Socio-economic effects of inter-ethnic conflicts on communities living around Kubasali escarpment in Kakamega and Nandi counties, Kenya

Inter-ethnic conflicts are common worldwide. One of the main reasons of inter-ethnic conflicts in Africa is negative ethnicity. In Kubasali escarpment Luhya Ethnic group in Kakamega County have been in conflict with their neighbors the Nandi from Nandi County for a long time over destruction of property, land ownership, land boundary, political and resource use disputes. The inter-ethnic conflicts between the two ethnic groups have been reoccurring frequently despite regular interventions by various stakeholders since independence, affecting socio-economic development in Kakamega and Nandi Counties. The study aimed at assessing the socio-economic effects of inter-ethnic conflicts on communities living around Kubasali escarpment in Kakamega and Nandi counties. The study was based on the Interpretivism philosophical approach of research. The study population comprised;32 Assistant-chiefs, 8 Ward Administrators, 16 NGOs Officials, 24 Religious Leaders, 4 Deputy County Commissioners, 8 Assistant County Commissioners, 4 Sub-County Administrators, 18 Council of elders, 40 Police Officers, 24 Village Elders, 16 Chiefs, 8 Members of County Assembly, 18 Victims, 16 Perpetrators and 384 Households Heads totaling to 620. The study employed descriptive design. Classical theory of economic growth guided this research. The study employed simple random, systematic random, census, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Fisher’s formula for determining sample size of Household heads was employed. Primary data collection was done using questionnaires, Interviews schedules, Observations checklists and Focus group discussion guides. Secondary sources included relevant documents and reports. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic narratives; Quantitative data was analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that, disruption of learning, loss of property, loss of lives, stalled development projects and loss of livelihood are the socio-economic effects of inter-ethnic conflicts in the study area. The study concludes that, Inter-ethnic conflicts have got a negative influence on the socio-economic development in the study area. The study recommends that, a study should be conducted on the alternative dispute resolutions such as conciliation, reconciliation and civil disobedience to provide everlasting solutions of peace in the study area. The study recommends improved working relationship between the local residents, NGOs, civil society and the ethnic groups to make peace initiatives more effective and address various concerns of the ethnic groups to mitigate occurrences of inter-ethnic conflicts in the study area.