A new Afrobarometer survey has revealed that while the vast majority of Kenyans strongly value national unity and express high levels of tolerance towards diverse communities, deep-seated perceptions of state-driven ethnic discrimination continue to cast a shadow over the country’s social cohesion.
The findings highlight a striking paradox in contemporary Kenyan society. While everyday citizens display remarkable open-mindedness towards their neighbours, a significant portion of the population feels alienated by the government’s distribution of resources and power.
According to the study, 85% of Kenyans value their national identity at least as highly as their ethnic background, with 53% valuing both equally. Only 13% of respondents stated that their ethnicity holds greater importance than their identity as Kenyans.
This high level of national pride aligns with strong social tolerance across various demographics. 89% of citizens expressed comfort with living next door to someone from a different ethnic or religious background. High levels of tolerance were also recorded towards supporters of opposing political parties (84%), immigrants (71%), and refugees (62%).
However, this everyday social harmony stands in stark contrast to how citizens view the state. Over half of the population reported feeling that their ethnic group suffers from government bias, with 23% stating that such unfair treatment occurs regularly and a further 33% believing it happens occasionally.
The report also pointed to a persistent trust gap across society. While 74% of Kenyans express trust in their immediate families, only 51% say they trust people from other ethnic groups, 50% trust those of different faiths, and 50% trust fellow citizens in general. Furthermore, social tolerance dropped dramatically regarding sexual identity, with only 9% of respondents expressing acceptance of people in same-sex relationships.
Researchers noted that while ordinary Kenyans continue to demonstrate a strong desire for national cohesion, political elites frequently exploit ethnic divisions during elections, reinforcing feelings of marginalisation and undermining public trust in state institutions.
–ChannelAfrica/Afrobarometer–
