| On December 27, 2007, presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Kenya to elect leaders for a five-year term. In January 2008, violence broke out in many parts of Kenya because the main opposition political party accused the government of rigging the elections. This rigging allegation triggered violence in which some of the ethnic groups turned hostile against each other. More than 1000 people died in the skirmishes and several thousands were displaced from their homes. Hostility escalated to a level the government could not control. The international community stepped in to assist with food, shelter, and other essential needs. Former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, stepped in to arbitrate talks between the opposing sides. Although the disputed elections were blamed for the crisis, the main cause was the longstanding land disputes between various ethnic groups.;Ethnic conflicts in Kenya have always been a problem since independence from Britain in 1963 and cultural diversity in Kenya has always posed great challenges to uniting Kenyans. In an attempt to address the challenges of cultural diversity in Kenya, this dissertation explores ways in which arts education could be instrumental in teaching intercultural values and appreciation of ethnic diversity in Kenya. The dissertation attends to and addresses questions about Kenyan educational scholarship, policy formation, and implementation strategies. The dissertation conceptualizes and makes recommendation for a national K-4 educational framework for Kenya, and introduces an educational policy framework that will guide K-4 curriculum development, instructional approaches, and teacher training. This approach is based on the belief that it is of the young age that children begin to build their personal identities, and to learn the values of their society. |
