The politics of nationalism and irredentism in north-eastern province Kenya

Abstract

This thesis is about the emergence and development of Somali nationalism and irredentism in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. Its major inquiry is to probe the Social, political and economic factors which may help to explain the apparent tendency towards irredentism in the area on the part of the local residents the majority of whom are of Somali origin. An attempt has been made to probe the link between the current conflict ill the Horn of Africa which arises from territorial claims of the Republic of Somalia on this province and parts of Ethiopia, and past and current political activities of the area in order to assess " future prospect for peace in the N.E~P. Thus, the study surveys aspects of colonial provincial administration in this area and examines its beliefs and attitudes towards the Northern Frontier District (as the area was then known) in relation to the concept of a Greater Somalia. This exercise has inevitably entailed an evaluation of this concept in so far as it is a factor both in the dynamics of internal politics and foreign policy of the Republic of Somalia.