Effects of Socio-Cultural Practices, on Inter-Ethnic Conflict in Narok County, Kenya

In Kenya, inter-ethnic conflicts have caused irreversible damages to people and their assets, and to the nation’s cohesive fabric. There have been several roots for interethnic conflicts, and one of them has been socio-cultural practices. Such practices are different in each generation and between various different ethnic groups. Despite this occurrence, limited studies have researched on the effects of socio-cultural practices on the inter-ethnic conflicts. Hence, this study investigated analyzed the effects of socio-cultural practiced on the inter-ethnic conflict in Narok County, Kenya. This study utilized structural conflict theory and cultural theory to investigate the effects of socio-cultural practices on inter-ethnic conflicts. The research employed a cross-sectional survey approach conducted in Narok, focusing on adult residents categorized into security agencies, village elders, nyumba kumi elders, and the general public as the target demographic. The County was divided into constituencies and wards for sampling purposes using purposive sampling. Purposive sampling was used to select the security agencies, as well as village elders and nyumba kumi elders. The general public were picked by systematic random sampling. The tools utilized to get data were, questionnaires and interview schedule. Quantitative data underwent analysis using descriptive statistics. Specifically, frequency distributions were predominantly employed to synopsize the outcomes, aiding in the interpretation and presentation of the findings. Qualitative data, on the other hand, underwent thematic analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated to offer comprehensive depictions of the main discoveries. The study found that, there are four effects of socio-cultural practices: fostering institutionalization of discrimination within institutions and societal structures, increased hostility and mistrust among the communities, resulting in violence and leading to erosion of social cohesions. The study concluded that, promoting ethnic identities inclinations are motivated by factors for instance, resentment, hatred, or fear. But the original triggers for ethnic conflicts, lie in the belief that a group is better placed to ensure their well-being better than the government would. The study recommended that, the state security agencies need to streamline their department in terms of the training and developing the skills of their agents to be at per with how to confront the various socio-cultural practices that are having harmful effects on the community Narok county. The constructive ways can mostly be achieved by the discussions of various interested parties: the community, non-governmental entities and the government.