Exploring the intersections of gender, religion, and, culture when engaging the Pokot-Turkana conflict in Kenya between 1963 and 2015.
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Date
2023
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Abstract
The Sahel region and East Africa has shown sustained levels of inter-pastoral violent
conflicts with associated potential impacts on their livelihoods. One such conflict is the
Turkana-Pokot cross-border conflict that has become the norm. Despite disarmament
operations initiated by the government of Kenya, peace-building meetings, and workshops
led by the Catholic dioceses of Kitale and Lodwar, insecurity in the region continues to
prevail. This study explored the intersections of gender, religion, and culture when engaging
the Pokot-Turkana conflict in Kenya between 1963 and 2015 and had three objectives: to
trace the nature of the conflict along the Pokot-Turkana in general; to interrogate how the
Catholic Church has been involved in the conflict management process and how it could
enhance its engagement with those affected by the Pokot-Turkana conflict when
appropriating an intersectional gender-sensitive paradigm for conflict resolution; and to
examine how an intersectional gender-critical analysis of the conflict could contribute to a
better understanding of the Pokot-Turkana conflict and possible interventions. The
researcher applied a combination of theoretical frameworks in addressing the research
questions. They included: Protracted Social Conflict (PSC) theory by Edward Azar (1990)
in analyzing the nature and persistence of the Pokot-Turkana conflict, Pankhurst and Pearce's
steps in engendering a disciplined framework to address the gender aspect missing in conflict
management theory by Azar's PSC, and Kanyoro's feminists' cultural hermeneutics
theoretical framework to address the intersection of gender, culture, and religion. Data was
collected through random/probability and non-random/non-probability sampling
techniques. Under random/probability sampling, cluster and stratified sampling were used,
while under non-random/non-probability, purposive sampling was used. Research
instruments used in data collection were questionnaires, interview guides, and Focus Group
Discussions (FGDs). Data analysis was done manually and presented in tables. The
questionnaires, interview guides, and FGDs were qualitatively analyzed. The findings
included the Roman Catholic church's role in managing the conflict, the cultural gender roles
sustaining the conflict, and the role of culture as a pawn and a resource in conflict
management. The research established that the government interventions failed in mitigation
efforts due to poor conflict resolution strategies caused by factors not in tandem with the
local perceptions, beliefs, expectations, and needs of the affected communities. This study
recommends that the Catholic Church and the council of elders develop a common conflict
management framework. Peace in the grassroots model by the late bishop Korir was
reviewed, enhanced, and recommended.
Description
Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.