| dc.description.abstract | Sustaining peace is essential for the advancement of any nation or region, and it also fosters
cohesion among individuals from various cultural and religious backgrounds. Cultural
practices and festivals, while sometimes contributing to conflicts, also hold significant
potential as tools for peace-building among the Pokot and Marakwet communities. The
persistent conflict between these communities has resulted in loss of life, displacement, and
trauma, and traditional response by security agencies alone has proven insufficient in
addressing the root causes of the conflict. Therefore, there is a compelling need to explore
the role of cultural practices and festivals in contributing to and managing these conflicts,
with the aim of fostering lasting peace at the grassroots level. The general objective of this
study was to examine the utilization of cultural practices and festivals in peace-building
among the Pokot and Marakwet communities of Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties in
Kenya. The specific objectives were to interrogate the nature of cultural practices and
festivals among the Pokot and Marakwet, Kenya; Assess the effectiveness of cultural
Practices and Festivals as Peacebuilding Mechanisms among the Pokot and Marakwet; and
Examine the challenges and opportunities faced in using cultural practices and Festivals as
Peacebuilding strategy. Research questions complement the research objectives. The study
had both policy and academic justifications. The study was anchored on a theoretical
framework guided by the principles of Conflict Transformation Theory. The research
employed a descriptive research design. The study was conducted in Tiaty Sub-County of
Baringo County and Marakwet East Sub-County of Elgeyo Marakwet County, both found
within the volatile Kerio Valley region. Senior police officers (Sub-County Police
Commander), Assistant County commissioners, sub-county administrators, MCAs,
Religious leaders and Chiefs. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including Faith-Based
Organizations with study specifically targeting World Vision Kenya (WVK), Kenya Red
Cross Society (KRCS) and the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. The population
also included opinion leaders such as elders and peace committee members. Moreover, the
study involved selecting a sample comprising 384 individuals who were heads of
households. Data collection was conducted through questionnaires, interview schedules,
and focus group discussions, supplemented by the use of secondary data sources. The
quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version
25, producing descriptive statistics represented as percentages and frequencies. Meanwhile,
the qualitative data underwent content and narrative analysis. The quantitative findings
were presented through tables, charts, and graphs. The findings indicated that several
prevalent cultural practices in the study area included oath-taking rituals (muma) 66.5% of
respondents), witchcraft, also known as (Muma/Mutaat)(87.3%), cleansing ceremonies
(Barpara) (77%) of respondents, and consulting traditional seers through methods like
throwing shoes or viewing sheep intestines (91.1% o). Furthermore, the research revealed
that these cultural activities were effective in contributing to peace-building efforts, with
practices like marriage (77.94%), oath-taking (58.8%), respect for elders (69.1%),
negotiations (86.8%), traditional pacts (97.1%), and the traditional role of women as
mothers (73.5%) all playing a positive role in promoting peace. However, various conflicts
were exacerbated by factors such as banditry (75.4%) and the ready availability of small
arms and light weapons (97.1%). Despite these challenges, peace-building initiatives led by
religious leaders and faith-based organizations have yielded positive results, even in the
face of issues like banditry, low levels of literacy, and limited educational attainment. In
conclusion, the study underscores the critical role of cultural practices and festivals in the
peace-building process between the Pokot and Marakwet communities. As a
recommendation, the study advocates for the formal adoption and utilization of these
cultural practices and festivities as strategic tools for promoting peace in Kerio Valley. | en_US |
