ABSTRACT
According to the tenets of the three pillars of Vision 2030, the Kenya’s blue print for economic
development, the social pillar envisages to build a just and cohesive society with social equity in
a clean and secure environment. (Vision 2030, 2007:1). The vision is bound to operationalize the
necessary policy, legal and institutional framework around security, peace building and conflict
management for national and inter-community dialogue in order to build harmony among ethnic,
racial and other interest groups. For this reason, Peace Committees being popular and successful
in handling community conflicts in Mwingi district can provide an alternative mode of dispute
resolution to the court system and cross boarder conflicts. This is justified by the fact that Peace
Committees are accessible and operate in localized areas where the communities understand their
procedures and conduct. Despite these strategies to resolve community conflicts, there are many
constraints that make their implementation difficult and ineffective.
The study was conducted in Mwingi district to investigate conflicts in arid and semi- arid lands
(ASALs): a case study of Mwingi district in Kenya. The study objectives were; to find out the
existing community conflicts and their causes, examining the challenges faced by Peace
committees in preventing, managing and resolving community conflicts, identifying conflict
resolution mechanisms undertaken by the Peace Committees in handling community conflicts.
The research study employed a descriptive research design which is a scientific method that
involves observing and describing the behavior of a subject without influencing it in any way.
The major conflicts in the study area included; Agro-pastoralists conflicts including animal
trespass, land conflict, Banditry/thuggery including murder, Domestic violence, leadership
wrangles, Resource competition and tribal clashes. These destabilize the welfare of the people in
the society. Peace committees being near and within the community play an important role in
resolving these conflicts. The methods used by peace committees in resolving these conflicts
included the peace committee court, Mediation, Arbitration and reconciliation of conflicting
parties.
Corruption, Poor governance, policy framework, poor communication, Resource competition,
prevalence of SALW and inadequate capacity were the major challenges faced by peace
committees in resolving community conflicts. The possible solutions to these challenges
mentioned above included; avoiding corruption through censuring corrupt peace committee
members, Improved means of communication for the peace committees, promote public
awareness on the work of peace committees to the community and the need for peaceful co
existence which empowers the community on issues of self governance and democratization,
Government to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, mobilize resources to
support the work of peace committees through giving them incentives and allowing them to hold
public gatherings, Building the capacity of peace committees through trainings for knowledge and skills improvement and improving the policy framework on recognition and legitimacy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 3
PurposeoftheStudy 4
Objectives of the Study 4
Research Questions
Scope of the Study
Significance of the Study
TWO LITERATUpj~ REVIEW
Theoretical Review 6
Conceptual Framework 8
The Existing Community Conflicts and Their Causes 9
The challenges faced by Peace committees in preventing, managing and resolving
Commumtyconflicts 19
Conflict Resolution Mechanisms Undertaken By the Peace Committees in Handling
Community Conflicts 23
THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
ChapterOvervjew 27
Research Design 27
Sample and Sampling Procedures 27
Research Jnsfruments 27
Reliability and Validity 29
Research Procedure 29
DataAnalysis 30
Limitations of the Study 30
Ethical considerations 31
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FOUR DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Chapter Overview 32
Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 32
Existence of Conflicts and their Causes in Mwingi District 37
Involvements of Peace Committees in Resolving Community Conflicts in Mwingi
District
Proposed Suggestions to Challenges Faced By Peace Committees 48
FIVE FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary of the Major Findings 52
Conclusion
Recommendations
Suggestions for Further Research 55
RSERACJJ INSTRUMENTS
REFERENCES
Research Questjopj-iajre 59
Focus group discussion guide 62
Budget 63
TimeFrame 64