Devolution and Intercommunal Conflicts in Marsabit County-Kenya
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Date
2025-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of devolution on inter-communal conflicts in Marsabit County, Kenya. Specifically, it examined the influence of county resource management, county leadership composition, and peace-building initiatives on the occurrence of inter-communal conflicts. The study was guided by conflict theory and adopted a mixed-methods approach, using correlational research design. The target population included 77,495 households in Marsabit County, county government officials, administrative leaders, religious leaders, and individuals involved in peace-building. Data was collected from a sample of 100 household heads. Data was collected using questionnaires for household heads and interview guides for key informants. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed statistically significant relationships between resource management (χ²=8.723, p=0.013), county leadership composition (χ²=11.952, p=0.018), and peace-building initiatives (χ²=10.678, p=0.030) with inter-communal conflicts. These results indicated that the management of resources, the composition of county leadership, and the implementation of peace-building initiatives have statistically significant influence on inter-communal relations in Marsabit County. The study provided valuable insights for policy formulation at both county and national levels and contributed to the literature on devolution and conflict management in multi-ethnic settings.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts, and Social Sciences in the Department of Public Policy and Administration in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts, Public Policy and Administration of Kenyatta University. October, 2025.
Supervisor
Edna Jemutai Moi