THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON THE INDIGENOUS CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES AMONG THE KIPSIGIS AND THE ABAGUSII OF KENYA 1905- 1963

Abstract

The colonial-led strategies greatly impacted the Indigenous Conflict Resolution strategies by undermining the crucial role of the informal conflict resolution strategies among the Kipsigis and the Abagusii communities. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine how colonial-led conflict resolution strategies changed and impacted on the traditional conflict resolution strategies among the Kipsigis and the Abagusii from 1905- 1963. The research was guided by the following objectives: To analyze the Kipsigis and the Abagusii indigenous conflict resolution strategies. To examine the conflict resolution changes that were introduced by the European colonialists and their impact on the existing indigenous conflict resolution among the Kipsigis and the Abagusii. To evaluate the success of the resultant hybrid conflict resolution strategy among the Kipsigis and the Abagusii by 1963. The study employed the Structural Functionalism theory and Articulation of Modes of Production theories. The study used a descriptive research design. The study was conducted in the former North Mugirango and Sotik colonial border. The sample size for the study was based on the concept of data saturation which was achieved through the use of interviews. The main source of information was primary data; Oral and archival data. The information from oral interview was analyzed thematically and then presented using simple tables, frequencies and percentages. The study established that the pre-colonial communities of the Abagusii and the Kipsigis had their elaborate Indigenous Conflict Resolution strategies that were used in resolving inter-ethnic conflicts. In addition, the colonial-led strategies undermined the use of indigenous conflict resolution strategies due to the introduction of new strategies like courts, police, colonial chiefs and headmen, the use of the bible in place of African oaths, and the elimination of some indigenous social institutions like Laibonism and ebisarate. Majority of the respondents argued that the introduction of colonial-led strategies ended up creating two centres of conflict resolution which in long run greatly reduced the influence of the existing indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms. The colonial need for forced labor led them to introduce economic policies like the hut tax that ended up in the demolition of Abagusii ebisarate a situation that impacted their social life negatively as such increased conflicts. Finally, the colonial-led strategies marginalized the Indigenous conflict resolution strategies. The study recommends that a well-structured the hybrid conflict resolution would have served to settle the Kipsigis and Abagusii conflict. As well the government should work closely with the Indigenous conflict resolution institutions so as to maximize their support in conflict resolution cycles. The government should develop a framework that will support and creation of working elders’ courts in each ethnic community. This endeavour will help to utilise this important institution for conflict resolution so as to reduce backlog of cases in courts that will be otherwise be resolved by elders.