Relationship between Election Phase Processes and Political Stability in the East African Community States

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to examine the role of political leadership in electoral process and political stability in the East African Community States. To achieve the general objective this study was to assess the relationship between election phase processes and political stability in the East Africa Community States. This study adopted a quantitative approach of both descriptive and correlation designs. The target population consisted of 123 individuals working within the electoral commissions of different EAC Countries and the EAC Legislative Assembly. Primary data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. The study used primary data, which was collected using questionnaires. The questionnaires were both open and close ended. The study used email, phone calls and meeting procedure with the targeted respondent in EAC Countries and the EAC Legislative Assembly to follow up. Data collected from the field were coded, cleaned and categorized according to questionnaire items. A pilot test was conducted to detect weaknesses in design and instrumentation. The gathered data was analyzed using computer aided IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 premium. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the data collected. Descriptive statistics involved computation of mean scores, standard deviation, percentages, cross tabulation and frequency distribution which described the demographic characteristics of the organization and the respondents. Inferential statistics was used to determine the relationships and significance between independent and dependent variable. Correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the data with F-test being applied to the test hypothesis at 5% level of significance. Content analysis was used for the qualitative data. The data was presented using tables, graphs and charts. The data was presented using tables, graphs and charts. Regression analysis was performed in order to determine whether the independent variable, election phase processes could be reliable for explaining the change in the dependent variable, political stability in East Africa region. The coefficients obtained indicate that the correlation coefficient (R) between the independent variable and the political stability was 0.663 which is a positive correlation relationship. A coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.44, which means that this variable alone can explain up to 44.0% of the variations in the dependent variable, political stability. Based on the empirical results presented in alternative Hypothesis H2 is accepted and the null Hypothesis (H02) is rejected and a conclusion reached that, at 5% level of significance, election phase processes significantly influence the political stability. Recommendation for improvement can be drawn from the study conclusions; moderating role of political leadership was reported to be persistent in the study area, the government should consider extending the law branch to the rest of the east Africa community state through screening, supporting of law moderation groups locked out by stringent east Africa community state program approval procedures in order to ensure that most people are reached out in the program.