Ethnic conflicts in stability and development in Kenya: Acase Study of Kitale town, Trans-Nzoia District Kenya
Loading...
Date
2011-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
During the Past 10 years (2000 -2009) perennial conflicts involving the
communities of Western Kenya have assumed an increasingly violent nature. In
most cases the conflicts have resulted in the deaths of dozens of men, women
and children and the theft of thousands of livestock. The purpose of the study
was to investigate the implications of ethnic conflicts on stability and development
in Trans-Nzoia District in Kenya. Objectives of the study were to investigate the
historical causes of tribal conflicts in Kenya; establish the consequences of ethnic
conflicts in Kenya; to establish the government response and other stakeholders
to the ethnic conflicts in Kenya; and to identify strategies for conflict
management to the ethnic clashes in Kenya. The methods used are
questionnaires and interview guides for data collection. The study found out that
Conflicts between Communities living in Trans-Nzoia were perennial since
2000.The Pokot were involved in fighting with the Marakwet, the Marakwet and
Nandi and the Nandi could clash with the Sabawoot within the period while other
non-Kalenjin tribes suffered as a result The cause for some of these conflicts
came as a result of what the government termed as equipping the pastoral
communities with guns so that they retaliate over cattle rustlers which turned up
to be weapons against one another. The study recommended that any person
whether licensed or not who employs a fire-arm to gain undue advantage must
be restrained~ In this case we recommend that further studies be conducted to
find ways and means by which the indignity that a victim of the illegal use of
Small Arms and Light Weapons is subjected to could be termed as atrocity
and/or a terrorist act punished under international law.
Description
A Thesis Presented to the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research Kampala International University Kampala, Uganda in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Conflicts Resolution and Peace Building
Keywords
Ethnic conflicts, Instability and development, Kenya