This research report is submitted in partial fulfilment of the Master of Arts in Demography and Population Studies, in the Faculty of Humanities (School of Social Sciences), at the University of the Witwatersrand, 2016 / Background Ethnicity is widely known to affect all aspects of an individual’s life. Ethnic groups differ in traditional values and attitudes toward fertility and related health behaviors. Therefore, these values and belief systems shape attitudes towards contraception. The significance of ethnicity on the use of contraceptives has been neglected in sub- Saharan Africa. Fertility transitions have been widely attributed to the increased use of contraceptives among women worldwide. Given that ethnicity plays an important role in post-colonial Kenya, the aim of this study is to examine the relationship between ethnicity and contraceptive use in Kenya. The study addressed two specific objectives (1) to examine the level of contraceptive use in Kenya’s ethnic groups, and (2) to examine the socio-economic and demographic factors that affect contraceptive use in Kenya’s ethnic groups. Methodology The study utilized data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008-2009.The target population was women of reproductive ages(15-49 years). Out of a total sample size of 8,444 women, the study sample was restricted to 4,482 women who were sexually active. Objective 1 was achieved using percentage distributions and chi-square tests, while objective 2 was achieved by using binary logistic regression. Stata version 12 was utilized for management and analysis of the data. / GR2017

Population growth and internal migration in parts of the developing world have led to increased conflict over land rights carried out in the context of competing tenure paradigms. In Kenya, violent conflict between 'indigenous' and 'outsider' communities occurring in the midst of a program of democratic liberalization and political change has been variously explained as primarily driven by material or political interests. This thesis examines land rights conflict in the wake of a violent clash at Enoosupukia in 1993, which led to the displacement of up to 30,000 people, and analyzes how changing tenure paradigms, shifting socio-spatial boundaries, ethno-political polarization, and pressure on land resources all contribute to the perpetuation of conflict and tenure uncertainty. I argue that, despite challenging civil precepts of liberal governance, assertion of exclusive ethnic rights to traditional territories may nevertheless lead to political justice and alleviate the marginalization of indigenous and minority groups.

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