Afrobarometer – Exploring Perspectives on Interethnic Marriages in Kenya

Blog: Exploring perspectives on interethnic marriages in Kenya
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Blog: Exploring perspectives on interethnic marriages in Kenya
Marriage has long been recognized as a reliable means of bridging ethnic differences and fostering social cohesion. In the context of Kenya, a country known for its diverse ethnic makeup, understanding the attitudes towards interethnic marriages among its citizens is crucial for assessing the progress made in promoting ethnic harmony. The aftermath of the 2007 post-election violence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ethnic tensions and the importance of peaceful coexistence (Linke 2022) Data from Afrobarometer (R9 2022) indicate that only 9.7 percent of the participants either somewhat or strongly dislike if a family member married outside of their ethnic group, with 25.9 percent indicating that they would not care if their family members married outside their ethnic identity. The majority of the participants (45.7 percent) indicated that they strongly liked the likelihood that a family member would marry outside their ethnic identity, with 18.3 percent indicating that they somewhat liked the likelihood that a family member would marry outside their ethnic group.
From the data, it is evident that there has been an increasing acceptance of interethnic marriages among Kenyans. When individuals marry outside their ethnic group, it fosters personal connections, cultural exchange, and the blending of traditions, thereby contributing to the dismantling of ethnic barriers and promoting understanding and integration. The high approval of interethnic marriages indicates that Kenyans are placing more emphasis on love and companionship as opposed to strict adherence to ethnic boundaries suggestive of a shifting priority and an acknowledgment that the quality of interpersonal relationships transcends ethnic identity (Barriga et al., 2023).
Notably, education is one of the key tools that has facilitated positive attitudes toward marriage. A breakdown of the data indicates that the number of participants who disliked the likelihood of a family member marrying outside their ethnic group decrease with education level. Among participants with no formal education, the number of participants who disliked ethnic intermarriages was 25.3 percent. The level of disapproval is considered high and can be indicative of the likelihood that the participants had lower levels of critical thinking and were more likely to adhere to traditional beliefs and cultural norms.
The disapproval rate significantly declines to only 11.7 percent among participants with primary education. With the acquisition of basic education, the participants had access to broader perspectives and basic critical thinking skills that allows them to develop a more open-minded perspective on interethnic marriages. The disapproval rate further declines to 9.2 percent among participants with secondary education. There is a high likelihood that secondary education equips individuals with more advanced knowledge, critical thinking abilities, and exposure to diverse ideas and cultures (Barriga et al., 2023). Consequently, those with secondary education have a greater acceptance of interethn...