Electoral Management Dynamics And Its Impact On East African Regional Security: Case Of Kenya's 2007 Election

Abstract

The nature of regional security among neighbouring states which has for long been traditionally localized seems to have limitations in the current paradigm among geographically adjacent states. Security in the era of regionalization is no longer remote thus electoral management is likely to have impact on the existing peace and security in a regional network of states. Despite many previous elections marred by intrastate violence, the electoral management dynamics (political architecture, systemic models, operational issues, and security strategies) have unprecentedly caused threats to East African regional security architecture in socio eco political perspectives. This study examined electoral management dynamics to East African regional security architecture perspectives of Kenya‘s 2007 election violence. The research proceeded to establish electoral management architecture towards East African regional security, finding out the challenges of Kenya‘s 2007 electoral management to East African regional security, assessing the effects of Kenya‘s 2007 electoral management to East African regional security, and finally examining electoral management policy frameworks to mitigate East African regional security. This study used a mixed method paradigm with a case study design. Purposive sampling technique was used together with representative sampling; the latter was used to calculate the sample size of 180 on the basis of confidence level drawn from the East African regional states after a pre test of 50 respondents was carried in three cities of Kenya. The analysis was done using SPSS aided tool after which results were interpreted in tables, graphs, and corroborated with the literature to come up with conclusions. In light of complexities that exist in Inter State Security Arrangements (ISSA) due to functional structural weakness of core state institutions, the researcher focused the study theoretically using Buzan and Waever Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) in Regions and Power which address areas of internal ―security interdependence‖ and securitization among states linked geographically. Additionally, the study dialectically probed the possibility of Regional Institutional Perspective Theory (RIPT) being applicable together with RSCT in a regional integration framework. The RIPT application in form of Extra State Security Structure (ESSS) may be a better alternative to Intra State Security Structure (ISSS) in African sub regions. Where national security no longer meets its obligations in terms of securitization, an inclusive security response may need to be adopted in a regional network of states as a way of preservation of the subjects (citizens) in the smaller entities (states). It became apparent from this research that the East African regional security was eco socio politically affected in a number of ways as a result of electoral management dynamics in Kenya‘s 2007 election. The study found that electoral management conflicts in Kenya that led to EARS are cyclic in nature and that the challenges across East Africa region are similar in many ways. The study recommends among others that; first, in light of electoral management dynamics in Kenya there is urgent need to deal with hidden political feuds (the violence root cause in ethnicity to define the form state) and monoethnic dominance through attainment of federal system for multinational (multiethnic) states of Africa. Secondly, redesigning the role of Commander in Chief during elections, and thirdly, making EMBs really independent as to (decisional, secretariat, and institutional independence).