Influence of Non-governmental Organizations activities on sustainability of peace building projects among the pastoral Communities in Kenya: a case of Marsabit County

Abstract

Marsabit County is one of the counties in the northern part of Kenya bordering Ethiopia. It has encountered ethnic conflicts since independence and this has had a negative impact on the livelihood of people who live there despite having several non-governmental organizations that are involved in peace building. This research sought to establish the influence of non-governmental organizations activities on the sustainability of peace building projects in Marsabit County. The study objectives were; to determine the influence of resource mobilization on the sustainability of projects in Marsabit County, to establish the influence of mediation on the sustainability of peace building project in Marsabit County, to assess the influence of peace education on the sustainability of peace building projects in Marsabit County, and to determine the influence of capacity building on the sustainability of peace building programmes in Marsabit County. The study was anchored on the peace building and conflict theories so as to ascertain deeper understanding on the subject. Descriptive research design was be used. Target population for the study was be all the 8 NGOs and communities in Marsabit County whose population is 253,506. Sampling was through purposive sampling for NGO and CBO leaders and simple random sampling for the community after a proportionate allocation. The sample size for the study 384 which was arrived at using Krejcie and Morgan table. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data collected was coded into SPSS and analyzed for descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and frequencies and inferential statistics for correlation and regression, while qualitative data will be analyzed thematically. Descriptive data was presented in form of frequency tables. A pilot study was carried out in Mandera Central Sub-County on 40 respondents. Validity of the research instruments was checked by experts and practitioners in peace building. The study findings indicated that resource mobilization had a weak positive significant influence on the sustainability of peace building project ("=0.226 )=0.012 ); mediation had a moderate positive significant influence on the sustainability of peace 0.001 ); peace education has a strong significant influence on t hbeu siludsitnagin apbroiljietyc to (f "pe=ac0e. 4b3u2il d)in=g project ("=0.637 )=0.000 ); and capacity building had a strong positive significant influence on the sustainability of peace building project ("=0.729 )=0.006 ). The findings further indicated that resource mobilization, mediation, peace education and capacity building accounted for 70.1% of the changes in sustainability of peace building projects in Marsabit County. The study recommends that the resources given to the warring communities should be monitored so that they are not diverted into other uses; mediation should be done by professionals who have no interest in the warring communities and at the right time so as to achieve the desired results; peace building should be taught in schools as part of the curriculum in conflict areas; and lastly, the capacity of the communities in conflict areas should be built. The study will be of relevance to all stakeholders in the peace building process in Marsabit County and those doing peace studies. It is recommended that a similar study be carried out in a different area with a view of validating the findings of this study.