Evaluation of Strategies Used To Reduce Inter-Clan Conflicts in Mumias East Sub-County, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

 Evaluation of Strategies Used To Reduce Inter-Clan Conflicts in Mumias East Sub-County, Kenya

Samson Busalire, Lilian Machariah, and Robert Aengwony
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
P.O BOX 150 KAKAMEGA, Kenya

Abstract: Inter-clan conflicts are widely spread in the world, and Africa leading in such cases. Conflict management and peace building in Kenya continues to face challenges in the current national and regional environments. Clans in Mumias East Sub-County have been in conflict from time immemorial. Strategic coordination amongst key actors has been seemingly lacking in conflict management and peace building. The objective of this study was to evaluate the strategies put in place to reduce inter-clan conflicts in Mumias East Sub-County, Kenya. The study findings reveal that mediation (56%) was the highest in ranking as a strategy put in place to reduce Inter-clan conflicts in Mumias East Sub-County followed by negotiation, litigation and arbitration. Public participation (48.2%) was ranked as the best among other strategies employed to reduce inter-clan conflicts followed by formation of social groups, improvement of social amenities and intermarriages. Inter-clan conflicts have significant influence on disruption of learning, destruction of property, stalling of development and disruption of livelihoods in the study area. There is a significant influence by the following; gender, age, occupation, marital status and level of education on inter-clan conflicts in the study area. The study recommends that relevant institutions such as National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) work more closely with the community to understand the factors that lead to recurrence of conflicts to enhance sustainable peace in the area of study. Also public participation should be encouraged to bring all people on board in development projects in the area of study to avoid stagnation of development due to conflicts of interest.

Key Words: Inter-clan conflicts, Conflict resolution, Conflict Resolution Strategies

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Inter-clan conflict is any conflict that occurs among clans or between members of different clans. Coser (2007) indicated that Conflicts within and between groups and nations is currently one of the global crises that threaten human survival. After the Second World War and with the creation of the League of Nations which was changed to United Nations, the assumption by the nations of the world was that countries would not witness another face of conflicts among and within nations (UNDP, 2008). However, conflicts have continued exist in various manifestations. Further, inter-clan conflict is an inevitable feature in current societies. Javaid & Hashmi (2010) denoted that these conflicts may appear as a dispute on important social, political, economic, cultural, religious, territorial, or lingual issues. Conflicts are linked to violence, weakening of state institutions, a parallel economy, and

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