Title: Ethnicity and/or Issues? The 2013 General Elections in Western Kenya
Abstract: It is often assumed that Kenyans vote on the basis of ethnic identification rather than the socio-economic and political issues affecting their lives.However, experience from earlier elections shows that issues and interests are important drivers in giving form and expression to identity politics. This article examines the interaction between ethnic identification and issue differentiation in the March 2013 general elections in Western Kenya by identifying factors that influenced the outcomes in the six simultaneous elections. The article is based on observation, interviews and data collected in a survey of four constituencies inhabited by Luo-and Luyia-speaking people in Western Kenya during the campaign period and immediately1 We are grateful to the 'Platform for Stability, Democracy and Rights' of the 'Building Stronger Universities in Developing Countries' initiative of Universities Denmark for the support that enabled us to carry out research in Western Kenya.We also appreciate