Globalization and Conflict in Central Kenya: The Case of Nyeri County, 1980-2010
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Date
2014
Authors
Kiruthu, Felix
Mbataru, Patrick
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IISTE
Abstract
While conflicts are common in Africa, contextualizing them against the backdrop of globalization calls for new
research. This paper focuses on the source of conflict in a rapidly urbanizing rural region in Kenya. Specifically,
it looks at globalization and conflict in central Kenya. It links the conflict in the county of Nyeri to the
emergence of Mungiki vigilantes and armed militias by arguing that economic decline occasioned by collapse of
cash crop and dairy farming contributed to the intensification of conflict. The paper found out that there is a
close relationship between neoliberal economic policies and origins of conflict in central Kenya. The study was
based on content analysis of documents and oral interviews. Oral interviewees were identified through
snowballing techniques. The paper recommends that for the government of Kenya to tackle the issue of conflict,
focus must be given to economic growth. Unemployment particularly among the youth must be tackled urgently
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Kenya, Nyeri, Conflict, Mungiki, Globalization
Citation
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences Vol.4, No.19, 2014