The Luo-Nandi Ethnic Conflicts Peacebuilding: A Study of Circumstantial Rationale to Its Persistent Nature and Implications for Building Peace in Kenya

In Kenya, The Luo and Nandi ethnic communities have had increased ethnic conflicts for over a decade. Ethnic tensions and conflicts have prevailed in the bordering section of the Muhoroni and Tinderet sub-counties. These ethnic conflicts have negatively affected the socio-cultural and political-economic well-being of the communities in conflict. The causes of such conflicts are varied in societies. The study investigated the causes of ethnic conflict between the Luo and the Nandi communities. The study was qualitative research designed to explore the reasons behind the persistent nature of the Luo and Nandi ethnic conflicts. The data was collected from community elders, community members, civil society, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The study employed several instruments, including surveys, an oral interview guide and a focused group discussions guide. The data from the questionnaires were coded and analysed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The study finds that there are social, religio-cultural, political, and economic determinants in hostile Luo-Nandi relations. The study recommends that (1) The amity actors need to involve a multi-faceted method in the ethnic conflict to deal with ethnic conflict causative dimensions; (2) Peacebuilding efforts must take societal issues seriously to prevent ethnic conflicts between Luo and Nandi communities; (3) peace actors must work on social rebuilding and conduct transformation; and (4) the stakeholders in building peace must address economic matters along the border of the Luo and Nandi people.