Wajir County remains one of Kenya’s most marginalized regions in Kenya, both economically and politically, trapped in an exclusionary system that systematically limits participation. The county’s “negotiated democracy” model functions less as a democratic mechanism and more as a tool of social control. Male clan elders dominate leadership selection, sidelining women, youth, and minority groups. Despite women constituting nearly half of the electorate, they are routinely discouraged from contesting for senior positions such as Governor or Senator. Youth, who form over 30% of the population, are mobilized during campaigns yet have no substantive influence in governance. Minority clans are almost entirely excluded, ensuring that political power circulates within a narrow elite. This model prioritizes loyalty and lineage over competence, leading to chronic mismanagement, weak service delivery, and ineffective accountability mechanisms. Poverty, low literacy, and lack of formal employment compound these political barriers, making civic engagement for ordinary citizens almost impossible.
The social and cultural context of Wajir deepens these inequities. Patriarchal norms are reinforced through religious and customary authority, creating a political culture that frames women’s participation as culturally inappropriate or destabilizing. Intergenerational bias further marginalizes youth, while poverty constrains their ability to run for office or organize politically. Cross-border insecurity with Somalia and periodic inter-clan conflicts amplify fear and limit public discourse, deterring citizen engagement and reinforcing elite control. Formal institutions exist, but their influence is weak, often overshadowed by informal clan arrangements that dictate political negotiations behind closed doors. Public opinion is constrained by both tradition and survival imperatives, producing widespread resignation to entrenched power dynamics.
This exclusionary framework produces significant systemic issues beyond political representation. Leadership chosen primarily for clan loyalty often lacks technical skills, which weakens governance, stifles development projects, and perpetuates inequities in resource allocation. The normalization of such politics discourages participation, as citizens perceive that merit or effort will not translate into influence. Civic awareness is low, partly due to poor education infrastructure and limited media penetration, which restricts access to information. Women, youth, and marginalized clans are caught in a feedback loop of exclusion: cultural, economic, and institutional barriers reinforce one another, creating a status quo where power remains tightly held by a narrow elite, and the majority of residents remain politically invisible.