AN EXAMINATION OF THE PREVALENCE AND PATTERNS OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE IN KENYA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to an examine the prevalence and patterns of electoral malpractice in Kenya. The incidence of electoral malpractice in the country is escalating to a disconcerting extent. The frequency of concerns over probable attacks, theft of vote boxes, and persistent threats severely weakens many voting processes throughout different areas of Nigeria. The term "electoral fraud" pertains to the unauthorized manipulation of the electoral process, undertaken with the objective of exerting influence on the election's result in support of a certain candidate (Adelley, 2020). Electoral fraud involves several unlawful practices, including the manipulation of election results, the inflation of vote counts in favour of a certain candidate, and the suppression of votes credited to competing candidates. The utilization of individuals who have not reached the legal voting age in order to acquire a substantial quantity of votes, the involvement of unregistered citizens to accumulate votes, the illicit confiscation of ballot boxes to introduce additional ballots in support of preferred party candidates, and the manipulation of result compilation to favour a specific candidate. In spite of the electorate's desire to use elections as a means of ensuring political responsibility, the presence of inadequate institutional frameworks in developing democracies sometimes hinders the fulfillment of this objective. The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), which is entrusted with the task of conducting elections and tallying votes, shown susceptibility to manipulation. Consequently, the presidential results that were declared were judged illegitimate by opposition parties (Osetelu, 2019). Electoral misconduct presents a significant obstacle to, and affects the progress of Kenya's development. The conduct often manifests as the engagement in repeated instances of voter registration, the exchange of voter's cards for monetary gain, the provision of bribes to election authorities, the deliberate withholding of registration materials, and the use of other deceptive and manipulative tactics to gain an unfair advantage over political adversaries (Shelly, 2019). Electoral malpractice poses a significant challenge to the progress and advancement of Kenya, since it involves several actors such as politicians, the voters, security officers, and the electoral body engaging in unethical and dishonest practices. According to Medee (2019), the court, which is expected to serve as a source of recourse for those who have been wronged, may sometimes be used by wrongdoers to legitimize the acts of violence and injustice perpetrated during electoral processes. The difficulty of selecting leaders at all levels of government in Nigeria via a free, fair, and credible election has emerged as a consequence of this dilemma (Ejigbile, 2015). Therefore, the study seeks to examine the prevalence and patterns of electoral malpractice in Kenya.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

 Election malpractice refers to various illicit activities aimed at undermining the integrity and fairness of election procedures. Typically, its objective is to bestow undeserved advantages onto, or advance the agenda of a certain candidate or political faction. According to Bola (2015), electoral fraud is seen as a deceptive practise that involves the manipulation of election outcomes in order to enhance the vote share or electoral prospects of a competing candidate. The extent of electoral malpractice varies between political parties and is influenced by the level of desperation shown by a political party or candidate in their pursuit of victory. One significant method of engaging in electoral malpractice is the act of multiple registrations. During this procedure, it is possible for an individual to engage in multiple registrations, either by assuming several identities inside the same registration unit or by using the same identity across different polling units. It is in the light of these that the study seeks to examine the prevalence and patterns of electoral malpractice in Kenya.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and patterns of electoral malpractice in Kenya. Specifically, the study will;

1.Determine the prevalence of electoral malpractice in Kenya

2.identify patterns and trends in electoral malpractice in Kenya

3.Examine the underlying causes of electoral malpractice in Kenya

4.Assess the impact of electoral malpractice on the integrity of the electoral process

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1.What is the prevalence of electoral malpractice in Kenya?

2.What are the patterns and trends in electoral malpractice in Kenya?

3.What are the underlying causes of electoral malpractice in Kenya?

4.Wh#at is the impact of electoral malpractice on the integrity of the electoral process and the outcome of elections in Kenya?

1.6  Significant of the Study  

An examination of the prevalence and patterns of electoral malpractice in Kenya will be revealed to the government at various levels, stakeholders involved in education policies, teachers, school management, media houses and  students in this study. The current wave of electoral malpractices is fast weakening the democratic principles in the country. This has resulted to a high level of political apathy. The study seek to call the attention of stakeholders to arise and tackle the menace with the view of reviving democratic institution and good governance in the country. It shall also be useful to government policy makers.

Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to an investigation on the impact of ethnicity on the political system.

1.7 Scope of the study

The  scope of this study is boarded on the  examination of the prevalence and patterns of electoral malpractice in Kenya. Empirically, this study will discuss determine the prevalence of electoral malpractice in Kenya, identify patterns and trends in electoral malpractice in Kenya, examine the underlying causes of electoral malpractice in Kenya and assess the impact of electoral malpractice on the integrity of the electoral process and the outcome of elections in Kenya.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Electorate malpractice: Electoral malpractice is the deliberate and unlawful way of manipulating electoral processes, It is the ills and evils perpetrated before, during and after.