THE ROLE OF INTERNAL POLITICAL PARTY MECHANISMS IN RESOLVING DISPUTES FROM ELECTION PRIMARIES IN KENYA, A CASE STUDY OF THE 2013 POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARIES. BY MAKOKHA SHADRACK OMWEBA C50/75265/2014 RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI JULY, 2019 DECLARATION I declare that this research project is my original work and has not been submitted to any other university for an academic credit. No part of this project may be reproduced without prior permission of the author and/or the University of Nairobi. Signature.................................................... Date.......................................... Makokha Shadrack Omweba Reg. C50/75265/2014 (Candidate) This research project has been submitted for examination with my approval as University supervisor: Signature.................................................... Date.......................................... Dr. Joseph O. Obosi ii DEDICATION I dedicate this project to my dear wife, Cecilia, daughter, Aileen, and my parents, Joseph, Elizabeth and Gladys for the encouragement and support they gave me during my research for this study. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to acknowledge with sincere gratitude my supervisor, Dr. Joseph O. Obosi for his invaluable guidance during various stages of this research project. His wise counsel, encouragement and various suggestions made this study possible. I am indebted to all my classmates at the University of Nairobi 2014 class for the teamwork and moral support. I wish to appreciate all my lecturers at the University of Nairobi, Department of Political Science and Public Administration for their advice and patience to impart knowledge in me. I also thank my family, friends and colleagues who encouraged me and gave me suggestions which made me improve constantly. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION................................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION...................................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................ iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES ..........................................................................................................................viii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background of the study ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the problem ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3. Research questions ................................................................................................................ 4 1.4. Objectives of the study .......................................................................................................... 5 1.4.1. General Objective .......................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2. Specific Objectives ........................................................................................................ 5 1.5. Justification of the study ....................................................................................................... 5 1.5.1. Academic Justification ................................................................................................... 5 1.5.2. Policy justification ......................................................................................................... 6 1.6. Scope of the Study................................................................................................................. 6 1.7. Limitation of the study .......................................................................................................... 6 1.8. Definition and Operationalization of Concepts ..................................................................... 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................................................. 9 2.0. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 9 2.1. Capacity of political parties internal mechanisms to resolve disputes in Kenya .................. 9 2.3. The impact of political party disputes on electoral performance ........................................ 12 2.4. Relationship between political parties and state electoral institutions in resolving political party primaries disputes. .................................................................................................. 13 2.5. Theoretical framework ........................................................................................................ 18 2.6. Research Hypotheses........................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................. 22 3.0. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 22 v 3.1. Research design ................................................................................................................... 22 3.2. Target population ................................................................................................................ 22 3.3. Sample size and sampling procedures ................................................................................. 22 3.4. Methods of Data Collection ................................................................................................ 23 3.5. Validity of research instruments ......................................................................................... 23 3.5.1. Reliability of research instruments ...................................................................................... 24 3.6. Data analysis and presentation ............................................................................................ 24 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION, AND INTERPRETATION ....................................................................................................................... 25 4.0. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 25 4.1. The capacity of Political Parties internal mechanisms to resolve electoral disputes ........................................................................................................................................... 25 4.1.1. Political Party Organs/entities responsible for dispute resolution ............................... 25 4.1.3. Performance of the political parties‟ dispute resolution entities .................................. 28 4.1.4. The role of Political Party Leaders .............................................................................. 31 4.2. Effects of nomination disputes. ........................................................................................... 32 4.2.1. Performance of the political party at the presidential level ......................................... 36 4.3. State institutions responsible for resolution of political party disputes .............................. 39 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................. 46 5.0. Summary of Findings .......................................................................................................... 46 6.0. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 48 7.0. Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 49 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................. 52 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................. 55 APPENDIX A: TRANSMITTAL LETTER .............................................................................. 55 APPENDIX B: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR POLITICAL PARTY CEOs OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. .................................................................................................. 56 APPENDIX C: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR MEMBERS OF THE IEBC SECRETARIAT DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE IEBC DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE. ................................................................................................. 58 vi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CEO - Chief Executive Officer CORD - Coalition for Reform and Democracy EAC - Election Assistance Commission ELOG - Elections Observer Group EU - European