Socio-Economic Interactions Between The Nubians And Abagusii Communities In Kisii Township Location, Kisii County, Kenya, 1963-2013

Abstract

This study focused on socio-economic interactions between the Nubians and Abagusii communities in Kisii Township Location, Kisii County, Kenya, 1963-2013. This study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the Abagusii and Nubian communities in Kisii Township Location between 1963 and 1978; analyse the impact of the Abagusii on the Nubian community during their interactions in Kisii Township Location, 1979-2002 and assess the influence of the social-economic interactions between the Abagusii and the Nubian communities in Kisii Township Location 2003-2013. The study was guided by two theories; Ethnic Stratification postulated by Donald Noel in 1968, and Ethnic Identity Theory postulated by Phinney in 1991. The first theory aimed in understanding whether the Abagusii community have any dominance over the Nubians and the nature of this dominance; the second theory clarified the neglect and failure of the Kenyan government to constitutionally recognize the Nubian as a community in Kenya. This study utilized Historical research design which was used to provide an arrangement of historical events in a chronology manner. The study targeted both Nubians and Abagusii communities who are living in Kisii Township Location, Kisii County. People with specific knowledge such as clan elders, chiefs, sub-chiefs, Islamic religious leaders and Christian religious leaders, were also targeted because they have vital information about the Nubians living within Kisii Township Location. Purposive and Snowball sampling procedures was used to identify 40 informants for the study. A pilot study was carried out in the neighbouring Bogiakumu sub-location. The secondary data sourced from books; journals; seminar papers; theses; dissertation and archival sources. Primary data was obtained through use of oral interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The analysed data was reported in form of narrations coupled with first hand quotation from the primary data. The study found out that the Nubians as ex British solders settled in Kisii in 1938. The socio-economic interactions between the Abagusii and Nubian was found to be hostile, constructed and superior and inferior community relationship. The Nubians’ economic, social and cultural heritage has disappeared and the once proud and respectable community is vast becoming an endangered minority in Kenya. They have suffered through victimization and marginalization through land issues, citizenship, development, profiling and stereo typing just to mention a few. This has impeded the community’s active participation in leadership and by extent development despite being one of the oldest communities in Kenya. This has made them vulnerable to exploitation by politicians who use them as pawns to secure and land key leadership positions, which has in turn hindered their participation in governance and created sublime divisions among Nubians in not only their homeland but the country as a whole. The study is important because it will help to identify the contribution of Nubians towards Kenya’s cultural heritage. It will also enrich historiography of Ethnic interaction not only in Kenya but also globally.