nfluence Of Indigenous Peace Building Strategy in The Management of Interethnic Conflicts for Sustainable Development in Bungoma County, Kenya.

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of indigenous peace building strategies in the reconstruction of damaged inter-ethnic relationship between the Bukusu and Sabaot. It evaluated the role of elders in interethnic conflict management. The study is anchored on the backgrounds that inter-ethnic conflicts in the area under review and beyond is recurrent, widespread, ravaging humanity exemplified in countries like Bosnia, Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan, Nicaragua and Rwanda yet in equal measure or more anti-conflict mechanisms have been engaged by various actors to cultivate peaceful co-existence. The Bukusu-Sabaot conflict acquired prominence as early as 1963 and has kept recurring in different magnitudes. In 1992, it gained momentum causing deaths, massively uprooted and displaced population to camps of internally displaced persons while other victims crossed over the border and sought refuge in neighbouring countries Uganda and Tanzania. Worse still, the state of normalcy is yet to be achieved. The study assessed the effectiveness of indigenous peace building strategy in the management of interethnic conflict in Bungoma County. The study was informed by Social Constructivist theory. In order to address specific issues envisaged in the study objective both historical and descriptive research designs were used. Data collection instrument entailed interviews, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and documentary analysis. The researcher sampled population randomly, determining sample size based on 384 respondents as representative of 100000 in the population. Of necessity, the researcher purposively interviewed public leaders, traditionally recognized leaders, NGO officials and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Secondary data was used to compliment primary data. The data was corded and analyzed using qualitative techniques. The study established that ethnicity, political rivalry, prejudice, resource competition, mismanagement of electioneering process and weak judiciary were key elements in understanding Bukusu-Sabaot conflict, peace building and development. The study will assist policy makers in crafting a cohesive Kenyan society; equip national policy on conflict resolution and peace building and form a benchmark upon which other research can be founded