Ethnic Minorities in Kenya’s Emerging Democracy: Philosophical Foundations of thei Liberties and Limits^ by Reginald M.J. Oduor University of NAIROBI library ■ n i i i i i w VNIi/r* SIT y o r si a thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy at the University of Nairobi, November 2011 Declaration ii Declaration This thesis is my original work and has not been submitted for the award of a degree in any other University. Reginald M.J. Oduor This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as the University supervisors. Dedication iii Dedication To my academic mentor. Dr. Aioo Osotsi Mojola, from whom I have drawn inspiration and insight for almost a quarter of a century. Arknow Irdgrmtnt* n Acknowledgements It is impossible to list all those who, in one way or another, have contributed to the completion of this thesis. However, at the risk of leaving out some of them. I w ish to make special mention of the following people and organisations. I am deeply indebted to my three very able supervisors. Prof. CMP Oniang’o of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Prof. Samson O. Ciunga of the Department of Educational Foundations, and Prof. Francis Situma of the Department of Private Law, all of the University of Nairobi. Through the visionary leadership of my late father. Mzee James Oduor Ombal.i, I went to school despite objections from some members of the community, who thought it was kinder to keep a child with total visual disability at home. He also persistently encouraged me to complete the writing o f this thesis. I have also greatly benefited from the insightful comments of m> academic mentor, Dr. Aloo Osotsi Mojola of the United Bible Societies. Prof. Okoth Okombo of the University of Nairobi, Prof. Murej Otieno Makochieng' of the Multimedia University, and Commissioner Lawrence M. Mute of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights read some of the sections o f this work and made useful suggestions. Acknowledgements s I am very grateful to Mr. Arlon O. Hickman for the generous gift of a screen- reader, which enabled me to effectively use the computer despite my total visual disability. Heartfelt thanks also go to Ms. Valerie Baxter for the generous gifts of an ergonomic keyboard and ergonomic chairs at home and in the office, all of w hich enabled me to work for long hours without related orthopedic complications. Patrice Gitonga. Steve Nguru, Patrick Ngotho, Mutinda Kitana. Jimmy Gitonga and Mathew Ng’ang'a Ngigi came to my assistance whenever my computer hardware or software malfunctioned. Jimmy Gichuhi of Itac Consulting has always been very happy to advise me on the effective use o f a computer from a visual disability perspective. The World Bank Public Information Centre in Nairobi availed adaptive information technology and a high speed Internet connection during the formative stages o f my research. Dolly Miyeyi, David Arumi, Stephen Dullo, Yvonne Dullo, Francis Magutu Munene, Simon Runanu Muchiri and my wife Lilian Oduor offered valuable assistance with the reading of printed material. Simon Runanu Muchiri was also a priceless personal assistant. Acknowledgement* vi Dr. Aloo Osotsi Mojola, Dr. Oriare Nyarwath, Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute, Miss Elizabeth Kamundia and Mr. Victor M. Kamau assisted me to access rare publications. I thank my dear wife Lilian for her great patience as I spent hours in front o f m> laptop, only to come from there with endless talk about the writing of the thesis. Last, but certainly not least, I am very grateful to the University of Nairobi for waving my tuition fee. and for procuring a Braille embosser and an upgraded screen-reader that considerably enhanced my effectiveness in research and writing. The Deans’ Committee of the University of Nairobi also gave me a research grant which was of great assistance in the course o f this work. Ab'fract tii Abstract This study focused on the problem of the domination of Kenyan ethnic minorities by their majority counterparts. Its objective was to undertake philosophical reflection, with a view to providing a rationale for a set of moral principles to serve as a basis for the constitutional protection of ethnic minorities in Kenya’s emerging democracy. Its theoretical framework comprised of John Rawls' two principles of justice, namely, the principle of equal liberty and the principle of difference, with their emphasis on the need for society to be ordered in such a way as to cater for the interests of the least advantaged in it. The study proceeded from the assumption that political philosophy can provide a rationale for a set of moral principles upon which to build a just constitutional order. It employed two methods of inquiry, namely, description and philosophical reflection. The main finding of the study was that contrary to the liberal democratic orientation of Kenya’s constitutional order since the attainment of independence in 1963 to date, there is a sound rational basis for the constitutional protection of ethnic identities and interests due to the need to mitigate the economic, social and political domination of ethnic minorities by their majority counterparts. The study concluded that this would be best achieved by re-ordering John Rawls' two principles of justice, so that the principle of difference takes precedence over that Abstract *iii of equality. In addition, a third principle, that of the recognition and protection of ethnic identities and interests, ought to be upheld. It recommended that the three principles be incorporated into the country’s constitution as part of the national values and principles of governance. Contents is Contents Declaration..................................................................................................................... ii Dedication..................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................iv Abstract........................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1: Introduction..................................................................................................1 1.1. Background......................................................................................................... I 1.2. Statement of the Problem...................................................................................7 1.3. Operational Definitions................................................................................... 1 1 1.3.1. Ethnic Group.............................................................................................1 1 1.3.2. Ethnic Minority..........................................................................................12 1.3.3. Kenyan Ethnic Minorities.........................................................................16 1.3.4. Liberty........................................................................................................ 19 1.3.5. Lim it..........................................................................................................20 1.3.6. Democracy................................................................................................ 21 1.4. Research Goal and Objectives....................................................................... 22 1.5. Justification of the Study................................................................................22 1.6. Scope and Limitations of the Study...............................................................23 1.7. Assumptions of the Study...............................................................................24 1.8. Research Methodology...................................................................................25 1.8.1. The Descriptive Method.......................................................................... 25 1.8.2. Philosophical Reflection.......................................................................... 26 Contents x A. The Analytical Technique......................................................................... 27 B. The Speculative Technique....................................................................... 28 C. The Critical Technique............................................................................... 29 D. The Rational Technique............................................................................. 3 1 E. Overview of the Research Methodology..................................................32 1.9. Theoretical Framework.................................................................................... 32 1.10. Literature Review...........................................................................................37 1.10.1. Social Sciences on the Plight and Aspirations of Kenyan Ethnic Minorities.............................................................................................................38 1.10.2. Contemporary Interdisciplinary Studies o f the Rights of Ethnic Minorities.............................................................................................................42 1.10.3. Moral Principles for the Constitutional Protection of Kenyan I thnic Minorities.............................................................................................................45 A. Traditional Western Liberal Democratic Philosophy.............................45