Community Elders Involvement in Resolving Land Conflicts in Kenya: Case of Nakuru County, Kenya, 1998 –2008
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Date
2021
Authors
Thuranira, Robert Marete
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Since independence, land disputes have been a major source of conflict in Kenya. Land
disputes have an ethnic component. Land conflicts can even arise amongst members of
the same family or clan. Between 1998 and 2008, this study looked at the role of
community elders in resolving land issues in Kenya, specifically in Rongai Sub-County,
Nakuru County. The study's particular goals were as follows: to investigate the role
played by the community elders in resolving land conflicts in Rongai Sub-County, to
assess the effectiveness of community elders in resolving land conflicts in Rongai SubCounty, and to examine ways of strengthening the role of community elders in resolving
land-related conflicts. The study was guided by the theory of protracted social conflict
and social capital theory. Descriptive survey research design guided the study. Nakuru
County was picked purposively due to the violent clashes that have occurred in the area
in the past. Rongai Sub-County was randomly selected from all the sub-counties in
Nakuru County. A total of 151 participants were selected out of 500 entities for the study
using a simple random method. Quantitative data was collected using semi-structured
questionnaires while Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs)
were used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS
version 22.0. This software allowed the researcher to generate the statistics which were
represented in form of tables, graphs, pie charts and lastly regression. Qualitative data
from IDIs and FGDs was cleaned and coded into the Nvivo Software Version 10.0 using
emerging themes which identified repetition of the expressed opinions on the questions.
The analysis was then done based on key patterns, insight, and associations which
triangulated and validated the information. The study indicated that majority of the
respondents (96%) felt that the elders played the role of offering a quick conflict
resolution. Another (44%) felt that elders play a significant role in the mediation of landrelated matters. A total of 151 respondents felt that elders were effective in conflict
resolution by offering a quick conflict management mechanism. On the other hand,
strengthening the role played by elders included training, getting support from
government administrators, joint meetings arranged by government administrators and
support by the civil society in providing adequate training on conflict resolution
methods. In addition to that, the roles played by elders were also supplemented by
training from churches on conflict resolution pertaining land-related matters, involving
school head-teachers, working with government leaders and Elders given a formal forum
for resolving land-related conflict. The researcher recommended that the institutions
should support elders in addressing land conflicts. The government should support
community in form of official recognition and financial backing. Politicians should be
urged to refrain from ethnic slamming that could lead to ethnic clashes in Rongai SubCounty foster peace within the area
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts (Peace And Conflict Management) of Kenyatta University. June, 2021
Keywords
Community Elders, Land Conflicts, Kenya, Nakuru County, Kenya, 1998 –2008