Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview in Kisumu and Kwale
The democracy in crisis research is a project that was initiated in 2021 and being undertaken in Kenya with support from the Italian Bishops with target counties of Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Kwale, Turkana and Eldoret. The research’s objectives were to assess; the key elements of democracy practiced in Kenya, the contribution of democratic processes to social cohesion and conflicts, the contribution of democratic processes to the economic well – being of Kenyans and the alternatives to the current system of democratic governance.
In Kisumu County, the Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were conducted on the 4th and 5th October, 2021 at the Victoria Comfort Inn Hotel. A total of 10 participants were interviewed as key informants (KIs) and 10 other participants attended the FGD. Participants of both the KIIs and the FGD were drawn from various Community Based Organizations and Social Justice Centers within the county.
In Kwale, 11 Key Informant Interviews were conducted from 25th to 28th October and an FGD was carried out on 28th October 2021 afternoon in Mangro Hotel. Participants included people from different positions in the community for instance youth leaders, religious leaders, women leaders, peace committees, government officials as well as business people from the grassroots.
Dr. Elias Opongo (CRTP director) facilitated the FGDs where he briefly outlined the status of democracy not only in the electoral processes but in other democratic processes in Kenya and also in Africa generally. In this case, he highlighted the possibility of the extension of the research to other African states.