Implications of Intra-Ethnic Marginalization among the Ameru People of Kenya from 1957 to 2022

The study sought to investigate the implications of the intra-ethnic marginalization among the Ameru people of Kenya. During the pre-European period, Kenya and most of other parts of the country including Meru sub-ethnic groups exhibited egalitarian democratic system, although negligible elements of inequality were reported. This state of affair was abruptly altered by the advent of the colonial rule which was the hallmark of exclusion and discrimination. Areas perceived to be productive received more government resources in form agricultural inputs and machinery, industries, roads and electricity while neglecting the less agricultural potential regions like Northern Frontier District (NFD). The area of the study was the greater Meru region that consists of the Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties. The descriptive research design was used because this is qualitative study. The study employed the instrumentalist theory. The data was collected from oral, archival and secondary sources. Purposive and snowballing techniques were adopted. Research instruments employed comprised the interview schedules and focus group discussions. The study found that the Ameru people during the pre-colonial period embraced the concepts of inclusivity, equity and fairness. It emerged that the issues of intra-ethnic marginalization in Meru occurred immediately after colonial period. The post-colonial governments inherited the practice of marginalization which is in place up to date. It was found that this form of marginalization had far-reaching consequences such as uneven sharing of the resources and power, underdevelopment, land alienation by unscrupulous prominent people, widespread absolute poverty, mass destruction of property and loss of lives, hatred and animosity.