The Role of Sports in Promoting Peaceful Interactions and Co-Existence in Kenya (2001-2019)

The use of sports as tool of supporting development, peace and cohesion and conflict management has been largely accepted and indoctrinated in government policies. With increase in conflicts across various regions within the country especially during electioneering periods and in pastoralist communities. However, despite this there has been minimal utilization of sports diplomacy as tool of supporting peaceful coexistence and conflict management. The study sought to determine the role of sports in conflict management in Kenya to establish the role of sports in promoting peaceful interactions and sustainable development in Kenya. The study further sought to determine challenges facing sports development as well as determine the sustainability of sports initiatives in promoting peaceful interactions and coexistence in Kenya. The study was premised on the Karl Marx theory of conflict. The study adopted an interpretivist approach with case study research design being utilized in the study. The research relied on secondary data and applied qualitative analysis techniques. The study revealed that sports have been able to play a pivotal role in fostering peaceful interaction and co-existence in Kenya. The study noted that utilization of sports and cultural activities has improved the realization of cohesion, integration and interaction between communities. The study showed that utilization of sports diplomacy has helped in strengthening the image of the country and improving the relations with other regional nations and improving prosperity in the country. The study found out that lack of clear leadership in national sports and lack of proper strategies has failed in supporting development of sports diplomacy within the country. The study also revealed that lack of adequate resources and allocation of resources significantly impacted utilization of sports diplomacy in the country. The study recommends that the government should improve the professionalism in the management of the sports industry, as this will help in expanding the competitiveness of the industry. Further, the country should improve the training programs and improve resource capacity that can help expand the implementation of sports programs geared towards fostering peaceful interaction and co-existence in Kenya. Further, the government should seek to expand security in the country through improving legislation in the country and supporting security apparatus in expanding peaceful coexistence and nation building.