Religion and politics : a critical study of the politicization of Islam in Kenya.
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Date
2008
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Abstract
In Kenya, there has been a tendency to portray a separation of Church and State.
However, attempts made by political leaders to separate Church and State have not
successfully severed the relationship between religion and politics. The interweaving of
religion and politics is the subject of this project. In particular it studies the changing
relationship between Muslims and various political orders in Kenya from the pre-colonial
times to the present. The study traces the role of Muslim individuals and associations under
different political regimes. It explores the ways in which Muslims have politically mobilised
in a context of political authoritarianism and limited space for protest. This has led to
increasing politicization of Islam in Kenya with the formation of the Islamic Party of Kenya
(IPK) in 1992 crystallizing the growing process of radicalization of sections of the Kenya's
Muslims. Therefore, this study focuses on the politicization of Islam in Kenya and discusses
the factors that triggered the process of its politicization and its challenges in Kenya's politics.
Over a period of one year, a structured interview with selected informers and informal
discussions was conducted. The finding of the study indicates that the emergence of
politicization of Islam in Kenya is a reflection of the exclusionary-repressive politics of the
various Kenyan regimes. This political system is alleged to have contributed to the perceived
political marginalization of Muslims in the country. It is this perceived marginalization which
Muslims are striving to overcome. The formation of the IPK was an attempt by Muslims to
address this perceived political marginalization. Fearing Islamic oriented political competition
the Kenyan government refused to offer the IPK recognition. It is concluded that despite the
registration setback the Muslims faced in Kenya's politics, they are still a significant
opposition to political leadership in the country. None the less, this study shows that Muslim
political engagement is not a monolithic. There are political differences among Muslims in
relation to Kenya's politics. These differences are attributed to ethnic and racial binaries
exhibited within the Muslim community.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.
Keywords
Islam and politics--Kenya., Theses--Religion.