Political Participation And Alienation Of Racial Minorities In Africa

291 Pages·2016·3.43 MB·English

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND ALIENATION OF
RACIAL MINORITIES IN AFRICA: THE KENYA ASIAN
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE (1963-2012)
BY
WILLIS OTIENO MAGANDA
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
THE DEGREE IN MASTERS OF ARTS (MA) IN
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION,
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
AUGUST, 2012
University of NAIROBI Library
0404729 6
DECLARATION
This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university.
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Date:
Sign:
WILLIS OTIENO MAGANDA
This thesis has been submitted for examination with my approval as university supervisor.
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Sign: D
DR. ADAMS R. OLOO
DEDICATION
This study is dedicated to my wife Judith Adhiambo Ng'ani, my late mother, Mrs. Joyce Atieno
Maganda, my late grandparents; Mrs. Angelina Ogolla Owende and Mr. Alexander Owende
Mbara; and my late uncle, Mr. Augustine Riwa Abiero to whom I owe so much for my life and
education.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My sincere gratitude is expressed to the University of Nairobi (UoN) and family members for
providing me the opportunity to further my education and complete this thesis. I am deeply
indebted to my supervisor. Dr. Adams Oloo for his invaluable professional input, critical
comments and guidance. In addition, I offer my appreciation to the Department of Political
Science and Public Administration (DPSPA), UoN for their permission, guidance and support
during my M.A studies programme. Particularly, my deepest appreciation goes to the Chairperson
of Departmental Committee on Postgraduate Studies (DCPGS), Dr. Penina Ogada and the
Chairman of DPSPA, Dr. Phillip Nyinguro (2003-2008).
Further, I offer special thanks to Dr. George Gona of the Department of History and Dr. Fred
Jonyo of DPSPA for their moral support, encouragement and inspiration. Thanks to the Board of
Postgraduate Studies (BPS) and the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) for their
sponsorship and financial support, without which I could not have conducted the research
interviews and completed the study. Finally, I sincerely thank all those who devotedly offered
assistance in the interviews, data collection and compilation of this thesis, particularly, Mr.
Michael Odongo Riwa and Mr. Danish Onyango.
I am profoundly grateful for the contribution of the African and Asian respondents in providing
data and sharing their personal knowledge and experiences during the interviews. Special thanks
go to Prof. Dharam Ghai, Prof. Michael Chege. Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, Hon. Joseph Kamotho. Mr.
Prabhudas Pattni, Mr. Mohamed Aslam Khan. Mr. Irshad Sumra, Mr. Salim Lone, Mr. Sunny
Bindra, Mr. Zahid Rajan. Mrs. Zarina Patel and Mrs. Rasna Warah. Last but not least, I am
particularly grateful to my late parents and uncle to whom this dissertation is dedicated. To all of
you, I shall forever be grateful, without which this thesis would have never been completed.
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ABSTRACT
The rapid expansion of the study of political participation in the last fifty years reflects the
growing relevance of government and politics for citizens in modern societies and the crucial
significance of citizens' involvement in democratic decision-making. Nonetheless, the
immediate post-independence period in Africa and subsequently the introduction of multiparty
politics in the 1990s, although hailed as a critical turning point for democratization process
negatively heralded unprecedented era of disillusionment and marginalization of racial and
ethnic minorities in politics.
In East Africa, the 'Asian or Indian Question' has been a significant theme and a controversial
issue in the colonial and post-colonial politics. In Kenya, the Asian community's political
participation and representation has been minimal and steadily declining, despite significant
historical and contemporary contribution in the political, economic and social development. It is
against this background that this study broadly examined and focused on three analytical
questions in relation to Asian minority community political participation. Firstly, to what extent
have the Asian community participated and been represented in Kenya's politics? Secondly,
what are the obstacles to political participation of the Asians in Kenya? And thirdly, what are the
strategies and measures that can and have been pursued to increase Asian political participation
in Kenya?
The study utilized participatory democracy theory and also incorporated representative, liberal
and deliberative democracy theories to explicate the various aspects of political participation.
Through purposive and snowballing sampling techniques, supplemented by secondary literature,
the study found out that the Asian community political alienation is due to existing conditions of
colonial and historical legacy, structural, institutional, constitutional, legal, social, cultural,
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economic and external barriers in the political system that have resulted into poor and declining
Asian political participation in Kenya. The conclusion proposes both long and short term
interventions to ensure political participation and representation through political reforms, racial
integration, equality and inclusivity.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
AAFS- Afro-Arab Friendship Society
AAHT- Asian African Heritage Trust
AATO- Afro-Asian Trade Organization
AEMO- African Elected Members Organization
APG- Asian Professional Group
AUM- Association for the Unification of Minorities
AWF- African Workers Federation
BEAA- British East African Association
BEAA- British East African Asians
BEA1- British East African Indians
BEAIA- British East African Indian Association
BEAP- British East African Protectorate
BIEA- British Institute in Eastern Africa
CSOs- Civil Society Organizations
CGD- Center for Governance and Development
CKRC- Constitution of Kenya Review Commission
CNC- Coalition of National Convention
DP- Democratic Party of Kenya
EAA- East African Association
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EAA- East African Asians
EACA- Eastern Action Club for Africa
EAC- East African community
EAI- East African Indians
EAIC- East African Indian Congress
EAINC- East African Indian National Congress
EALA - East African Legislative Assembly
EALTU- East African Labour Trade Union
EAP- East African Protectorate
EARC- East African Royal Commission
EATUC- East African Trade Union Congress
EATUF- East African Trade Union Federation
EAWF- East African Workers Federation
ECK- Electoral Commission of Kenya
EEMO- European Elected Members Organization
FPTP- First-Past-the-Post
FORD- Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
GDP- Growth and Development Party
GOPIO- Global Organization of People of Indian Origin
HCK- Hindu Council of Kenya
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IBEACO- Imperial British East African Company
IA- Indian Association
IYL- Indian Youth League
IBRC- Interim Boundaries Review Commission
ICP- Indian Communist Party
IEBC- Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
IED- Institute for Education in Democracy
IEMO- Indian Elected Members Organization
IIBC- Interim Independent Boundaries Commission
INC- Indian National Congress
IPPG- Inter Parties Parliamentary Group
ITU- Indian Trade Union
KABL- Kenya Asian Business League
KACSA- Kenya Asian Civil Servants Association
KAF- Kenya Asian Forum
KCA- Kikuyu Central Association
KACC- Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission
KADU- Kenya African Democratic Union
KADDU- Kenya African Democratic and Development Union
KAM- Kenya Association of Manufacturers
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KANU- Kenya African National Union
KAU- Kenya African Union
KASU- Kenya African Study Union
KAWC- Kenya African Workers Congress
KCA- Kikuyu Central Association
KEC- Kenya Economic Commission
KEC- Kenya Episcopal Conference
KEDOF- Kenya Elections Domestic Observation Forum
KENDA- Kenya African National Democratic Alliance
KEPSA- Kenya Private Sector Alliance
KFP- Kenya Freedom Party
KFRTU- Kenya Federation of Registered Trade Unions
KIA- Kenya Indian Association
KIC- Kenya Indian Congress
KILTU- Kenya Indian Labour Trade Union
KINC- Kenya Indian National Congress
KNA- Kenya News Agency
KNA- Kenya National Archives
KNBS- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
KPU- Kenya People's Union
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