The Verbal Fuel for Ethnic Hatred and Political Violence in Kenya
Tom Onditi Luoch (United States International University – Africa, Kenya)
Source Title: Political Discourse in Emergent, Fragile, and Failed Democracies (/book/political­discourse­emergent­fragile­failed/142126)
Copyright: © 2016
Pages: 10
DOI: 10.4018/978­1­5225­0081­0.ch001
$37.50
OnDemand PDF
Download:
()
Abstract
Africa has been plagued by many violent conflicts in history and in contemporary times. Causes of these conflicts range from disagreements over allocation of national resources to ethnic rivalries over
grazing fields, to territorial expansionism in the past, to economic development, elections and others, more recently. Hate speech or inflammatory language, or dangerous language both on line and off
line, and elections have developed as major catalysts in recent violent conflicts. This chapter explores language (hate speech, inflammatory or dangerous language) as the verbal fuel that has ignited
violent political conflicts in Kenya over the last two decades. It concludes that even though language fuels conflict, efforts to end conflict must go beyond language and elections (surface manifestations
of deep­seated grievances) to economic marginalization which is at the core of differences that spasmodically erupt in violence.
Chapter Preview
Top
Background
All through history, conflicts have existed in Africa, from the precolonial tribal raids to those experienced during the colonial period, either between indigenous people and the colonial administration
itself or between African communities, and most recently between ethnic groups or other interest groups about boundaries, elections, governance, economic development, foreign intervention, or
indeed from militarization of the society (Oyeniyi, 2011). In recent times, the continent has seen an upsurge of political violence since the 90’s during the “third wave of democracy”. Such violence has
occurred even in nations hitherto perceived as relatively stable, like Kenya. Most of the violence has been experienced at the onset of elections or immediately after them, raising the question whether
elections are the real causes of the violence or mere triggers where the core reasons remain deep­seated. Omotola (2008: 55) describes electoral violence and its aims by citing Albert (2007:133) as
“…all forms of organized acts of violence – physical, psychological, and structural – aimed at intimidating, harming, blackmailing a political stakeholder before, during and after an election with a view
to determining, delaying, or otherwise influencing an electoral process” Bekoe (2010) claims, about the incidence of violence at election time, that “Violence in Africa’s elections affects between 19 and
25 per cent of the elections. In many countries where electoral violence is a risk, it tends to recur and may consequently lead to unfavorable views of democracy.” She further suggests that the violence
occurs in democracies that have “strong authoritarian legacies or deep ethnic cleavages…”In Kenya, there were violent conflicts between 1991 and 1994, prior to and after the country’s first multiparty
elections in 1992, in 1998 after the second multiparty elections in December 1997, but the violence that occurred between December 2007 and February 2008 in the wake of the elections of 2007 was
on an unprecedented scale. Later investigations revealed that the violence was caused by a host of unattended historical injustices and that these elections and a saturation of virulent verbal
messages were the triggers for the violence. Other African nations that have been affected by violence at elections include Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leonne, Ethiopia, Togo, Guinea and Burundi.
The influence of language in stoking violence at election is particularly heavy because of the use of language in campaign meetings, in media advertisements, TV and radio shows, on the internet in
blogs, on Facebook, twitter, and other social media platforms. Campaign language has been thought to influence election results for a long time. Umar (2015) opines that language is “… the most
potent tool with which one individual influences and controls the behavior of another. In the broadest sense, the term language may range from verbal communication to expressive attitudes,
appearances and gestures (body language). In that sense, language comes into powerful operation when an aspirant verbally addresses (in person or by proxy) an electorate” That inflammatory
language can virulently catalyze violence at election time is plausible.
Purchase this chapter to continue reading all 10 pages >
Complete Chapter List
Search this Book:
Full text search terms
Reset
Editorial Advisory Board and List of Reviewers
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?tid=150117&ptid=142126&ctid=15&t=editorial
advisory board and list of reviewers)
Table of Contents
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?tid=150118&ptid=142126&ctid=15&t=table of
contents)
Foreword
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?tid=150120&ptid=142126&ctid=15&t=foreword)
Felix Banda
Preface
Acknowledgment
Daniel Ochieng Orwenjo, Omondi Oketch, Asiru Hameed Tunde
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?tid=150121&ptid=142126&ctid=15&t=preface)
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?
tid=150122&ptid=142126&ctid=15&t=acknowledgment)
Chapter 1
$37.50
The Verbal Fuel for Ethnic Hatred and Political Violence in Kenya (/chapter/the­verbal­fuel­for­ethnic­hatred­and­political­violence­
in­kenya/150123) (pages 1­10)
Tom Onditi Luoch
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150123&ptid=142126&t=the verbal fuel for ethnic hatred and political violence in kenya)
Chapter 2
$37.50
Sarcasm and Irony as a Political Weapon: Social Networking in the Time of Crisis (/chapter/sarcasm­and­irony­as­a­political­
weapon/150124) (pages 11­33)
Natalia Knoblock
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150124&ptid=142126&t=sarcasm and irony as a political weapon: social networking in the time of crisis)
Chapter 3
$37.50
Of Drag and Push Democracies: The Construction of Zimbabwe as a Failed­Partially Resuscitated State in Popular Songs
(/chapter/of­drag­and­push­democracies/150125) (pages 34­60)
Mickias Musiyiwa, Marianna W. Visser
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150125&ptid=142126&t=of drag and push democracies: the construction of zimbabwe as a failed­partially
resuscitated state in popular songs)
Chapter 4
$37.50
Real­Name Registration Regulation in China: An Examination of Chinese Netizens' Discussions about Censorship, Privacy, and
Political Freedom (/chapter/real­name­registration­regulation­in­china/150126) (pages 61­87)
Kenneth C. C. Yang, Yowei Kang
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150126&ptid=142126&t=real­name registration regulation in china: an examination of chinese netizens)
Chapter 5
$37.50
Tearing up Nationalist Discourses?: Appraisal Analysis of Representations of Joice Mujuru and the ZANU PF Factionalism Dialectic
in Zimbabwean Newspapers (/chapter/tearing­up­nationalist­discourses/150127) (pages 88­111)
Collen Sabao, Marianna Visser
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150127&ptid=142126&t=tearing up nationalist discourses?: appraisal analysis of representations of joice
mujuru and the zanu pf factionalism dialectic in zimbabwean newspapers)
Chapter 6
$37.50
Politics and Promises: A Multimodal Social Semiotic Interpretation of Political Party Emblems and Slogans as Discourse of Hope in
a Democratic Nigeria (/chapter/politics­and­promises/150128) (pages 112­125)
Ikenna Kamalu
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150128&ptid=142126&t=politics and promises: a multimodal social semiotic interpretation of political party
emblems and slogans as discourse of hope in a democratic nigeria)
Chapter 7
$37.50
Argumentation and Appraisal in Divergent Zimbabwean Parliamentary Debates (/chapter/argumentation­and­appraisal­in­
divergent­zimbabwean­parliamentary­debates/150129) (pages 126­142)
Ernest Jakaza, Marianna W. Visser
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150129&ptid=142126&t=argumentation and appraisal in divergent zimbabwean parliamentary debates)
Chapter 8
$37.50
Media Coverage of the 2009 Afghan Presidential Election (/chapter/media­coverage­of­the­2009­afghan­presidential­
election/150130) (pages 143­164)
Christopher Strelluf
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150130&ptid=142126&t=media coverage of the 2009 afghan presidential election)
Chapter 9
$37.50
A Critical Political Discourse Analysis of President Goodluck Jonathan's Declaration of State of Emergency on Adamawa, Borno,
and Yobe States of Nigeria (/chapter/a­critical­political­discourse­analysis­of­president­goodluck­jonathans­declaration­of­state­of­
emergency­on­adamawa­borno­and­yobe­states­of­nigeria/150131) (pages 165­177)
Angulu Samson Abaya
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150131&ptid=142126&t=a critical political discourse analysis of president goodluck jonathan)
Chapter 10
ISIS Rhetoric for the Creation of the Ummah (/chapter/isis­rhetoric­for­the­creation­of­the­ummah/150132) (pages 178­198)
Amaryllis Maria Georges
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150132&ptid=142126&t=isis rhetoric for the creation of the ummah)
$37.50
Chapter 11
$37.50
Metaphors for Nation and War in Chinua Achebe's Memoir (/chapter/metaphors­for­nation­and­war­in­chinua­achebes­
memoir/150133) (pages 199­219)
Onwu Inya
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150133&ptid=142126&t=metaphors for nation and war in chinua achebe)
Chapter 12
$37.50
Multilayered Political Systems and the Politics of Monitoring Local Government Programmes for Engendered Service Delivery: A
Case of Apac District in Northern Uganda (/chapter/multilayered­political­systems­and­the­politics­of­monitoring­local­government­
programmes­for­engendered­service­delivery/150134) (pages 220­239)
David Mugambe Mpiima
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150134&ptid=142126&t=multilayered political systems and the politics of monitoring local government
programmes for engendered service delivery: a case of apac district in northern uganda)
Chapter 13
$37.50
Impediments to Nigerian Democracy: Ambivalent Role of Vigilante Groups in Maintaining Security in the Wake of the Boko Haram
Insurgence in Northern Nigeria (/chapter/impediments­to­nigerian­democracy/150135) (pages 240­251)
Ibrahim Sani Kankara
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150135&ptid=142126&t=impediments to nigerian democracy: ambivalent role of vigilante groups in
maintaining security in the wake of the boko haram insurgence in northern nigeria)
Chapter 14
$37.50
Ethnic Stereotyping on Kenyan Blog Sites in the 2013 Political Elections: A Spurious Harbinger of Ethnic Discord (/chapter/ethnic­
stereotyping­on­kenyan­blog­sites­in­the­2013­political­elections/150136) (pages 252­264)
Nabea Wendo
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150136&ptid=142126&t=ethnic stereotyping on kenyan blog sites in the 2013 political elections: a spurious
harbinger of ethnic discord)
Chapter 15
$37.50
Symbols and Not Manifestoes Are the Selling Point Here: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of Two Contemporary Nigerian
Political Parties' Images and Slogans (/chapter/symbols­and­not­manifestoes­are­the­selling­point­here/150137) (pages 265­285)
Adegboye Adeyanju
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150137&ptid=142126&t=symbols and not manifestoes are the selling point here: a multimodal critical
discourse analysis of two contemporary nigerian political parties)
Chapter 16
$37.50
Legislating for a De Jure One­Party State in 1982 and “Party Hopping” in 2012: Reconstructing Elite Discourse on Political Parties
in Kenya (/chapter/legislating­for­a­de­jure­one­party­state­in­1982­and­party­hopping­in­2012/150138) (pages 286­305)
Sammy Gakero Gachigua
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150138&ptid=142126&t=legislating for a de jure one­party state in 1982 and “party hopping” in 2012:
reconstructing elite discourse on political parties in kenya)
Chapter 17
$37.50
Shades of the GNU in Zimbabwe (2009 – 13): Linguistic Discourse Analyses of Representations of Transitional Politics in
Zimbabwean Newspapers (/chapter/shades­of­the­gnu­in­zimbabwe­2009­­13/150139) (pages 306­327)
Collen Sabao
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150139&ptid=142126&t=shades of the gnu in zimbabwe (2009 – 13): linguistic discourse analyses of
representations of transitional politics in zimbabwean newspapers)
Chapter 18
$37.50
On The Threshold of Democratic Fragility: A Macrospeech Act Explication of Media Representation of the Nigerian 2011 Post­
Presidential Election News Reports (/chapter/on­the­threshold­of­democratic­fragility/150140) (pages 328­348)
Asiru Hameed Tunde, Daniel Ochieng Orwenjo
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150140&ptid=142126&t=on the threshold of democratic fragility: a macrospeech act explication of media
representation of the nigerian 2011 post­presidential election news reports)
Chapter 19
$37.50
Revolutionary Politics and Theater of Semiotics: Challenges and Solutions in Northern Nigeria (/chapter/revolutionary­politics­and­
theater­of­semiotics/150141) (pages 349­359)
Esther Nyam
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150141&ptid=142126&t=revolutionary politics and theater of semiotics: challenges and solutions in northern
nigeria)
Chapter 20
Are We All Equal?: Immunity of Parliament Members and Criminal Responsibility of Cabinet Members in Greece (/chapter/are­we­
all­equal/150142) (pages 360­372)
Konstantinos Margaritis
Sample PDF (/viewtitlesample.aspx?id=150142&ptid=142126&t=are we all equal?: immunity of parliament members and criminal responsibility of
cabinet members in greece)
$37.50
About the Contributors
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?tid=150144&ptid=142126&ctid=17&t=about the
contributors)
Index
View Full PDF (/pdf.aspx?tid=150145&ptid=142126&ctid=17&t=index)
Learn More
About IGI Global (/about/) | Contact (/contact/) | Careers (/careers/) | FAQ (/faq/) | Staff (/staff/)
Resources For
Librarians (/librarians/) | Authors/Editors (/publish/) | Distributors (/distributors/) | Instructors (/course­adoption/) | Translators (/translators/) | Copy Editing Services
(https://www.mkptechnologies.com/services/partners/referrer/2eeff007­a17a­e611­80c4­0cc47a0d221d)
Media Center
Online Symposium (/symposium/) | Blogs (/newsroom/) | Catalogs (/catalogs/) | Newsletters (/newsletters/)
Policies
Privacy Policy (/policies/privacy/) | Content Reuse Policy (/policies/content­reuse/) | Ethics and Malpractice (/policies/ethics­and­malpractice/)
(http://www.charlestonlibraryconference.com/)
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/IGI­Global/138206739534176?ref=sgm) Copyright © 1988­2016, IGI Global ­ All Rights Reserved
(http://twitter.com/igiglobal)
(http://www.world­forgotten­children.org)