Challenges and opportunities facing peace building among the pastoral communities in Garissa County, Kenya

Mohamed Salah; Crispinous Iteyo; Ruth Simiyu

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.3.4.49

Authors

Mohamed Salah Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Author
Prof Crispinous Iteyo Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology-Department of Peace and Conflict Studies Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3370-8804
Dr. Ruth Simiyu Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology-Department of Peace and Conflict Studies Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0223-3441

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.3.4.49

Keywords:

Challenges , Opportunities, Peace building, Pastoral communities

Abstract

Pastoral communities in Garissa County, Kenya, continue to experience recurrent conflicts driven by competition over water and pasture, clan rivalries, political interference, insecurity and climate change, despite sustained peacebuilding interventions by government and non-governmental actors. This study examined the challenges and opportunities facing peacebuilding among pastoral communities in Garissa County with the aim of generating evidence to inform more effective and sustainable peacebuilding strategies. The study adopted a descriptive research design and employed a mixed-methods approach. The study adopted conflict transformation theory. The researcher employed purposive sampling. The sample size for this study was 641 participants. These respondents included 384 household heads and while key informants included 8 chiefs, 9members of parliament, 30 National Police Officers, 6 Non-Governmental Officer’s representatives, 6 Community Based Organizations representatives. Focus Group Discussion participants included 22 religious leaders, 20 women leaders and 40 youth leaders. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that scarcity of water and pasture (82.7%), cultural norms and gender roles (60.7%), lack of education and awareness (22.0%), political interference (10.0%), clan rivalries (5.3%), insecurity from armed groups (1.8%) and limited government presence (0.3%) were the major challenges undermining peacebuilding efforts. The study further established that promoting inter-clan dialogue (28.2%), supporting youth and women empowerment initiatives (24.6%), strengthening education (23.5%), expanding economic opportunities (17.9%) and enhancing community security and policing (5.9%) present significant opportunities for promoting sustainable peace. The study concludes that effective peacebuilding among pastoral communities requires integrated interventions that address both the structural causes of conflict and the available local opportunities for peace. It recommends strengthening traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, investing in water and pasture management, promoting inclusive participation of women and youth in peace processes, expanding livelihood opportunities and enhancing collaboration between government institutions, local communities and development partners to achieve sustainable peace in Garissa County.

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