| dc.description.abstract | Conflicts are common phenomena in many regions of the world especially in dry lands, which are endowed with scarce natural resources. The demographic consequences of conflict and violence in the developing world are receiving increased attention and so is conflict in Kenya. Samburu County specifically Baragoi sub-county has been experiencing series of serious conflicts since 1994. The worst incidence was the Baragoi massacre that led to mass death and injury of soldiers in November 2012. It resulted to closure of schools and businesses and displacement of many people in the area. Different governmental and non-governmental organizations have been trying to solve these conflicts albeit, it has proven futile because of various factors and thus this project focused on factors that influence Conflict resolution in Baragoi Sub-County. The specific objectives were evaluated and they included how structural violence, communications, cattle rustling, local politicians and peace initiatives influence conflict resolution in Baragoi Sub-County. The target population was 381 respondents gathered from eight sampled villages. The study employed mixed research designs. Probability sampling namely, cluster sampling, proportionate, simple random and stratified were used and non-probability sampling method (purposive sampling) was also. Data was collected using mixed method both quantitative and qualitative; instruments such as questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion Guide for community members, and interview guide for key informants aided in data collection. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and was presented using frequencies, means and percentages while qualitative data was analyzed and categorized into themes and presented in form of narratives, and themes. The main findings showed that structural violence fairly influences conflict resolution in Baragoi while cattle rustling and local politicians strongly influences the same. Most respondents indicated that peace initiatives have been fairly effective in the whole county in terms of conflict resolution. Other factors cited out by the respondents to have influenced conflict resolution are tribalism, culture, natural calamity and illiteracy level. Majority of the respondents stated that culture, natural calamity and tribalism have strongly influenced conflict resolution while illiteracy level has fairly influenced. The study established that communication partially influences conflict resolution. The study concluded that these interminable conflicts in Baragoi will surely come to an end one day through the participatory efforts of the local residents themselves and dedication of the local government and national government to avail all resources to resolving not only these conflicts but also seeing to it that infrastructural development is carried out. The major recommendation of the study is that the county government should create more conservancies in Baragoi and employ morans and young adult to train as rangers who will be patrolling the vast land of Baragoi on daily basis and get paid at the end of the month. Through this initiative, the issue of cattle rustling will be curbed as recovery of the stolen livestock will be easy and effective. | en_US |
