Ethnic Conflicts in Stability and Development in Kenya: A case Study of Kitale Town, Trans-Nzoia District Kenya

ABSTRACT

During the Past 10 years (2000 -2009) perennial conflicts involving the communities of Western Kenya have assumed an increasingly violent nature. In most cases the conflicts have resulted in the deaths of dozens of men, women and children and the theft of thousands of livestock. The purpose of the study was to investigate the implications of ethnic conflicts on stability and development in Trans-Nzoia District in Kenya. Objectives of the study were to investigate the historical causes of tribal conflicts in Kenya; establish the consequences of ethnic conflicts in Kenya; to establish the government response and other stakeholders to the ethnic conflicts in Kenya; and to identify strategies for conflict management to the ethnic clashes in Kenya. The methods used are questionnaires and interview guides for data collection. The study found out that Conflicts between Communities living in Trans-Nzoia were perennial since 2000.The Pokot were involved in fighting with the Marakwet, the Marakwet and Nandi and the Nandi could clash with the Sabawoot within the period while other non-Kalenjin tribes suffered as a result The cause for some of these conflicts came as a result of what the government termed as equipping the pastoral communities with guns so that they retaliate over cattle rustlers which turned up to be weapons against one another. The study recommended that any person whether licensed or not who employs a fire-arm to gain undue advantage must be restrained~ In this case we recommend that further studies be conducted to find ways and means by which the indignity that a victim of the illegal use of Small Arms and Light Weapons is subjected to could be termed as atrocity and/or a terrorist act punished under international law.