Impact of Ethnic Balance in Public Political Appointments on National Unity and Peacebuilding in a Multiethnic Societies of Nakuru County in Kenya

The impact of ethnic balance in public political appointments on national unity and peacebuilding in multiethnic Kenya. It focused on how inclusive governance contributes to social harmony, reduces ethnic tensions, and strengthens public trust in government institutions, particularly within the counties of Nakuru and Trans Nzoia. A descriptive research design was adopted, employing a mixed methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The target population included 4,000 stakeholders such as public officials, community leaders, civil society actors, and ethnic advocacy representatives. A sample size of 351 was determined using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) table, with participants selected through cluster and simple random sampling. An additional 30 individuals were purposively selected for key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression. Qualitative data were gathered via key informant interviews and FGDs, then analyzed thematically to extract in-depth narratives and contextual insights. The findings revealed that ethnic balance in public political appointments plays a vital role in promoting national unity by enhancing inclusivity, reducing feelings of marginalization, and fostering fairness among ethnic groups. Respondents reported that equitable representation strengthens trust in public institutions and facilitates cross-ethnic collaboration and dialogue, which are essential for peacebuilding. However, challenges such as politicization, ethnic patronage, and tokenism were identified as obstacles to achieving meaningful ethnic inclusivity. These issues sometimes led to perceptions of exclusion and undermined the legitimacy of public appointments. The study recommends institutional reforms and the implementation of transparent policies that ensure both ethnic balance and merit-based appointments. It also advocates for sustained community engagement to build public trust and foster a collective vision of unity beyond ethnic identities. Such measures are essential to enhance the peacebuilding potential of public appointments and support national cohesion in Kenya’s multiethnic society.