Sociology - Comprehensive Revision Questions (Certificate Level, Kenya)

1. Definition and Sociological Aspects (20 Marks)

Q1. Define sociology and explain THREE key sociological perspectives used to analyze Kenyan society. (10 marks)

Model Answer: - Definition: Scientific study of human social relationships, institutions, and organizations (2 marks) - Perspectives: 1. Functionalism: How institutions maintain social order (e.g., harambee spirit) (3 marks) 2. Conflict Theory: Power struggles in society (e.g., land disputes) (3 marks) 3. Symbolic Interactionism: Meaning-making in daily interactions (e.g., matatu culture) (2 marks)

Q2. Contrast sociological imagination with common sense using examples from urban informal settlements. (10 marks)

Key Points: - Sociological imagination: Links personal troubles to public issues (e.g., poverty as structural not individual failure) (5 marks) - Common sense: Surface-level explanations (e.g., “laziness causes poverty”) (5 marks)

2. Culture and Socialization (25 Marks)

Q3. Analyze how these Kenyan cultural elements influence socialization:

  1. Initiation rites
  2. Grandmother storytelling
  3. School national anthem rituals (15 marks)

Answer Guide: a) Teaches gender roles (e.g., Luo circumcision)
b) Transforms moral values
c) Instills patriotism
(5 marks per element)

Q4. Examine THREE effects of Western media on Kenyan youth culture. (10 marks)

Effects: 1. Language hybridization (sheng evolution)
2. Consumerism trends
3. Shifting gender norms
(3 marks per point + 1 mark for example)

3. The Family (20 Marks)

Q5. Compare traditional and modern Kenyan family structures using this table:

Aspect Traditional Family Modern Urban Family
Authority Patriarchal Egalitarian tendencies
Economic Role Collective farming Dual-income households

(10 marks - 1 mark per cell + 2 marks analysis)

Q6. Discuss TWO challenges facing child-headed households in Kenya. (10 marks)

Challenges: 1. Economic hardship (loss of breadwinners)
2. Education disruption
(5 marks per challenge with examples)

4. Religion (15 Marks)

Q7. Evaluate religion’s role in:

  1. 2007 post-election violence
  2. 2010 constitutional reform process (15 marks)

Analysis: a) Negative: Some churches fueled ethnic divisions (5 marks)
b) Positive: Interfaith mediation supported peaceful change (10 marks)

5. Crime and Deviance (25 Marks)

Q8. Apply Merton’s Strain Theory to explain:

  1. Youth gang involvement in Mathare
  2. Corporate corruption in Kenya (15 marks)

Application: a) Innovation: Illicit means to achieve success goals (7 marks)
b) Ritualism: Following procedures without ethical concern (8 marks)

Q9. Propose THREE community-based solutions to reduce crime in informal settlements. (10 marks)

Solutions: 1. Youth skills training programs
2. Neighborhood watch systems
3. Sports/recreation facilities
(3 marks per solution + 1 mark for practicality)

6. Social Class (20 Marks)

Q10. Illustrate Kenya’s class structure using:

  1. Occupation types
  2. Access to healthcare
  3. Education opportunities (15 marks)

Illustration: - Upper class: CEOs, private hospitals, international schools
- Working class: Manual laborers, NHIF, public schools
(5 marks per class analysis)

Q11. How does the “black tax” phenomenon reinforce class mobility barriers? (5 marks)

Key Point: Middle-class Kenyans supporting rural kin limits personal wealth accumulation

7. Gender (25 Marks)

Q12. Analyze gender socialization in:

  1. Kalenjin cattle-herding practices
  2. Nairobi corporate workplaces (15 marks)

Analysis: a) Traditional: Boys=herders, girls=homemakers (7 marks)
b) Modern: Glass ceiling effects despite education (8 marks)

Q13. Assess the impact of Kenya’s 2/3 gender rule implementation. (10 marks)

Impacts: - Increased women’s political representation
- Persistent implementation challenges
(5 marks per point with evidence)

8. Social Stratification (15 Marks)

Q14. Compare caste, class, and clan systems using Kenyan examples. (15 marks)

Comparison: - Caste: Historical Waata hunter-gatherer marginalization
- Class: Urban middle-class gated communities
- Clan: Kikuyu mbari land inheritance systems
(5 marks per system)

9. Mass Media Roles (20 Marks)

Q15. Examine media’s influence on:

  1. Political campaigns (e.g., 2022 elections)
  2. Public health behaviors (COVID-19 response) (20 marks)

Influences: a) Framing political narratives (10 marks)
b) Vaccine hesitancy/acceptance (10 marks)

10. Power and Politics (25 Marks)

Q16. Apply Weber’s power types to Kenyan context:

  1. Traditional (chiefs)
  2. Charismatic (political leaders)
  3. Legal-rational (constitutional institutions) (15 marks)

Application: a) Council of Elders’ influence (5 marks)
b) Raila/Ruto mobilization styles (5 marks)
c) Supreme Court authority (5 marks)

Q17. Why does clientelism persist in Kenyan politics? (10 marks)

Reasons: - Poverty-driven voter dependency
- Weak institutional accountability
(5 marks per reason with examples)

11. Social Organization (30 Marks)

Q18. Case Study: Kenya’s Huduma Namba Registration Resistance

Tasks: a) Identify THREE sociological causes of resistance (9 marks)
b) Analyze using functionalist vs. conflict perspectives (12 marks)
c) Propose inclusive implementation strategies (9 marks)

Model Answers: a) Causes: Privacy concerns, ethnic distrust, bureaucratic exclusion
b) Analysis:
- Functionalist: Would emphasize social order benefits
- Conflict: Would highlight surveillance risks to marginalized groups
c) Strategies: Civic education, transparent data laws

Bonus: Data Interpretation (10 Marks)

Q19. Interpret this 2022 KNBS data on education access by gender/county:

County Male Secondary Enrollment Female Secondary Enrollment
Nairobi $78% $ $82% $
Turkana $32% $ $28% $

Questions: a) Identify TWO trends (4 marks)
b) Suggest ONE sociological explanation (6 marks)

Answers: a) Urban-rural disparity, narrowing gender gap in urban areas
b) Patriarchal norms stronger in pastoralist communities