Trickle-Down ethnic politics: drunk and absent in the Kenya police force (1957-1970)

Oliver Vanden Eynde, Oliver Kühn (), Patrick M. and Alexander Moradi

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Abstract: How does ethnic politics affect the state's ability to provide policing services? Using a panel of administrative personnel data on the full careers of 6,784 police officers, we show how the rise of ethnic politics around Kenya's independence influenced policemen's behavior. We find a significant deterioration in discipline after Kenya's first multiparty election for those police officers of ethnic groups associated with the ruling party. These effects are driven by a behavioral change among these policemen. We find no evidence of favoritism within the police. Instead, our results are consistent with co-ethnic officers experiencing an emboldenment effect. Our findings highlight that the state's security apparatus, at its most granular level, is not insulated from ethnic politics.

Date: 2018-08
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Published in American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2018, 10 (3), pp.388-417. ⟨10.1257/pol.20160384⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: Trickle-Down Ethnic Politics: Drunk and Absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970) (2018)
Working Paper: Trickle-Down ethnic politics: drunk and absent in the Kenya police force (1957-1970) (2018)
Working Paper: Trickle-Down Ethnic Politics: Drunk and Absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970) (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01802894

DOI: 10.1257/pol.20160384

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