The Marginalization of Kenya's Indigenous Communities

Marginalization in Kenya

Abstract 

Society is imbalanced since some people have advantages than others. The imbalance is caused by marginalization; this happens when individuals get better jobs while others are denied the same opportunities. Discrimination is prevalent in Kenya since most people do not get equal social, political, and economic opportunities. People from low-income households do not have access to proper housing, food, and education. Poverty has denied many people the chance to further their studies. Also, people are discriminated against based on their gender, Kenyan society holds certain stereotype about women, and this has hindered the development of women. Many women do not hold a high profile position in Kenya due to marginalization. Marginalization is a common issue; in America, there is the marginalization of women at work, for there is a gap in the ways women are remunerated. In India, people with disabilities are marginalized, for they are denied jobs and are underrepresented in leadership positions. 

Introduction

In society, some people are more privileged than others since they have opportunities that their counterparts do not have. The act of granting other people opportunities and denying others the same is referred to as marginalization. In other words, marginalization refers to a process of treating other people like lesser beings. In some countries like India, people from the lower caste or the Dalit are marginalized, they do not have proper housing; for this reason, they are crammed in slums. This group of people do not have access to formal education and are denied appropriate jobs. People from higher caste believe the Dalit cannot hold top professions such as teaching, farming, or religious positions. The Dalit do low paying job like cleaning, removing dead carcasses in public places; they also work in sewers and in public latrines. The condition Dalit are subjected to cannot give them a chance to be on the same level as their counterpart. In a country like Kenya, there is gender inequality in different realms of society. The number of women that hold a high professional position is small when compared to the number of their male counterparts. This disparity can be depicted in politics. Also, the poor people in Kenya do not have the same opportunities as the rich and people from middle-income households; they live by hand to mouth. The poor cannot get proper housing, medical care, and education. Also, some communities in Kenya are marginalized, for they are not involved in the political activities of the country. These communities do not have a proper civic education. Kenya is a developing country that has social, political, and economic marginalization. 

Theoretical analysis 

Gender, politics, education, and disability are among the causes of marginalization in Kenya. Some communities in Kenya still deny female children a chance to get a formal education. When their counterparts are starting school, they are forced to remain at home and do house chores; this includes fetching water collecting, firewood, cooking, and cleaning (Oxfam, 2020). It is believed that when a girl is trained on how to take care of a household from a tender age, they will make good wives; in return, the girls' families will receive dowry. Even when a girl gets an opportunity to attend school, they are not encouraged to study. They will be forced to drop out of school, citing lack of school; the parents invest so much in the boys, thus denying the girl a chance to get an education. High professional position such as C.E.Os and political positions are mainly held by men since most people in the Kenyan society still think that women do not have the capacity to lead. Also, most women in Kenya have reported having been sexually harassed at work, home, and public places.

Political activities in Kenya have also lead to marginalization (UNDP Kenya, 2020). Leaders in this country develop and help people from regions that voted them during elections and leave out people from areas that did not support their political visions. Regions that are supported by politicians tend to grow faster compared to other areas; the regions have proper road, school, security, and healthcare services. Communities such as the El-Molo and the Ogiek struggled to get political representation in Kenya. Also, people do not have proper civic education; they do not understand the roles of different political leaders in the country. Some people in the Kenyan community do not know how to vote and who they should vote for; this level of ignorance has led to the exploitation of many Kenyan citizens.

Education has also caused social exclusion. Most people in Kenya, especially the poor, do not have access to proper education (Aid Africa, 2020). Primary education in Kenya is free; however, the public school have a high number of students from poor backgrounds; this makes it difficult for a teacher to perform their duties effectively. An average class in Kenya must have around forty students, but this is not the case in public schools where one class has more than sixty students. Large classrooms make it difficult for a teacher to give a student undivided attention; for this reason, a teacher will not understand the weaknesses and strengths of their students. Also, most people from low-income households do not proceed to the tertiary level of education since they cannot afford to settle their tuition fees.

People with different kinds of disabilities have been marginalized in Kenya (Udpkenya.or.ke, 2020). Their marginalization is depicted in education and employment. Some schools in Kenya do not have adequate facilities to cater for the needs of special students; this includes the teaching staff and teaching materials. Also, many organizations have not put in place measures that can favor people with disabilities; this makes it difficult for these people to perform certain tasks. 

Existing social entrepreneurial efforts in place 

Oxfam is an international organization that has its branches in Kenya. This organization has observed that most women in Kenya do not participate actively in political, social, and economic activities in the country (Oxfam, 2020). The Kenyan society holds gender stereotypes regarding women, and the stereotypes are entertained in both formal and informal organizations; this has hindered the progress of women in this country. Oxfam aims to change the attitudes the Kenyan society has towards women and wants to increase their level of participation in political, social, and economic spheres. Oxfam purposes to see women participate in important decision-making processes and advocate for women's rights in practice and policy. Oxfam was successful in some of its campaigns since women, their target groups, and male leaders increase their confidence in women, and in 2017 most of them voted for women in the elections. Also, the number of women leaders has increased significantly since 2017. Communities in Kenya are also fighting against gender-based violence. 

Education For All Children is working with poor students in Kenya to help them advance their education (Aid Africa, 2020). This organization has helped more than fifty percent of Kenyan student to continue their studies. Education For All Children offers scholarships basing on the needs of the student to allow them to get a secondary and post-secondary education. Education For All Children ensures that the kind of education students receive provides them with proper life skills.

Uraia Trust is promoting civic education in the Kenyan community to eliminate ignorance in most Kenyan citizens (UNDP Kenya, 2020). Uraia has been working to help Kenyan citizens to participate in the achievement of national goals. It has focused on including youths and marginalized groups in political activities. Uraia has also led to an increase in leadership accountability in Kenya. This organization has increased the focus of electing credible leaders in elections by supporting School Music Festivals throughout the country; this is a directive of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK) is an organization for people with disabilities (Udpkenya.or.ke, 2020). It aims to fight for the rights of people with disabilities in the country. It works towards ensuring that people with disabilities have platforms in all areas of development. UDPK has ensured that people with disabilities have been included in the formulation of policies that affect the county and national government in Kenya. Also, this organization has been able to mobilize people with disabilities and encouraged them to participate in the political activities of the country. The UDPK has also empowered women with disabilities to participate in decision-making processes and politics. The organization has influenced policymakers of Kenya to include programs in government that will benefit women with disabilities. The history of Kenya shows that people with disabilities have been discriminated for a long time; they were excluded from practicing their human rights, for example, the right to political participation. UDPK aims to close gaps that separate people with disabilities from others. 

  Future Social Entrepreneurial Effort

The government of Kenya should begin to create awareness of the dangers of child marriages (Unicef.org, 2020). Some child brides have been brainwashed into believing that marriage at a tender age is appropriate for them. The government also needs to educate the girls on the importance of chasing one's goals. Men should be also be informed since they are the people who will get involved with underage girls. Young girls need empowerment to realize that they can achieve many things if they set their minds to get them. Empowerment can be done by their role models; this includes individuals that are close to the girls—for example, teachers, nurses who attend to them, and political leaders in their society. When girls see other women taking space in the community, they will want to be like them. 

Parents need to be taught that when their child gets educated and becomes independent, they will produce more value than when they are confined in an elderly man's house as a wife. Child marriages are associated with many dangers for young girls can fall pregnant when their body organs are not fully developed to carry a baby; for this reason, parents should be made aware of dangers they are exposing to their children. Child brides often suffer from conditions such as fistula, which leads men who impregnated them to abandon the girls. Empowerment will have a lasting effect in the community, thus eliminating the practice of child marriages. 

  Global Relevance 

Education matters since provides knowledge that will enhance one confidence in all their realms of life ("Your Right to Equality in Education," 2020). It helps people to grow in their careers; this implies that they will get promoted and earn an attractive salary. Education has no limitation, and an individual of any age can go back to school and study whatever they want. An educated person is also a good citizen for they understand their roles as citizens of a country and know their rights. Taking care of people with different needs in society is important for it eradicates poverty. Also, giving women a chance to participate in economic, social, and political activities will help them become independent, thus reducing dependence on their male counterparts. Similarly, giving people with a disability a platform for development is essential, for they will feel that they are part of a society that values them. People with disabilities are often discriminated against, and this makes them feel invaluable. These factors matter different people around the globe are discriminated upon.

Relevance of Marginalization

The constitution in most parts of the world stipulates that every child has a right to education; therefore, any parent who refuses to educate their child is denying their essential freedom. The act of forcing a child to get married at a tender age implies that they are denied their chance of continuing with education. In the United States, for example, children have the right to achieve free public education ("Your Right to Equality in Education", 2020). The constitution stipulates that every child should be given the educational opportunity regardless of their sex, religion, and race. However, there are incidences of marginalization when it comes to funding of educational facilities in the United States. Most public schools in the U.S are underfunded; this affects the way educational activities can be run in school. Without funds, a school cannot purchase proper materials for study, and this will affect how students will perform in a certain school. This act depicts inequality in the education system of the U.S.

Gender inequality is also a major in the world (Inequality.org, 2020). In the United States, occupations that are dominated by women, for instance, childcare services, show that women get lower wages in this field when compared to their male counterparts. Also, in workplaces, many women have reported the incidence of sexual harassment, but their institution did not take action against their male counterparts. This kind of marginalization promoted the formation of the Me Too movement to fight sexual harassment at work. The fact that some organizations are not protecting women implies that they deny them justice. Many organizations across the globe have now come together to ensure that women across the globe get the same opportunities as men to promote equality.  

Also, people with disabilities are not only discriminated against in Kenya, but in places like India (Janardhana et al., 2015). They are not given jobs since people think that they are stupid or lack the capacity to perform simple tasks. Some areas do not have facilities for people with disabilities; people forget that disabled people cannot use stairs or regular bathrooms; they need facilities that can make it easier for them to move around. 

Conclusion

Marginalization involves denying people opportunities while at the same time, favoring others. Marginalization is rampant across the globe; it is in India, the U.S, and Kenya. In Kenya, there is social, economic, and political marginalization. Gender inequality is prevalent in Kenya since some professions are mainly held by men. Also, some girls are denied a chance to get an education since their families believe that they will be a great source of wealth if they get married. Marginalization is also depicted in the provision of education; some people cannot advance their studies since quality education in Kenya is expensive. People with disabilities are also marginalized, for they are denied jobs and education. Also, some political leaders marginalize people; they support people from the region where they got many votes and left out areas where they were not supported. Marginalization is rampant across the globe and many organizations that have come out to bridge the gaps caused by marginalization.

References

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Janardhana, N., Muralidhar, D., Naidu, D., & Raghevendra, G. (2015). Discrimination against differently abled children among rural communities in India: Need for action.  Journal Of Natural Science, Biology And Medicine ,  6 (1), 7-11. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.149070

Oxfam. (2020).  Women's Rights | Oxfam in Kenya . Kenya.oxfam.org. Retrieved 19 April 2020, from https://kenya.oxfam.org/what-we-do/womens-rights.

Udpkenya.or.ke. (2020).  United Disabled Persons of Kenya . Udpkenya.or.ke. Retrieved 19 April 2020, from https://www.udpkenya.or.ke/.

UNDP Kenya. (2020).  Civic Education . UNDP in Kenya. Retrieved 19 April 2020, from https://www.ke.undp.org/content/kenya/en/home/operations/projects/democratic_governance/civic-education-.html.

Unicef.org. (2020).  Preventing child marriage . Unicef.org. Retrieved 19 April 2020, from https://www.unicef.org/eca/what-we-do/child-marriage.

Your Right to Equality in Education . American Civil Liberties Union. (2020). Retrieved 19 April 2020, from https://www.aclu.org/other/your-right-equality-education.

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