THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION IN KENYA

1.      IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION IN KENYA

Introduction

Globalization refers to global alliance and reliance in the matters of trade, culture and economy. It heavily banks upon worldwide expansion and integration (Steger, 2009). In addition, globalization is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture.  Advances in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, including the rise of the telegraph and its development the Internet, are major factors in globalization, generating further interdependence of economic and cultural activities.

Globalization is an ongoing process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world (Held, 1999).

In Kenya is benefiting from globalization due to amazing innovation and rapid advancement in the field of information technology. Globalization has affected Kenya economically socially and politically. The effects are both positive and negative. Globalization has led to a capitalistic economy, religion, tourism, international trade, sports, erosion of culture, improved technology among other benefits as discussed below.

Economic Effects

Through globalization, there is increased economic interdependence of national economies across the world through a rapid increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology and capital. Kenya is trading with China, European Union, COMMESA and EAC. This International trade has come about due to improvements in transportation and communication. Establishment of free trade areas has become an essential feature of modern governments to handle preferential trading arrangements with foreign and multinational entities. There is processing of goods for export including Export Processing Zones (EPZ). Kenya is exporting flowers, coffee, tea among other goods.

Illicit international trade is on the rise also due to globalization. The international trade of endangered species is on the rise. In Kenya there is increased poaching of elephants and rhinos due to increase demand in ivory. However, ivory trade is illegal in Kenya. Drug trafficking is the highest in Illicit international trade. Others include smuggling industries, black markets and organized crime that operate on a transnational basis, with global sales totaling almost US$2 trillion annually as of 2013. The global drug trade generated more than US$320 billion a year in revenues. There are more than 50 million regular users of heroin, cocaine, and synthetic drugs worldwide. In Kenya Mombasa County is largely affected by drug abuse.

According to Held (1999), tourism is a product of globalization. In Kenya tourism contributed largely to the national budget. Masaai Mara and Tsavo among other national parks attract many tourists. Mombasa County and Rift Valley are other tourist attractions in Kenya. These attractions generate income and lead to cultural exchanges too.s

Globalization is also responsible for the ever-rising gap between the affluent few and the impoverished majority. The resulting feeling of despair and resentment can never augur well for the society. Globalization makes big multinationals and corporations powerful enough to seriously interfere with the policymaking of a country (Korten, 2001). For example in the communication industry Safaricom has dominated and monopolized mobile industry. This has led to collapse of telecom Kenya.  Since, they can call shots; the interest of the common man tends to get seriously jeopardized. Any other firm in Kenya cannot compete with Safaricom. Those who have tried are easily faced out including KENCELL, YU Mobile among others.

Giddens (1991), criticizes globalization for contributing to reducing global inequalities. While within-country income inequality has increased throughout the globalization period, globally inequality has lessened as developing countries have experienced much more rapid growth. Our country has benefited from donor funding including USAID and UKAID. China government has largely invested on Kenya’s roads including Thika Super Highway.

Employment opportunities have increased, for example many Kenyans are now working in the Middle East. Blue collar jobs are available in Lebanon and Dubai. Many experts such as medical doctors have found better paying jobs in Europe. Recently medical officers found jobs in Ebola hit regions. There are many Kenyan Professors who are teaching in universities abroad for example professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o who teaches at Cornell University.

Globalization has brought in a new kind of oppression in the form of flexibility, contracts, projects and ever-changing working conditions, instead of long-term steady jobs and income. The availability of cheaper labor abroad and the outsourcing are some of the factors that have made job security a thing of distant past. Kenya civil Service was believed to be very secure jobs that were permanent and pensionable. However there are now short and long term contracts depending on the government’s projects (Al-Rodhan, Nayef and Stoudmann, 2006).

Social Cultural Effects

Cultural globalization refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings and values around the world in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations. This process is marked by the common consumption of cultures that have been diffused by the Internet, popular culture media, and international travel (Robertson, 1992). In Kenya Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms have facilitated cultural globalization. Kenyans are sharing to their friend in USA and Germany photos of their experiences after eating at KFC or Subway restaurants in Kenya.

 For long, globalization was thought to have one way impact on culture i.e. the impact of the U.S. culture on smaller nations and economies like Kenya. It is only in the recent present that America has started to realize that globalization is a sharp double edged weapon that cuts both ways. As a result of globalization there is great sharing of cultural identity. Cultural identity is a sum total of one’s unique personality, traits and a sense of recognition that one gets out of one’s identification with one’s race, religion and nationality (Sennett, 1998). This unique cultural identity is hard to preserve in the face of multiculturalism, consumerism, secularism and materialism propagated by globalization (Robertson, 1992).

 A good example is Kenyans in the diaspora. There are Kenyans who still identify with our cultures and tribes. However theirs is a shared cultural identity since some of them have double citizenship. This affects their way of life. There have to change some of their culture in order to accommodate their new cultures including intermarriages, religion and languages they speak.

In Kenya there is also cultural erosion where Kenyans are now adopting to global trends such as homosexuality. This is a new concept that is spreading fast among Kenyans. For example we have Kenyans like Binyavanga wainaina who is gay among others. These relationships were not existence in Kenya before globalization.

Cultural exchange is a result of globalization (Sennett, 1998).  The popular kiondo, Akala and Masaai Shuka are items that we export to other countries. This leads to greater incomes. Also in the recent past we have seen Japanese who is Playing Nyatiti a musical instrument from Luo land. We are also listening to western and eastern music. Thus the cultural exchange is two way.

According to Robertson (1992), globalization has led to creation of new sports to different cultures. Sports like football and athletics have been adopted in Kenya. Kenyans supports English Premier League over Kenya Football Leagues. Sports like chess and tennis were introduced in our society through globalization.

Religion has also been affected by globalization. Today Kenyans are watching international evangelists such as Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. The Islam religion has also spread in our country due to access to the internet and travelling to Islamic states. Before globalization many Kenyan societies had shrines e.g. Kikuyus believe in Ngai wa Kirinyaga.

Political Effects

Globalization may ultimately reduce the importance of nation states. Supranational institutions such as the European Union, the WTO, the G8 or the International Criminal Court replace or extend national functions to facilitate international agreement (Robertson, 1992). In Kenya after 2007/2008 Post Election Violence Democracy we have suspects who are investigated and tried at ICC. Kenya as a country has adopted global institutions and is a signatory to international treaties.

Robertson (1992), argues that democratic globalization is a movement towards an institutional system of global democracy that would give world citizens a say in political organizations. This would, in their view, bypass nation-states, corporate oligopolies, ideological Non-governmental organizations (NGO), political cults and mafias. In Kenya we have multiparty systems and hold elections after five years. There is upholding of Human Rights borrowed from other nations and requirements of UN. Before that Kenya was colonized and operated under one party, KANU. The changes have come about due to globalization

Environmental Effects

Human challenges to the natural environment, such as climate change, cross-boundary water and air pollution, over-fishing of the ocean, and the spread of invasive species require at least transnational and, often, global solutions. Since factories in developing countries increased global output and experienced less environmental regulation, globally there have been substantial increases in pollution and its impact on water resources. It is through globalization that Kenya has formed National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to address issues of pollution and climate change related challenges (Law, 2002).

CONCLUSION

Globalization describes the processes by which economies, societies and cultures have become integrated through communication, transportation and technology. It creates employment opportunities for many Kenyans. However a negative effect is brain drain experienced in the country today. Tourism and international trade are benefitting our economy but the multinationals remain a threat to our local industries.

Social Cultural globalization has introduced new values and character to Kenyans erasing the traditional beliefs and leading to an integrated culture. Political stability is enhanced through democracy and in areas there are peace keeping missions all based on global political networks under the umbrella body United Nations. Globalizations has changed our sports, food language, dressing, music, education, governance, trade and religion. Despite the challenges that come about due to globalization, Kenyans have largely benefited from globalization.

REFERENCES

1.      Korten, David. C. (2001). When Corporations Rule the World. San Francisco: Berrett
-Koehler.

2.      Sennett, R. (1998). The Corrosion of Character - The Personal Consequences of Work in the New Capitalism. New York: W.W. Norton

3.      Held, David.  (1999). Global Transformations Cambridge: Polity Press

4.      Steger, Manfred (2009). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.

5.      Low, Nicholas. (2002). Global Ethics and Environment. Routledge Science.

6.      Al-Rodhan, R.F. Nayef and Gérard Stoudmann. (2006). Definitions of Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview and a Proposed Definition.

7.      Robertson, Roland (1992). Globalization : social theory and global culture (Reprint. ed.). London

8.      Giddens, Anthony. (1991). The Consequences of Modernity Cambridge: Polity Press.

1.       Explain the roles of mass media in a globalized community