A Critical Analysis of The Various Causes of Electoral Offences and Malpractices and Their Consequences in Kenya.

ABSTRACT This study undertook to identify the various causes of electoral malpractices and their consequences in Kenya. Although the constitution and other major legislations in Kenya provides for the governance of elections and prohibits electoral malpractices, the study carried out proves that the fight against electoral malpractices are far from over. The electorate the three arms of government alike have accelerated electoral malpractices in Kenya. Principles of rule of law have been thrown out of the window. The purpose of this study is to find out what causes electoral malpractices, the various types of electoral malpractice and their consequences in Kenya. Also attention will be drawn to other states that political indiscipline and the consequences there after. The methods used to carry out this research include inter-alia; text books, novels journals internet, reports from commissions of inquiry and newspapers. According to the findings the main causes of electoral malpractices in Kenya include inter-alia; weak electoral laws, breach of the principles of rule of law, corruption and ethnic differences. Finally, as recommendations to the underlying root causes of weak electoral laws, parliament should legislate accordingly and save the situation. There is need to empower the IEBC fully with all logistic support to facilitate it and conduct all elections without a hitch. It's important to note that the IEBC is a toddler as far as elections are concerned. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DEC~RATION ........................................................................................................... i 

APPROVAL ..... ■ I ••• ■ I ••• I •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ii 

DEDICATION ........................................................................................................... iii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .....•...........................•............................................................ iv 

TABLE OF CONTENTS . I •• I ••••• I •••••••• I •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I •••••• I ••• I ••••••• V 

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. viii 

LIST OF STATUTES .................................................................................................. ix 

LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. x 

CHAPTER ONE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 

1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 

1.1. Background of the study ............................................................................... 1 

1.2. Background of the problem ........................................................................... 2 

1.3. Statement of the problem ............................................................................. 3 

1.4. General objectives of the study ..................................................................... 3 

1.5. Research Questions ...................................................................................... 4 

1.6. Significance of the Study ............................................................................... 4 

1.7. Existing knowledge gaps .............................................................................. 5 

1.8. Review of related literature ........................................................................... 5 

1. 9. Research methodology ................................................................................. 6 

1.9.1. Data collection methods ............................................................................. 7 

1.9.2. Field research ............................................................................................ 7 

1.9.3. Time schedule ........................................................................................... 7 

1.10. Chapterisation ........................................................................................... 7 

CHAPTER TWO ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 

CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING ELECTIONS IN 

KENYA •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 

V 

2. 0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 8 

2.1 Constitutional and Legal frameworks ................................................................. 8 

2.2 An over view of the constitutional and legal framework of the electoral process in 

Kenya . .................................................................................................................. 9 

2.2.1. The constitution of the Republic of Kenya, 2010 .......................................... 9 

2.2.2. The independent electoral and boundaries commission (IEBC) ................... 10 

2.2.3. The Elections Act .................................................................................... 10 

2.2.4. The Public order Act. . ............................................................................. 11 

2.2.5. The Penal Code Act ................................................................................ 11 

2.2.6. The Kenya Broadcasting Act ..................................................................... 12 

2.2.7. The Political Parties Act. ........................................................................... 12 

2.3 Report of the independent review commission (IREC) ...................................... 12 

2.4 Report of the Commission of Inquiry into post-election violence (CIPEV) ........... 13 

2.5 Strength of the literature ................................................................................ 14 

2.6 Weakness of the literature .............................................................................. 15 

CHAPTER THREE ......•..•.....•......••......•..........•....•..........................•...•••..•.•...•..... 16 

VARIOUS CAUSES OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES IN KENYA ....................... 16 

3.0. Introduction ............................................................................................... 16 

3.1. Absence of genuine and electronically generated voter register. .................... 16 

3.2. Economic development and corruption ........................................................ 17 

3.3. Election management and logistic problems ................................................. 18 

3.4. Judiciary and security ................................................................................. 18 

3.5. Inadequacies and restrictions of electoral laws ............................................. 18 

3.6. Political parties and internal democracy ....................................................... 19 

3.7. Absence of democratic culture ..................................................................... 19 

3.8. The Use of Political Violence ........................................................................ 20 

3.9. The Personalization of Presidential Power and the Deliberate Weakening of 

Public Institutions ................................................................................................ 22 

3.10. Land and Inequality ................................................................................. 24 

vi 

3.11. Unemployed Youth .................................................................................. 26 

CHAPTER FOUR .••.•.•.•..........••.••..•••..•...•..•.•.........•.....••.•.•.•••••••......••.••.•••.•••..•••• 28 

CONSEQUENCIES Of ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES IN KENYA ........................ 28 

4.0. Introduction ............................................................................................... 28 

4.1. Background ................................................................................................ 28 

4.2. Eruption of violence .................................................................................... 29 

4.3. Internally displaced persons IDPS ................................................................ 31 

4.4. Criminal Conduct (by police) including killings and SGBV ............................... 37 

4.5. Sexual assaul1:s ........................................................................................... 38 

4.6. International Criminal Court Criminal Charges (ICC) ..................................... 40 

4. 7. Effect on the economy ................................................................................ 41 

CHAPTER FIVE ...•.•...•..••..•••.•••.•..........•.•............•...•....•...•.••.............•.•...•.......... 44 

5.0. Introduction ............................................................................................... 44 

5.1. Recommendations ...................................................................................... 44 

5.1.1. The Electoral Environment. ...................................................................... 44 

5.1.2. Fairness in the electoral system ................................................................ 45 

5.1.3. Enactment of proper electoral laws ........................................................... 45 

5.1.4. Political Parties ........................................................................................ 45 

5.1.5. The Media ............................................................................................... 46 

5.1.6. Opinion Polls ........................................................................................... 47 

5.1.7. Electoral Observation ............................................................................... 47 

BIBIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................ 49