Social Stratification in Kenyan Communities Essay Example

living by for income generating activities. Another factor is the introduction of privately sponsored students where students from higher socio economic strata access higher education since they afford to therefore it increases the disparities between people from different classes. Gender disparities has also been a key issue in terms of education access, most Kenyan communities do not value educating their girls hence its always normal to find boys outnumbering the girls in most schools..

The fewer females who get the chances are oriented to focus on certain disciplines e. g. the business related courses. Unequal access to education is a basic characteristic of educational system in Kenya which has led to further deepening of regional, class and gender differences in Kenya. This has seen the inequality of Kenyan’s children while others are getting education from a well established institution others are learning under unbearable conditions.

Gender

Gender has been stratified as been male or female Individuals, males are often considered superior to the females.

Gender disparities in Kenya has seen poverty, HIV/AIDS and cultural practices affect the enrollment of females in schools. Work is often divided according to gender especially in rural areas, this has forced many women to stay home still looking after the house and taking care of the babies. It is also common that men move to urban centers to look for well paying jobs compared to women who often get secretarial or jobs in food service sector in order to provide for their families. Some communities still dwell on arranged marriages Women are still treated as second class citizens in Kenya, despite the disproportionate in a family.

It is always believed

that are always come first in everything. Wife beating is still common and women have little legal recourse. Representation is also in parliament is also low. Customs in Kenya affect the woman in so many factors, this includes: some women in certain communities still undergo female genital mutilation which leaves them in continual pain and vulnerable to infection, it also affect their education since they are married off earlier. Some communities also holds on to taboos which oppress women giving an upper hand to the male counter parts.

An example includes the Luhya community where women do not take chicken because of their gender. Gender disparities has seen most women being disowned off their the poverty level in women as they keep depending on men for their upkeep. Inheritance differences between the two gender has enhance the superiority of male child over the female by excluding the females from having a share of their fathers property. This discriminatory land ownership has further deepened the gap increasing the dependency on male partners or close relatives.

Limited access to contraceptives and sexual education because of social taboo regarding sex and global limitations placed on organization that disseminate such education , women have limited autonomy over their bodies resulting in increased risks and over population. Women are also restricted by custom which essentially prohibits them from owning land especially those in lower class.

Wealth

Kenya is a country characterized by abject poverty on one hand and conspicuous wealth on the other hand. Many communities in Kenya in Kenya still count their wealth in terms of cattle and grains.

There’s the perception of deliberate unfairness and inequality in the

distribution have a basis in the real practice of successive . this perception have a basis in the real practice of successive Kenyan government. Poverty has progressively deepened as the state has reduced its provisioning of social services. This retreat of the state has been coincident with slow and persistent decline that characterized the country economic performance from the 1980 thus narrowing economic perspectives due to declining economic growth deepening inequalities and pauperization.

Class interest lie at the heart of policy that have been harmful to the poor in Kenya. The huge inequality wage rate understates the wealth in general moreover it mirrors the huge qualitative difference in the living standard enjoyed by ruling elites. Most leaders in Kenya also acquire leadership positions in order to acquire wealth; therefore they tend to get involved in corruption deals while others acquire wealth and fame through political influence. Most Kenyans are jailed simply because the citizens are not granted free legal aid except for capital cases this in turn denies them the right of legal defense and representation.

In Kenya rich people acquire and access high standard social services through private sector while the poor depend on government provisions, the government usually provides low quality services. Wealth therefore continues to be a factor in acquiring better services. AGE Age is considered one factor in determining the people of Kenya. Different ages determine the working class and the dependant class. Age in Kenya differiantes persons as either mature or a child. At 18 years one is mature therefore he is given the right to have his say on election matters. Furthermore, age is a key element in gaining

any political seat/office.

At 21 one can be a representative of parliament and at 35 years he can stand for a presidential seat. Some communities in Kenya also have the age group systems, they mostly use circumcision as a rite of passage for the youths to become adults. In businesses, a person below 18 is considered a minor though he enjoys the rights of being a minor he has limited rights compared to other mature partners. Most jobs give qualifications of more years of experience and this usually discourages the young from attaining such jobs due to lack of experience in terms of years.

Generation has been a key factor in determining the age of people . Older generation behave in more of traditional way while the young generation tend to adopt the westernized culture.

Ethnicity

Kenya has diverse population that includes population of most ethnic groups found in Africa, majority belong to various bantu subgroup and a significant number are nilotes while others include the cushites. Kenyan politics are characterized by ethnic tension and rivalry between larger groups and voting is always based on such factor.

Majority of Kenyans vote simply on tribal basis which has affected the development and as such Kenya continues to lag behind it terms of development. Ethnic tension continues up to date increasing the tensions between groups in neighboring village deepening the unity in the country. Some ethnic group have adapted rapidly to western culture this has been a result of their socio-economic status which has made them to have access to education and other social services. Nepotism and corruption in government offices is rampant. People acquire positions on

their ethnic basis and not because of their levels of qualifications or skills.

Many offices in Kenya are operated by of people of the same families or same ethnic background. Ethnicity is wide spread in provision of services by government, this is due to the power and influence such community has to the government. Ethnicity has seen some places to be more developed in terms of infrastructure and yet other places with no influence especially the populated areas see less of development or representation in parliament.

Power

Power refers to the ability of an individual or group to impose one’s will upon the behavior of other individuals or group.

In Kenya power has an influence over the political, social and economic setup in the country. Much power in Kenya attained as a result of factors like wealth where individuals owning vast amount of wealth influence the politics in Kenya. Wealth in Kenya has been used by politicians to provide the means with which submission is attained this has been seen widely during elections. During this period the wealthy individuals gain political powers due to the support they give to organizations in power or their loyalty to powerful people this result to ineffective people having access to seats they cannot handle.

Power influence is wide spread in economic sector where political influential promise a return of favors to their loyal favorites, this has been seen in offices of the government been run by close people of certain mps. RACE Race is the difference in color in Kenya people are referred to as black or white. Race has been a key factor in the economic activities of

the people in Kenya. In Kenya the Bantus e. g. The luhya’s, dwell in farming, the nilotes and cushites are mostly herdsmen while highly enterprising kikuyu dominate business in major Kenyan towns and in political seats.

Non Africa races in Kenya in Kenya dwell in business while Europeans have a key influence in Kenya’s political elite and also dominate the local business. These communities in Kenya demand high class services and own a lot of wealth. The dominant Kenyans still remain poor. Kenya has a tendency of hiring expatriates to run the government owned parastatals showing no trust in the Kenyan people.

Religion

Religion refers to the faith one belongs to, it refers to the identification of the individual within the society. Kenya consists of so many religions each with different value as and attitudes.

These religions include Christianity; who are the largest group Islam, Hindu, Buddhism and traditional beliefs. Different religion have different houses of worship this includes church for Christianity, mosque for Muslims and temple for Hindu. This religion has different dressing codes e. g. Muslim men wear kazoos and females wear black veil, the traditional beliefs also wear sum dressing based on their belief. These religions also have different celebration marking certain rituals. This includes Christmas for Christians, eid for Muslims and diwali for the Hindus.