Abstract:
This article analyses the role of social movements in advocating for democratization process in Kenya and their continued struggle for constitutional reforms in the country since independence. The social movements came as result of oppression, underrepresentation of women, youth and marginalized group in the societies, violation of human rights and corruption which was experienced not only in Kenya but also across Africa. In this regard, the article examines the context of social movement in Kenya, analyze the roles the social movements such as the Bunge la Wananchi (people parliament), Ufungamano Initiative movement and coalitions have played in shaping the constitutional reform and making Kenya a democratic country. This article used secondary sources of information ranging from books, articles, journals, case studies, newspapers, EBSCOhost, eBook, Google, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and to existing legal research such as comprehensive Journal Index Acts of parliament. It is evidenced that social movements have played a very important role in advocating for democracy, and the process has not been smooth either through whistle blowing the corruption syndicates, collection of citizen actions through public participations, public demonstrations, media exposes and civic education and challenges experienced by the social movements are; Insufficiencies in Obtaining Enough Mass Mobilization to Achieve Objectives, Opposition from People in Power, Ethnicity and Identity Politics and Inadequate Funding for the Social Movements. The study recommends allocation of funds to support the social movements, formulation of policies with policy alternatives advocating protection of human and people's rights as enshrined in African charters and United nation human rights charters, legal research findings need to evoke suggestions for legal reforms to support social movements to reduce police brutality, unlawful arrest and jeopardization of their rights during demonstration.
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