Examination of Obstacles towards Managing of Inter-Clan Conflicts within the Somali Community of Wajir North Sub-County, Kenya

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

The Examination of Obstacles towards Managing of Inter-Clan Conflicts within the Somali Community of Wajir North Sub-County, Kenya

Robert Aengwony¹, Lilian Machariah² and Samson Busalire³

^1,2,3Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O BOX, 190-50100 Kakamega, KENYA

Abstract: Members of the Degodia and Ajuran clans have been conflicting in Wajir North Sub-County since the pre-colonial era. Several actors have not successful managed to resolve the conflicts despite the available strategies and interventions. This is an indication that these strategies have not been successful, and that was the prime interest of this study. The objective of the study was to examine the obstacles of managing inter-clan conflicts within the Somali Community of Wajir North Sub-County. The study employed The Human Needs Theory and Social Conflict Theory. The study sampled 492 respondents who included 400 household heads, 25 assistant chiefs, 16 police officers, 20 business entities, 4 NGOs, 15 Village Elders and 12 youth leaders in peace committees. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion, observation checklists and interviews were used in data collection. The study found out that youth employment (72%) and solving historical injustices (68%) would increase harmony among the communities and would help in propagating peace between them. The study recommends that poverty alleviation and creation of job opportunities for the youths in the region should be prioritized by the national and county governments.

I. INTRODUCTION

Globally, ethnic conflicts are rampant and take the perspective of ethno-political conflict which threatens to tear apart the world. It has posed quite challenges which affect the society at large. In respect to the above, no continent is immune to conflicts. The global scope of the problem of conflict is apparent and rampant in the wars in Bosnia, Rwanda, Armenia, and Guatemala. In United States of America border, there is a racial hatred crimes and civil disturbances especially in Los Angeles, California, Burmingham, Alabama and New York. In Africa, South-African was victim of conflict because of the Apartheid which was a racial discrimination between the whites and the black Africans. The peaceful dismantling of this racial discrimination still stands as a symbol that violent ethnic conflicts can be managed, reduced and prevented. The resolution to these conflicts, however, requires an understanding of what actually causes conflicts among ethnic groups who have been living harmoniously since time immemorial (Duncan, 1997).

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