Towards National Integration in Kenya: Beyond Ethno-Centricism and Class Conflict

Abstract

This paper presents a vital view of a contemporary perspective on dealing with historical challenges to national integration in Kenya. It bases its discussions behind three ideas emanating from the backdrop of both a historical ethno-political society and globalization pull-factors with emphasis on social media. There are three key objectives herein each of which is resultant on a domestic society to harness national cohesion and reconciliation in Kenya. These are; examine the relevance of inter-ethnic marriages; assess the contributions of the youth and social media in promoting unity; and examine the contribution of a university environment in promoting political socialization in transforming future political culture in Kenya. This study works on the finding that the contemporary political intolerance in Kenya is based on an underlying ideology of ethnic nationalism unconsciously or consciously promoted by ‘the politician’ therefore the persistence of both social-economic conflicts along ethnic factions. The working methodology is primarily from a qualitative angle that looked at existing literature topical issues as; national integration, cohesion, ethnic conflict and peace transformation in national politics from relevant secondary sources. The analysis emanates from a theoretical framework that triangulates the Marxist and Wallersteinian class conflicts as a conceptualization and contextual interpretation of the case in point. The paper gives two recommendations to relevant stakeholders in harnessing unity and cohesion in Kenya. It suggests on the importance of putting emphasis on the positive utilization of the social media by youth as well as building capacity on youth transformation by embracing the culture of inter-ethnic marriages as a way to demystify ethnocentric hegemony.

Keywords: National Integration, Ethnicity, Class, Conflict and Politics