Factors influencing occurence of ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division, Transmara West district, Narok county, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the factors influencing the occurrence ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division in Transmara West District. By examining the theories of conflict and conflict management, the study seeks to establish the factors that support the occurrence of conflict and circumstances under which ethnic conflict thrive. This study will try to establish the influence of competition for resources and ethnic conflict. The study examined how the competition for either natural or manmade resources results to aggressions between the different tribes in the area. The study also sought to confirm if attitudes have any contribution to the occurrence of ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division of Transmara East district.

The influence of cultural practices like cattle rustling, Moranism and traditional economic activities was also examined and how this factors if controlled could reduce or influence conflicts in Kirindon division. The study also examined how community education influenced conflicts. This study confirms that ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division of Transmara are as result of many varying factors the main one being competition for resources. Due to limited resources against population pressure communities begin to expand their territories which start to affect other neighboring communities thus causing conflicts.

Attitudes and cultural practices also influence the occurrence of ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division but the magnitude and effect of cultural practices to ethnic conflicts is limited because communities tend to use culture for the own internal benefits than they do to gain from others. Community education and the knowledge on the dangers of conflict also have their contribution to ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division. The study established that the people who had access to civic and peace education did not actively participate in ethnic conflicts compared to those who did not access the same and also those who had not gone to school or had dropped out of school.

The study also concluded that community's community education greatly influences the occurrence of ethnic conflicts in Kirindon. Those with the knowledge about the dangers and the disadvantages of ethnic conflict and those sensitized on the need of promoting peace did not participate in ethnic conflicts which mean that community education plays a very important role in reducing ethnic conflicts. Attitude towards other ethnic communities has been of great influence to ethnic conflicts in Kirindon division, this is due to the fact that most of the respondents had a negative attitude towards members of the other community and were not willing to freely associate with them or share resources with the. The study established that cultural practices have just minimal influence on ethnic conflicts.

The study did not find a strong linkage between ethnic conflicts and cultural practices because the cultural practices tend to be more internal to each specific community than they are extrinsic. The study recommends that the government and other stakeholders should ensure equitable distribution of resources across all the tribes and emphasizes the need to create awareness and sensitize the community members on the need to appreciate one another without looking at ones tribe if holistic development is to be realized without ethnic conflicts in the country. The researcher suggests that further research should be done on the effects of ethnic conflicts socio economic development and on factors influencing land subdivision in Kenya .