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Article Editing: Politics of Kenya

Representation in Kenyan Elections

Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta in 1966

Recent elections in Kenya have demonstrated divisions in the Kenyan population, especially among different ethnic identities. [1] Ethnic identities, which are a type of social construct dependent upon a person's identified family background and connection to others; have largely impacted contemporary Kenyan elections.[2] Like many other African nations, ethnic identities were fairly trivial until the colonial period, in which delineations were made so colonial authorities could categorize people.[2] However, after Kenyan Independence in 1963, the Organization of African Unity decided to maintain the colonial borders of Kenya, leading to problems in creating a nationalist feeling among the preexisting groups.[3] While there are more than 70 distinct ethnic groups in Kenya, scholars often separate ethnic groups based on linguistic differences. [4] There are three groups made from these linguistic differences: Bantu, Nilotic, and Cushite.[4] While these linguistic categories do not encompass all ethnic groups in the country, they include most ethnic majorities in Kenya. Importantly, the Kikuyu People are the largest ethnic group in Kenya, and are a part of the Bantu linguistic group. The Kikuyu represent slightly over 17% of the Kenyan population, including Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta.[4] Some other prominent majority and minority ethnic groups in Kenya include but are not limited to: Embu, Meru, Kamba, Luo, Maasai, Gosha, Somalis, Kisii, Kuria, Teso, Rendile, Samburu, Turkana, Swahili, Lukhya, and Mijkenda.[5] Out of all of these ethnic groups, only 5 groups make up over 50% of the Kenyan population: Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, and Kamba.[3]

Indigenous Groups in Kenya and Government

In general, the designation of "Indigenous" in Africa is difficult to place because most people living on the continent have generational ties to somewhere on the continent.[6] However, there is mass migration within Africa whether that be for better opportunities of socio-economic opportunities, war and conflict, environmental disasters, and a plethora of other unique reasons.[7] Despite this, there are still many Indigenous groups in Kenya who have lived and subsisted in the country for centuries. These groups are mainly made up of hunter-gatherer groups and pastoralists.[8] Some Indigenous hunter-gatherer groups include the Ogiek, Sengwer, Yiaku, Waata, and Aweer (Boni) people.[8] Additionally, some Indigenous pastoralist groups include the Turkana, Rendille, Borana, Maasai, Samburu, Ilchamus, Somali, Gabra, Pokot, and Endorois.[8] Each group has individual land claims, many of which have been disputed over the years both in the colonial and post-colonial period.[9] Due to the contentious nature of land rights, Indigenous groups have had conflict with the government and other groups over traditional lands.[10]

Maasai Representation in Government and Elections

A group of Maasai People

Despite there being so many ethnic groups in Kenya, historically, there has been limited representation among different ethnicities in Kenyan government.[10] This underrepresentation especially affects Indigenous groups such as the Maasai People.[10] The Maasai are a group of people indigenous to Kenya and Tanzania, who have practiced pastoralism for centuries.[11] The Maasai's traditional lands stretch from the Rift Valley lakes in Kenya down through the Serengeti plains into Tanzania.[9] The Maasai People make up only 1.8% of the current Kenyan population.[12] The Maasai have historically faced repression from both the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments in the form of evictions from traditional lands and a takeover of locally generated funds earned through ecotourism such as safaris.[13] In recent years, while not unheard of, it has been uncommon for a Maasai person to hold a governmental office. However, there have been increased efforts recently by groups of Maasai to run for election. For example, Maasai man Meitamei Olol Dapash was a candidate for Kenyan senate in 2022.[14] Prior to these efforts, Olol Dapash also ran for office in Narok North District of Kenya in 2007, 2013, and 2017.[14] These efforts come out of grassroots movements to improve local Maasai representation and help the international community understand the history and culture of Maasailand.[14]

  1. ^ Lynch, Gabrielle (2006-12-01). "The Fruits of Perception: 'Ethnic Politics' and the Case of Kenya's Constitutional Referendum". African Studies. 65 (2): 233–270. doi:10.1080/00020180601035674. ISSN 0002-0184.
  2. ^ a b Lynch, Gabrielle (2006). "Negotiating Ethnicity: Identity Politics in Contemporary Kenya". Review of African Political Economy. 33 (107): 49–65. ISSN 0305-6244.
  3. ^ a b Abraham, Korir Sing'Oei (January 2012). Kenya at 50: Unrealized Rights of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. Minority Rights Group International. ISBN 978-1-907919-21-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ a b c "East Africa Living Encyclopedia". www.africa.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  5. ^ Balaton-Chrimes, Samantha (2021-01-02). "Who are Kenya's 42(+) tribes? The census and the political utility of magical uncertainty". Journal of Eastern African Studies. 15 (1): 43–62. doi:10.1080/17531055.2020.1863642. ISSN 1753-1055.
  6. ^ Kipuri, Naomi (2017-05-15), "Human Rights Violation and Indigenous Peoples of Africa: The Case of the Maasai People", Indigenous Peoples’ Wisdom and Power, Routledge, pp. 246–256, ISBN 978-1-315-25241-4, retrieved 2025-05-06
  7. ^ "Somewhere to call home; the migration dynamics in Africa | African Union". au.int. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  8. ^ a b c "Kenya - IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs". iwgia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  9. ^ a b "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - United Republic of Tanzania : Maasai". Refworld. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  10. ^ a b c "Taking diversity seriously: minorities and political participation in Kenya". Report. 2013-01-28.
  11. ^ P, Kerubo, Isanda (2016-11). African Indigenous Education As Practiced By The Maasai Of Kenya (Thesis). University of Nairobi. Archived from the original on 2024-09-13. {{cite thesis}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Beyond 'Tribes': Violence and Politics in Kenya | Origins". origins.osu.edu. 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  13. ^ International, Survival. "Maasai". www.survivalinternational.org. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  14. ^ a b c "Meitamei Olol Dapash". MERC. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
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