AS Kenya heads towards elections, concerns about the outbreak of electoral violence tend to rise. Existing research has offered several explanations for the violence. These include weak political parties, perceptions that elections are high stakes for different communities, and land grievances. Authors ADITI MALIK, Assistant Professor, Political Science, College of the Holy Cross PHILIP ONGUNY, Associate Professor, Université Saint-Paul / Saint Paul University The evidence for these explanations is compelling. For example, the weakness of parties has meant that political patronage has usually trumped policy proposals in Kenya. In a related vein, grievances over the distribution of land have provided…