INFLUENCE OF STATIST TRANSFORMATION OF INTER-ETHNIC POLITICS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INTER-ETHNIC CONFLICTS IN BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Politics largely defines both protractible and intractability in inter-ethnic conflicts globally. In Kenya, Bungoma County in particular, inter-ethnic political reasons exacerbated 1963 including 1992 conflicts. The specific
objective was to examine the effect of statist inter-ethnic integration of politics in management of inter-ethnic
conflicts in Bungoma County. A conceptual framework underpinned by Ledarach’s Conflict Transformation
and Gultang’s Conflict Triangle theories guided the study. The study applied a descriptive research. The study
was conducted in Bungoma County. Simple Radom and Purposive sampling procedures determined the participant. The sample size of 400 participants used was derived from 1375065 population using Yamane 1967.
Questionnaires, interviews, FGD and document analysis were instruments used to collect primary and secondary data respectively. Quantitative data was analysed by MS excel while thematization, corroboration and verification was applied to qualitative data. The study findings were: Though the use of inter-ethnic politics as
scapegoat scored 15% responses in fueling inter-ethnic animosity, it worked alongside, hostile inter-ethnic
inter-group politics, the elite tilted inter-ethnic perceptions, inter-ethnic violent political transition from one
party to multiparty, inter-ethnic political contests and intensified leadership struggles which scored 17% responses each in influencing inter-ethnic conflicts in Bungoma County. However, despite the regulation of political parties, affirmative action, consensus and inter-ethnic integration were statist inter-ethnic structures set
for inter-ethnic political integration, the process was lethergic. The study recommends, detachment of interethnic demarcation from political cum administrative boundaries in Bungoma County