The Impact of the Somali Diaspora on Kenyan Politics, Culture and Economy

Year 2024, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 225 - 248, 30.12.2024

Mustafa Emin Sağlam

Abstract

Kenya and Somalia are two neighboring countries has been effective in the formation of a large Somali population in Kenya. Likewise, British colonialism ruled the two countries and the controversial drawing of the borders between the two countries left a large Somali population within the borders of Kenya. 2.5 million Somalis live in Kenya. However, Kenyans and Somalis claim that this number is around 5 million. Somali population in Kenya is influential in many areas such as economy and politics. For example, while there were two ministers of Somali origin in the Kenyan government cabinet in 2017, the leader of the majority government in the parliament is also of Somali origin. In this study, it is argued that diaspora significantly affects the economic and political situation of the country. While carrying out this study, a literature review was made and the history, development and present of the Somali diaspora in Kenya were examined. These articles are explained with the hermeneutic method. The research has shown that the Somali diaspora in Kenya has a serious impact on Kenyan politics, culture, and economy. It was understood that the result predicted before the start of the study was correct.

Keywords

Kenya, Somalia, Diaspora, Economy, Politics

Somali Diasporasının Kenya Siyasetine, Kültürüne ve Ekonomisine Etkileri

Abstract

Kenya ve Somali devletlerinin komşu iki ülke olması, Kenya’da büyük bir Somali nüfusunun oluşmasında etkili olmuştur. Aynı şekilde İngiliz sömürgeciliğinin iki ülkeyi yönetmiş olması ve iki ülke arasındaki sınırların tartışmalı bir şekilde çizilmesi, büyük bir Somali nüfusunu Kenya sınırları içerisinde bırakmıştır. Kenya’da 2,5 milyon Somalilinin yaşadığı söylenmektedir. Ancak Kenyalılar ve Kenya’da yaşayan Somalililer bu sayının 5 milyon civarında olduğunu iddia etmektedirler. Kenya’da bulunan Somali nüfusu ekonomi, siyaset gibi birçok alanda etkili olmaktadır. Örneğin 2017 yılında Kenya hükümet kabinesinde iki Somali kökenli bakan bulunurken, parlamentodaki çoğunluk hükümetinin liderinin de Somali kökenli olması bu diasporanın etkisini göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada diasporanın ülkenin ekonomik ve siyasi durumuna önemli ölçüde etki ettiği tartışılmaktadır. Bu çalışma gerçekleştirilirken literatür taraması yapılmış, Kenya’da bulunan Somali diasporasının tarihine, gelişimine ve bugününe bakılmıştır. Bu makaleler yorumsamacı yöntem ile açıklanmıştır. Araştırma Kenya’da bulunan Somali diasporasının Kenya siyasetine, kültürüne ve ekonomisine ciddi bir etkisi olduğunu göstermiştir. Çalışmaya başlanmadan önce öngörülen sonucun doğru olduğu anlaşılmıştır.

Keywords

Kenya, Somali, Siyaset, Ekonomi, Diaspora

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