Analysis of the Conflict between Government Development Agencies and Ethnic Communities A Case of TARDA in Garsen District, Kenya

Githaiga, Beatrice Muringi (2014) Analysis of the Conflict between Government Development Agencies and Ethnic Communities A Case of TARDA in Garsen District, Kenya. Masters thesis, Hekima College Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations.

PDF (Analysis of the Conflict between Government Development Agencies and Ethnic Communities A Case of TARDA in Garsen District, Kenya - Beatrice Muringi Githaiga) Analysis of the Conflict between Government Development Agencies and Ethnic Communities A Case of TARDA in Garsen District, Kenya - Beatrice Muringi Githaiga.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Government development institutions in Kenya experience conflict with the ethnic communities in the regions where they set up development programs. Episodes of vandalism, public demonstrations and law suits by communities against these agencies have become common place. The question that does not seem to be answered is why there is a strained relationship between government agencies and the local communities over the very projects that ought to benefit the people. The general objective of this study is to identify the causes of the protracted conflict between ethnic communities and government development agencies and establish possible avenues of conflict resolution. The study draws from the case of Tana and Athi rivers development authority (TARDA) a development agency that runs an irrigation project in Garsen district and the ethnic communities that live in the same district. The study chose a cross-sectional research design which is used when studying a population with various communities that have different cultural values and different economic gain activities. The study sampled seventy four respondents who included sixty two community members, four local government leaders and eight members of staff from TARDA. The research used four face to face interviews and two sets of questionnaires to gather information from the respondents. The study found that lack of community participation from the onset of the development program in Garsen was the major cause of the conflict. The researchers’ main recommendation is for the two parties to use better communication, to blend their local development goals with the national goals that TARDA prescribes to as a way of conflict transformation.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	JHI Africa
Date Deposited:	24 Nov 2014 12:50
Last Modified:	24 Nov 2014 12:50
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/142

Actions (login required)

View Item