journal articles, newspapers, occasional papers, online websites, and policy documents. Findings reveal that 1) Underlying issues and triggers of political violence include and are not limited to the multi-ethnic nature of Kenyan society, historical land injustices, political and socio-economic inequalities, politics of betrayal, revenge and hate speech 2) Kenya has made strides in actualizing issued based democracy through promotion of national parties anchored on ideologies, development of manifestos by various political parties, presidential debates by prospective candidates, undertaking civic voter education, conducting issue-based campaigns. 3) However, prevalence of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, bribes, populism, poor governance and corruption, lack of political goodwill, seems to erode gains made in advancing issue-based politics. If Kenya promotes and natures a culture of issue-based politics then it will strengthen its democratic credentials.