THE NEXUS BETWEEN ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND POST ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA SINCE 1963

Abstract

An electoral management system is made to make sure that the outcomes reflect the preferences of the majority of voters, to give elected officials credibility, and to prevent any challenges to the election results. However, post-election violence has continued in Kenya despite numerous reforms and adjustments to the country's electoral system. This indicates structural issues with the nation's electoral administration system. In light of this, the goal of this study was to establish a connection between post-election violence since 1963 and the electoral management system. This involved analyzing the core components of Kenya's electoral management system, pinpointing the causes of the post-election carnage, and evaluating the difficulties and opportunities that Kenya's electoral management body (IEBC) will encounter in planning and overseeing elections. This study examined the relationship between Kenya's majoritarian electoral system and post-election violence by reviewing related literature studies thematically in accordance with the research goals. Consociationalism theory, voting theory, and rational choice theory served as the foundation for this work. A historical study design using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies was used by the researcher. The research was carried out from July 2022 to December 2022. Citizens eligible to vote, lawmakers, IEBC members, political analysts and journalists (both print and electronic media), representatives of humanitarian aid organizations, local and international observers, security personnel, and county administrative staff were the study's target audiences. The researcher employed the stratified random sampling technique. The target population established the strata, and a random sample was taken from each stratum. In the study, primary and secondary data were both used. Data were gathered utilizing a questionnaire, interviewing guidelines, and secondary sources that included question items derived from the research's aims and questions. Voters received questionnaires, and information was gathered via interviews with political experts, electoral experts, IEBC officials, lawmakers, humanitarian aid officials, security agents, local and international observers, and county administration personnel. While qualitative data was classified into themes, subjects, and important issues, quantitative data was calculated and displayed in figures and charts. Regarding the first goal, the study found that Kenya's electoral administration method is based on the First Past the Post concept, a type of plurality/majority system. Regarding the second goal, the study found that the "winner-takes-it-all" election system, disputed election results due to perceived bias of the electoral management body, and voter incitement by politicians are among the major causes of post-election violence in Kenya dating back to 1963. Regarding the third goal, the study revealed that the IEBC has a variety of operational, administrative, and legal difficulties while planning, running, and overseeing elections in Kenya. Based on first objective results, the study came to the conclusion that Kenya's electoral management system is fundamentally based on the First Past the Post principle. On third objective, the study came to the conclusion that the electoral management's ability to supervise fair and credible elections is hampered by the impunity and self-interest of political leaders, ethnicity, mistrust, and fear of exclusion. The study's second objective's findings also support the conclusion that voter provocation by politicians has been one of the main drivers of post-election violence in Kenya since 1963. Among other recommendations, the study suggested that the cure to the current divisive first past the post electoral management system in use in Kenya is to explore other electoral management system options such as proportional representation and mixed member models as they are more inclusive and result in fair representation. In drawing a nexus between electoral management system and post-election violence which is a relatively understudied new field in Kenya and the region, this study made a contribution to peace and conflict studies