The politics of belonging in Kenya and the ‘othering’ of Somali communities: a media study

This research examines how far the media has influenced a social construction of Kenyan Somalis, as a subaltern group in Kenya, and how this has led to discrimination. Earlier studies have reflected on Kenyan Somalis as refugees or their perceived involvement in acts of piracy and terrorism. The focus of other researchers has been on Somali clan affiliations and internal discrimination. This project examines Kenyan Somali representations, or misrepresentations, which appeared and continue to appear in print media and social media. I have mainly analysed articles published in the two leading newspapers in Kenya, the Daily Nation and The Standard, with the occasional mention of other newspapers. I have analysed Kenya’s colonial and postcolonial period in how derogatory language used in the media influenced the public and created discriminatory practices from the other ethnic communities.
This study employs a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of ethnic Kenyan Somalis and their portrayal in the Kenyan media. Data was gathered from Kenyan Somalis through individual interviews and focus groups. Eight focus groups were conducted in London, Isiolo County, and Nairobi’s Eastleigh district, Kenya. Five focus groups were conducted in Nairobi, two in Isiolo County, and one in London. I also conducted six semi-structured interviews within the same localities. The study comprised participants from the Kenyan Somali community and other ethnic groups. Seven participants engaged in semi-structured interviews.
The analysis of the transcripts involved reflexive thematic analysis (TA) and critical discourse analysis (CDA). The main data involved keywords like media, religion, corruption, terror, and business. A significant discrepancy emerged between the perspectives of participants from other ethnic groups, who voiced concerns about Kenyan Somalis’ prominence in past and present governments, and Kenyan Somalis themselves, who reported continued discrimination. Some individuals felt their representation within the government’s administrative structure was insignificant, with one describing it as “a drop in the ocean.” Interestingly, however, a few, especially younger people, felt change was occurring, though at a much slower pace than they would have wished.