Participation of Women in Peace Building in Inter Ethnic Conflicts in Mt. Elgon, Bungoma County, 2004-2017
Loading...
Date
2025-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Women have become significant actors in conflict resolution and peace building in
Kenya. This study examined the participation of women in conflict resolution and peace
building initiatives in Mt. Elgon sub county, Bungoma County. The objectives of the
study were; to explore the development of protracted conflicts in Mt. Elgon Sub
County, assess the strategies used by women to participate in conflict resolution and
Peace building and the last objective is to examine the challenges encountered by
women in conflict resolution and peace building in Mt. Elgon Sub County. The study
adopted feminist and conflict transformation theories to analyze data from the field.
The study employed a descriptive and case study research design since the focus of the
study was Mt. Elgon Sub County and Women. Mt. Elgon Sub County was used as
microcosm to understand women and peace building in Bungoma County. The study
adopted a qualitative approach. The study targeted women and men key informants who
participated in peace building in Mt. Elgon Sub County. The study used oral interview
guide to collect data from the informants. The study relied on secondary sources to
collaborate data that was obtained during field research. The data from the field was
thematically analyzed qualitatively. The findings of the study were presented on the
basis of the objectives of the study. The study established that women in Mt. Elgon sub
County; Bungoma County participated in protracted conflicts between the Soy and the
Mosop communities. The women acted as spies and also supplied food, arms and
ammunition in the conflict. The study also established that women used formal and
informal peace buildings strategies to nurture and entrench sustainable peace in Mount
Elgon. The women founded and developed women networks and organizations at
locational, divisional and sub district levels to lobby for sustainable peace. The main
contribution of the study in peace building knowledge was that Women in Mt. Elgon
successfully rehabilitated women and children who were adversely affected by the
conflict in Mt. Elgon. The study recommended that national and county governments
the two levels of government should also come up with policy guidelines to finance
informal peace building strategies at the grass roots. The study also recommended for
the need to mainstream women in all formal peace building structures and networks.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Management in the School of Law,
Arts and Social Sciences Kenyatta University. October, 2025
supervisor
Evans Onyango