Sporadic Violence Amongst Communities: The implications of Inter-ethnic Conflicts in Nyakach and Sigowet Sub-Counties of Western Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue V, May 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Sporadic Violence Amongst Communities: The implications of Inter-ethnic Conflicts in Nyakach and Sigowet Sub-Counties of Western Kenya

James Omondi Juma

Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O BOX, 190-50100 Kakamega, KENYA

Abstract: The recurrence of inter-ethnic conflicts in Nyakach and Sigowet sub-counties has had major implications for almost three decades now. The two main ethnic groups in the area namely the Luo and Kipsig is ethnic groups have been involved in sporadic incidences of violent conflicts over the years. This study puts into perspective some of the major impacts of this conflicts and how they affect intercommunity relations in the two sub-counties. The study utilized descriptive research design. Both primary and secondary data were used during the study. The findings of the study were based on the social, economic and institutional impacts of inter-ethnic conflicts between the two major communities living in the two sub-counties. The implications of these conflicts have been such that they created a vicious cycle of violence that has strained intercommunal relations.

Key words: Inter-ethnic conflicts, Recurrence of conflicts, Violence

I. INTRODUCTION

The post-cold war era has seen the rise in internal conflicts at the global front, especially in Africa. A number of countries including DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia Namibia, Mozambique and Liberia just to mention a few have been in conflicts for years with devastating consequences including human toll and displacement of people (Mair, 2009).
Kenya has had its own fair share of internal conflicts. Before independence, the Mau Mau engaged the colonial government in serious fighting in effort to gain independence. Between 1963 and 1967 the Kenyan Somalis engaged the government in fighting with the aim of reuniting with the Greater Somalia (Oyugi, 2000). This conflict became known as the Shifta and was the ethnic conflict pitting ethnic Somalis against the Kenyan government

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