An assessment of the nexus between ethno-politics and public diplomacy in Kenya

Kenya’s domestic political climate is getting new a definition from election violence to highly contested elections. The constant protest of presidential election results has been adding twist to Kenya’s foreign relations and presenting dilemma for both domestic and foreign publics. Looking at the country’s policy determinants such as the nature of state political party interests, government leaders’ capabilities and decision-making systems implored during the 2007/08 crisis, the study critically analyses government management of public diplomacy in violent situations. Though the study area lacks a theoretical underpinning it adopts a critical approach on ethnic group representative powers and dynamics of conflict. The study uses mixed method research design to explore ethno political mobilization in Kenya. It carries out an analysis of public diplomacy and its relative importance in societal associations with specific reference to ethno-politics. In its evaluation of the principles of equality and democracy, the paper critically assesses government’s ability to defuse ethnic political conflicts and improve horizontal cohesion. The study argues out that governments promote political interests through manipulation of ethnic differences. However, institutions tend to remain dormant with no serious attempt to deal with root causes of conflicts rather that controlling conflict resolution and mediation mechanisms.