The Role Of Islam In National Cohesion And Integration In Kenya With Specific Focus On Nairobi And Mombasa Counties

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of Islam in national cohesion and

integration in Kenya. Cohesion and integration agenda is one of the building blocks of

Kenya’s Vision 2030 and has become an area of major interest at different levels of

the Kenyan society. However, the country continues to experience divisions along

social lines. Academic work relating to the role of religion in national cohesion and

integration remains relatively low in the Kenyan context. So far, no specific studies

have been done relating to the role of Islam in addressing the agenda and this study

sought to fill the research gap arising thereof. Specifically, the study sought to: Assess

the methods used by Islam in promoting national cohesion and integration agenda in

Kenya; explore the challenges encountered by Islam in national cohesion and

integration efforts; investigate the prospects of Islam in contributing to a cohesive and

integrated society and examine the policy framework in place for cohesion and

integration activities by Islam in the country. The research will enrich the field of

religion in peace and conflict resolution by adding information on the opportunities

and resourcefulness of Islam in national cohesion and integration. The study adopted

an exploratory research design to help in the discovery of ideas and insights which

assisted in a deeper understanding of the phenomenon hence forming the foundation

for further inquiries on the subject. The study design was implemented through

administering questionnaires to Muslim faithful and Muslim leaders sampled from

mosques in Nairobi and Mombasa and national Muslim organizations. The study

population in Mombasa was 175,452 adult Muslims while that of Nairobi was 160,941

adult Muslims. For the questionnaires, a samples size calculated from Fisher’s

sampling formulae yielded 372 respondents in Mombasa and 150 respondents in

Nairobi. The two counties have different ratios of adherents of Islam against the total

county population. To enrich the study further, data collection also involved

conducting in-depth interviews with officials from Supreme Council of Kenyan

Muslims, Council of Imams and Preachers in Kenta and Sub-County Commissioners

in Nairobi and Mombasa. A sample of National Council of Churches in Kenya

officials and church leaders were also interviewed as a control measure. The two

counties were selected for the study owing to their ethnic and religious diversities and

having instances of violence in the past based on ethnic and religious affiliations. The

research used a conceptual framework guided by two relevant theories: Functionalist

Theory of Religion and National Identity Theory. The functionalist theory of religion

was developed by Emile Durkheim and attempts to show how religion acts as glue that

holds the society together. National Identity Theory was developed by Antony Smith

and involves a sense of common political community, history, values and traditions.

The research revealed some involvement of Islam in national cohesion and integration

but with efforts slowed by diverse internal and external challenges. Among other

things, the research recommends a need for Muslim leaders to formulate a policy

framework for cohesion and integration and related tasks. On the academic front, the

study recommends specific academic study on how Muslim social utilities like schools

and hospitals can be avenues of promoting a cohesive and integrated society in Kenya.