Role Of Culture On Peace Building In Kenya: The Case Of Marsabit Lake -Turkana Cultural Festival, Marsabit County

ABSTRACT

This study primarily sought to explore the role of culture on peace building in Kenya, a case of Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival in Loiyangalani Sub County of Marsabit County. The study targeted the fourteen communities that form the bulk of the larger Marsabit County‟s populace. The objectives of the study included examining the social, political and economic factors that contribute to inter ethnic conflicts. It also discussed the origin and development, of Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival (MLTCF) in Marsabit County. Similarly, the study examined the impact of Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival as a peace building initiative in Loiyangalani Sub County. It also assessed other peace building initiatives in the area of study that complement the MLTCF. The targeted population for the study comprised of the inhabitants of the sampled communities in Loiyangalani Sub-County in Marsabit County. The study applied the protracted social conflict theory by Edward Azar to examine the root causes of conflicts in the study area, the effects and approaches of addressing these conflicts. For the purpose of data collection, the study targeted the opinion leaders, village/community elders, community based organizations, the youth, government security officers, the county government officials and the international partners involved in the cultural festival like the German Embassy and the Pastoralist Integrated Support Program (PISP). The study equally employed purposive sampling techniques in identifying respondents. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect qualitative data that was then analyzed appropriately. The findings from this study clearly indicate that there is a positive correlation between culture and peace building. The indicators used to assess this relationship clearly demonstrate that positive cultural practices like cultural festivals promote and enhance peace, social cohesion as well as socio-economic development among communities in Marsabit county.