Heightened Inter-Ethnic Conflicts and Mitigating Measures in Turbo Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya 1991-2010

Abstract

Purpose: The study explored how the political elite strategically manipulated Turbo’s Sub-County ethnic diversity to further their own agendas, leading to the balkanization and the outbreak of violence during the 1992, 1997, and 2007 election cycles. The study also evaluated the mitigating measures implemented to address ethnic conflict in the region within the above timeframe and the successes or otherwise of those efforts.

Methodology: Purposive and snowballing sampling methods were employed and the data collected and analyzed qualitatively. Primary data was gathered by conducting questionnaires, interviews and by examining government official reports and archival documents whereas secondary data was sourced from theses, books, articles in newspapers and journals from libraries.

Findings: Politicization of ethnicity through balkanization of the residents into rigid ethnic enclaves provokes conflicts. There was creation of the 'outsiders' versus 'indigenous' narrative, where the Kalenjin, as the dominant group, viewed all other ethnic communities as outsiders, despite their long-standing presence in the area. The political manipulations that fueled these cycles of violence were further exacerbated by impunity, as perpetrators of violence were often shielded by political elites seeking to maintain power. These conflicts have amplified ethnic differences making citizens to consciously identify more with their ethnic groups than being Kenyan citizens. Interventions by different stakeholders have only partially been successful in addressing the heightened inter-ethnic conflicts in Turbo Sub- County between 1991 and 2010.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study contributes to existing data on ethno-politics, inter-ethnic relations and the nature of politicization of ethnicity in Africa. It examines the grass root ethnicity mix up with national political incitement. The findings from this study, it is hoped, will contribute to formulation of new policy and interventions to improve national unity and integration in Kenya.