Contribution of religious activities as a faith-based mediation strategy for conflict transformation along the border of Bomet and Nyamira Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Faith-based actors tend to feature less in national and international efforts to transform inter and intrastate conflicts. Their contribution has further elicited less scholarly attention to the extent that policy interventions are less comprehensive and largely exclusive. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of religious activities as a faith-based mediation strategy for conflict transformation along the Bomet-Nyamira counties border, Kenya. Through the transformative theory in the study, it fostered an effective avenue for conflict transformation. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing specific descriptive survey methods along the Bomet-Nyamira counties border zone, Kenya. The target population of the study comprised 140 respondents. The study used a purposive sampling method to arrive at 87 household respondents for questionnaires, 29 respondents for in-depth interviews, 18 respondents for key informant interviews, and 6 focus group discussions from the Kipsigis and Abagusii communities along the Bomet-Nyamira counties border, Kenya. The research was conducted at four sites in the Ekerubo and Raitigo locations of Nyamira County and the Gelegele location of Bomet County. Questionnaires were administered to the identified household respondents along the Gelegele, Ekerubo and Raitigo locations border. Structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, in depth interviews, and focus group discussions were utilized to gather information from the respondents. The findings indicated that media, teachings, meetings, and motivation were key in transforming conflicts along the border of the counties. It concludes that religious activities had a substantial positive impact on conflict transformation along the Bomet-Nyamira border since it builds mutual trust and promotes peaceful co-existence along the border. However, to enhance the effectiveness of this mediation strategy faith-based organizations should emphasize peaceful sessions along the border. Additional frameworks should be set on continuous training in peace.